Within the context of the desire to address the concerns of the software crisis, a research project was initiated to identify the skills and personal characteristics of "excellent" systems analysts. The project included 53 participants from 2 companies representing 5 groups or Audiences of individuals who interact with systems analysts. The data, gathered using Kelly's RepGrid technique, represent Audience perceptions of what constitutes an "excellent" systems analyst. Overall, the more important aspects, or Themes, which emerged from the data include communicate, attitude, knowledge, investigate, and experience. These common themes are referred to as "universals". The detailed interpretations of these aspects, as determined from the research data, varied amongst the Audiences and seem to reflect Audience objectives. For instance, User Audiences emphasized content related aspects, such as knowledge. Systems analyst and their supervisors, however, tended to differentiate on process related aspects, such as investigate. Each Audience and each corporation involved in this project had its own interpretation of the relative importance of what constitutes an "excellent" systems analyst. Thus, the importance of each "universal" has a "local" relative value.
{"title":"“Excellent” systems analysts: key audience perceptions","authors":"M. Hunter","doi":"10.1145/181883.181885","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/181883.181885","url":null,"abstract":"Within the context of the desire to address the concerns of the software crisis, a research project was initiated to identify the skills and personal characteristics of \"excellent\" systems analysts. The project included 53 participants from 2 companies representing 5 groups or Audiences of individuals who interact with systems analysts. The data, gathered using Kelly's RepGrid technique, represent Audience perceptions of what constitutes an \"excellent\" systems analyst. Overall, the more important aspects, or Themes, which emerged from the data include communicate, attitude, knowledge, investigate, and experience. These common themes are referred to as \"universals\". The detailed interpretations of these aspects, as determined from the research data, varied amongst the Audiences and seem to reflect Audience objectives. For instance, User Audiences emphasized content related aspects, such as knowledge. Systems analyst and their supervisors, however, tended to differentiate on process related aspects, such as investigate. Each Audience and each corporation involved in this project had its own interpretation of the relative importance of what constitutes an \"excellent\" systems analyst. Thus, the importance of each \"universal\" has a \"local\" relative value.","PeriodicalId":426630,"journal":{"name":"ACM Sigcpr Computer Personnel","volume":"12 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1994-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127551092","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The case study history of the cooperation between a software house and its client over a time span of 6 years is analyzed through the metaphor of the gatekeeper role. The analysis shows that, contrary to earlier research employing the gatekeeper metaphor, the gatekeeper role in software development work is not stable but changes considerably over time both from the point of view of the software house and the client. Moreover, there seem to be typical recurrent patterns of change for the gatekeeper role for both of the cooperating partners. The analysis indicates also that some of the main problems in contractual software development work may be alleviated through careful consideration of the content of the gatekeeper role in the cooperation phases between the software house and the client. A major question seems to be the decision when the managerial gatekeeper on each side must step aside and let the software developers and user representatives exchange information without managerial gatekeeping.
{"title":"Gatekeepers in the action structure of software contracting: a case study of the evolution of user-developer relationships","authors":"A. Heiskanen, Jouni Similä","doi":"10.1145/147114.147120","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/147114.147120","url":null,"abstract":"The case study history of the cooperation between a software house and its client over a time span of 6 years is analyzed through the metaphor of the gatekeeper role. The analysis shows that, contrary to earlier research employing the gatekeeper metaphor, the gatekeeper role in software development work is not stable but changes considerably over time both from the point of view of the software house and the client. Moreover, there seem to be typical recurrent patterns of change for the gatekeeper role for both of the cooperating partners. The analysis indicates also that some of the main problems in contractual software development work may be alleviated through careful consideration of the content of the gatekeeper role in the cooperation phases between the software house and the client. A major question seems to be the decision when the managerial gatekeeper on each side must step aside and let the software developers and user representatives exchange information without managerial gatekeeping.","PeriodicalId":426630,"journal":{"name":"ACM Sigcpr Computer Personnel","volume":"19 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1992-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124353666","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) has been receiving increasing attention because of its potential for substantial productivity improvement of software development. Yet only about 24% of companies use these tools. Arguments have been made that CASE tools are difficult to learn and use. We conducted two experiments with subjects who were both students and professional analysts to evaluate how easy it is for first time users to learn and a CASE tools to draw Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs).We found a typical CASE tool was easy to learn and use for developing correct, complete, balanced and readable DFDs. These experiments provide support for providing training in the structured technique before introducing the CASE tool based on the technique. It is proposed that failure to understand the technique may be translated into perceived failure of the CASE technology, and one reason for the limited use of CASE in organizations.
{"title":"Ease of learning and using a CASE software tool: an empirical evaluation","authors":"J. Nosek, Gary Baram, G. Steinberg","doi":"10.1145/147114.147123","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/147114.147123","url":null,"abstract":"Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) has been receiving increasing attention because of its potential for substantial productivity improvement of software development. Yet only about 24% of companies use these tools. Arguments have been made that CASE tools are difficult to learn and use. We conducted two experiments with subjects who were both students and professional analysts to evaluate how easy it is for first time users to learn and a CASE tools to draw Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs).We found a typical CASE tool was easy to learn and use for developing correct, complete, balanced and readable DFDs. These experiments provide support for providing training in the structured technique before introducing the CASE tool based on the technique. It is proposed that failure to understand the technique may be translated into perceived failure of the CASE technology, and one reason for the limited use of CASE in organizations.","PeriodicalId":426630,"journal":{"name":"ACM Sigcpr Computer Personnel","volume":"195 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1992-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114249927","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ginzberg and Baroudi [1988] proposed several propositions regarding the diversity of the career anchors of IS personnel. In addition, they suggested that geographic and organizational factors might influence the patterns of career anchors. This study examines several of these propositions through a survey administered to IS personnel in four large organizations in several geographic locations. In contrast to some other recent studies, the career anchors displayed by this sample of IS personnel were highly varied, with neither technical competence nor management competence dominating. Additionally, few meaningful differences were found in the patterns of career anchors across industry or geography.
{"title":"Career orientations of I.S. personnel","authors":"M. Ginzberg, Jack J. Barondi","doi":"10.1145/147114.147118","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/147114.147118","url":null,"abstract":"Ginzberg and Baroudi [1988] proposed several propositions regarding the diversity of the career anchors of IS personnel. In addition, they suggested that geographic and organizational factors might influence the patterns of career anchors. This study examines several of these propositions through a survey administered to IS personnel in four large organizations in several geographic locations. In contrast to some other recent studies, the career anchors displayed by this sample of IS personnel were highly varied, with neither technical competence nor management competence dominating. Additionally, few meaningful differences were found in the patterns of career anchors across industry or geography.","PeriodicalId":426630,"journal":{"name":"ACM Sigcpr Computer Personnel","volume":"288 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1992-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"132490128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Information systems (IS) managers and developers continually face the problem of deciding among alternative acquisition options: to develop the system in-house, to use a subcontractor, to develop the system jointly among several adopting units, to buy an application package, etc. The question of the relative success of these options is still a controversial issue. This paper puts forward a number of hypotheses concerning the relationship between alternative acquisition options, a set of intervening variables - user participation, originality and complexity of the systems and vendor competence - and IS success. Based on a field study analysing 21 information systems, their acquisition options and their success, it provides some evidence that the acquisition options at the end of in-house development are more successful. Among the intervening variables potentially explaining success, only complexity emerged as important.
{"title":"The impact of alternative IS acquisition strategies upon IS success","authors":"J. Iivari, I. Ervasti","doi":"10.1145/147114.147121","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/147114.147121","url":null,"abstract":"Information systems (IS) managers and developers continually face the problem of deciding among alternative acquisition options: to develop the system in-house, to use a subcontractor, to develop the system jointly among several adopting units, to buy an application package, etc. The question of the relative success of these options is still a controversial issue. This paper puts forward a number of hypotheses concerning the relationship between alternative acquisition options, a set of intervening variables - user participation, originality and complexity of the systems and vendor competence - and IS success. Based on a field study analysing 21 information systems, their acquisition options and their success, it provides some evidence that the acquisition options at the end of in-house development are more successful. Among the intervening variables potentially explaining success, only complexity emerged as important.","PeriodicalId":426630,"journal":{"name":"ACM Sigcpr Computer Personnel","volume":"19 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1992-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128416640","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This paper discusses the group support systems facilitator as a new category of IS personnel, in terms of background, skills, and training, and how facilitation might be related to existing IS personnel categories, particularly that of the systems analyst. A study is then presented which aims to increase our understanding of the role of the human facilitator, by documenting and comparing skills, experiences, and perceptions of group process facilitators who have used GSS and those who have not.
{"title":"Facilitating technology-supported group work: a new category of IS personnel","authors":"C. Beise, F. Niederman, P. Beranek","doi":"10.1145/147114.147116","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/147114.147116","url":null,"abstract":"This paper discusses the group support systems facilitator as a new category of IS personnel, in terms of background, skills, and training, and how facilitation might be related to existing IS personnel categories, particularly that of the systems analyst. A study is then presented which aims to increase our understanding of the role of the human facilitator, by documenting and comparing skills, experiences, and perceptions of group process facilitators who have used GSS and those who have not.","PeriodicalId":426630,"journal":{"name":"ACM Sigcpr Computer Personnel","volume":"3 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1992-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130839260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Staffing and managerial aspects of information systems in U. S. and Canadian art museums are examined. In general, art museums have non-professional computing staff, strong influences on the information systems function from outside the organization, and weak IS planning and control.Differences in the information systems environment of the charitable nonprofit versus the private sector are discussed. Based on the empirical results, modifications are made to the stage theory of end user computing to encompass a wider range of organizational and staffing types.
{"title":"Staffing and managerial aspects of information systems in art museums: an example of nonprofits","authors":"J. Pick","doi":"10.1145/147114.147125","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/147114.147125","url":null,"abstract":"Staffing and managerial aspects of information systems in U. S. and Canadian art museums are examined. In general, art museums have non-professional computing staff, strong influences on the information systems function from outside the organization, and weak IS planning and control.Differences in the information systems environment of the charitable nonprofit versus the private sector are discussed. Based on the empirical results, modifications are made to the stage theory of end user computing to encompass a wider range of organizational and staffing types.","PeriodicalId":426630,"journal":{"name":"ACM Sigcpr Computer Personnel","volume":"186 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1992-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129466811","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This article validates a conceptual model of the relationship among training, ability, and acceptance of information technology within organizations. Previously developed to explain the relationship for end users, the model is tested for information systems personnel as well. To examine these variables (training, ability, and acceptance) and their interrelationships, an instrument was developed, pretested, and completed by 232 employees at eight different organizations. Based on the results of this study, the model is validated for both IS personnel and end users of information technology, indicating that positive relationships exist between (1) the IT-related training of an individual and his/her ability to use IT, (2) an individual's ability to use IT and his/her use of IT, and (3) an individual's ability to use IT and his/her satisfaction with IT. The implications and possibilities for further research are discussed.
{"title":"Training, ability, and the acceptance of information technology: an empirical study of IS personnel and end users","authors":"R. R. Nelson, M. Kattan, P. Cheney","doi":"10.1145/126524.126527","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/126524.126527","url":null,"abstract":"This article validates a conceptual model of the relationship among training, ability, and acceptance of information technology within organizations. Previously developed to explain the relationship for end users, the model is tested for information systems personnel as well. To examine these variables (training, ability, and acceptance) and their interrelationships, an instrument was developed, pretested, and completed by 232 employees at eight different organizations. Based on the results of this study, the model is validated for both IS personnel and end users of information technology, indicating that positive relationships exist between (1) the IT-related training of an individual and his/her ability to use IT, (2) an individual's ability to use IT and his/her use of IT, and (3) an individual's ability to use IT and his/her satisfaction with IT. The implications and possibilities for further research are discussed.","PeriodicalId":426630,"journal":{"name":"ACM Sigcpr Computer Personnel","volume":"42 ","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1991-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134480627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This article describes a research project that is scheduled for completion during the latter part of 1991. The purpose of the research is to develop a decision support system (DSS) that can aid novice interviewers in their evaluation of candidates applying for programmer/analyst positions. As of this writing, the DSS has been developed, and only the validation remains.
{"title":"Use of a decision support system to evaluate candidates applying for programmer/analyst positions","authors":"Hae-Ching Chang, R. McLeod","doi":"10.1145/126524.126525","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/126524.126525","url":null,"abstract":"This article describes a research project that is scheduled for completion during the latter part of 1991. The purpose of the research is to develop a decision support system (DSS) that can aid novice interviewers in their evaluation of candidates applying for programmer/analyst positions. As of this writing, the DSS has been developed, and only the validation remains.","PeriodicalId":426630,"journal":{"name":"ACM Sigcpr Computer Personnel","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1991-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130371639","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This paper reports results from a survey of IS graduates of twenty-two bachelor's level IS programs across the United States. The survey asked the graduates about their current positions: type of organization, type of work, major duties, salary, and certification. In addition, the survey asked about specific courses and their relevance to the respondents' current work. The results of the study should help human resource professionals in evaluating prospective IS employees and in career development for IS professionals.
{"title":"What information systems graduates are really doing: an update","authors":"C. Beise, Thomas C. Padgett, Fred J. Ganoe","doi":"10.1145/122393.122394","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/122393.122394","url":null,"abstract":"This paper reports results from a survey of IS graduates of twenty-two bachelor's level IS programs across the United States. The survey asked the graduates about their current positions: type of organization, type of work, major duties, salary, and certification. In addition, the survey asked about specific courses and their relevance to the respondents' current work. The results of the study should help human resource professionals in evaluating prospective IS employees and in career development for IS professionals.","PeriodicalId":426630,"journal":{"name":"ACM Sigcpr Computer Personnel","volume":"45 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1991-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127059907","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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