A Different Focus and Content for the Core Information Systems Course for Business School Majors

Changing business practices and expectations suggest it may be time to rethink the contents and emphases of the introductory information systems course typically required of all undergraduate business majors. With increasing business emphases on processes and revived interest within schools of business on integration of functional common body of knowledge (CBK) content, an alternative to the traditional IS course seems desirable. This article presents an approach that enhances students’ understanding of the entirety of business operations and their critical interdependencies. They learn about business processes, how later CBK courses and functions relate to processes, and how IT and IS are critical to development of effective processes. It is argued that this approach adds more value to the general business student than the required course (2002.1) in the IS 2002 Curriculum of AIS. Further, it is argued that a new approach could strengthen faculty and student perceptions about the importance of IS in the core curriculum in schools of business.