Defining the information technology workforce from the educational perspectives: a pilot study

This paper reports the results of a pilot for a study that will investigate the scope of work practices performed by the information technology workforce (ITWF) and utilize the understanding developed from this investigation to inform the implementation of educational curricula that meet the needs of industry and society in general. To accurately define information technology (IT) and ITWF, it is vital to investigate the meaning of IT for the two major stakeholders: educational or training institutions that educate future IT workers, and organizations that employ the graduates of these programs to accomplish IT-related work. As a part of larger study, this pilot study addresses some of the research questions that are included in the investigation of the meaning of IT from the educational perspective.

The pilot study was conducted at Florida State University in late spring 2004. The objectives of this study were to identify the schools and departments that provide programs and degrees that educate the majority of IT workers; identify the technical and non-technical skills taught in these programs; and identify mathematics and science courses required for students enrolled in these programs; and to highlight differences in skills being taught in each of these programs and degrees.

The study identified schools and departments that represented the characteristic of IT specific and IT intensive disciplines based on Denning's categorization [6], then analyzed content of syllabi for undergraduate courses offered by the qualifying units. The general direction of the study was supported, although some methodological changes were indicated: (I) develop a less problematic method for identifying schools and departments educating individuals for careers in the IT workforce; (II) conduct interviews with faculty to verify interpretations of the skills being taught; and (III) establish standards for measuring intensity of skill and knowledge requirements.