Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
each group responsible for their own information gathering. Although this would simulate
the process more accurately, this is generally not considered a viable option in the teaching
area of large groups of students, where the same questions would be presented numerous
times.
Students are not given inaccurate information or time delays due to intraorganization
conflicts; however, they are only given the information they ask for, and this can sometimes
lead to the introduction of poor or incomplete information. Occasionally, due to onshore and
offshore teaching commitments, students are unable to contact the business which, in part,
simulates the situations experienced by the author in the inability to contact key project
personnel due to roster issues. Although the students only experience delays of three to four
days maximum, it impacts their time management considerably, as they tend to delay starting
the assignment until close to the due date rather than managing their time as they would in
industry.
Software Issues
Case studies are carefully produced to ensure that all the tasks required to be completed
or implemented are achievable with the software being utilized. As this is not always the case
in business, students are not exposed to these issues. The course aims to give the students
some awareness of the limitations of the software (as experienced by non-IS professionals),
and therefore, they tend to appreciate these limitations without actually experiencing them
fully.
FUTURE PLANS
In order to improve the student experience, the next phase of this course is to identify
actual businesses requiring the development of a small database, and allow the students to
experience, first hand, the trials and tribulations of working with an actual business.
The continual assessment of the implementation of group work with external and
offshore students will be undertaken to ensure that the experience simulates that which would
be undertaken in a business setting.
CONCLUSION
Although there is still room for refinement of the case-study delivery of this course,
students are rising to the challenge of dealing with “real-life” business problems. Issues
relating to equity between internal and external students as well as those who do not have
access to the Web-based discussion forum must be addressed to ensure that all students
are achieving the learning outcomes of this course.
Some students are relying heavily on other groups or group members to lead the way,
without understanding the importance of the system development phases. It is these
students who present only partially completed or poorly designed applications, and as such,
further research is required into better ways to deliver the case-study approach.
The aim of this course is to help students to recognize the importance of the steps
required to achieve a good quality software application, even though they are non-IS
professionals. It also seeks to encourage students to recognize the implications of their
