Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
In this chapter, case studies used to assist business students in understanding the
complexities of database development are explored, and these experiences are contrasted
with those of the author in industry.
THE COURSE
The University offers a range of undergraduate business degrees, including majors in
Administrative Management, Commerce, International Business, and Tourism. Students in
these programs are required to take an IT literacy course that provides them with a basic
introduction to standard PC application software as well as an overview of the use of
information systems in organizations.
Recent graduates have sought assistance from tutors in the design and implementation
of small-scale databases required in their employment. It was this feedback that led to the
redesign of a course that would provide students with an active introduction to the problems
experienced in the end-user development of databases.
Graduates highlighted that many of them (and others in their organizations) were
required to develop database applications. Mostly, these end users demonstrated little
understanding of the concepts of problem solving and information gathering, and analysis,
design, and implementation issues for database applications. They did not recognize the
implications of the process of application development, or the quality of the applications
developed, for the organization (Barker & Monday, 2000).
The graduates raised concerns, as they were being required to build applications using
Microsoft software, however, they had only been introduced to the software's applications
generators or “wizards” in the computer literacy course. It was as these graduates explored
the need for more advanced features of the software that they began to understand the
potential and the limitations of using only the wizards or basic features of the software.
Design of the application was also raised as an issue. Although a number of the
graduates became proficient in the tools of the software, they had only a limited understand-
ing of design principles in relation to data structure, inputs including data validation, outputs,
and the interface. Thus, the applications tended to fail in terms of “user friendliness” and in
achieving the level of accuracy and efficiency expected in data input and output. Winter,
Chudoba, and Gutek (1997) suggested that this is likely to be caused partly by the lack of
attention paid to the role of IS literacy in helping the end user to be efficient and effective.
As a result of these concerns, this course was developed at a level for second-year
undergraduates and is core to the Administrative Management degree program. However,
with the proliferation of end-user development, students from other business degrees are
recognizing the benefits of taking such a course as an elective.
This first-semester course concentrates on data management, systems development
theory, small-scale database construction using Microsoft Access, and the impact of end-
user development on business. The course is taught using case studies written in consul-
tation with business or based on the industrial experience of the staff working on the program.
Kreber (2001) described case studies as “the detailed description of a particular real life
situation or problem as it happened in the past or as it could happen in the professional life
of the student.” The use of case studies is encouraged in higher education, as it tends to
involve students in a more active learning process. This can be seen to be in line with the four
