ABSTRACT
In this paper, we present preliminary research into the skills that entry-level IT Consultants need. Our data sources are senior-level IT consultants from six different companies and senior IS students who had just completed an IT consulting class where they were mentored by 12 different consulting firms. We used focus groups and open-ended surveys to get rich detailed data and then analyzed the results. Based upon this, we expand the identified skills for an entry-level IT Consultant to include being able to cope with changes, taking a holistic view of a problem, knowing when to ask for help, being a self-starter and having good time management skills. We found that both written and oral communication skills were important and that senior consultants looked for entry level personnel who were well-rounded.
- Bassellier, G., Reich, B. H. and Benbasat, I. (2001) "Information Technology Competence of Business Managers: A Definition and Research Model," Journal of Management Information Systems, 17(4), pp. 159--182. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Downey, J.P., McMurtrey, M.E., and Zeltmann, S.M. (2008) "Mapping the MIS Curriculum Based on Critical Skills of New Graduates: An Empirical Examination of IT Professionals," Journal of Information Systems Education, 19(3), pp. 351--363.Google Scholar
- Djavanshir G.R. and Agresti, W.W. (2007), "IT Consulting: Communication Skills are Key," IT Professional Magazine, 9(1), pp. 46--50. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Gallivan, M. J., Truex, D. P. and Kvasny, L. (2004) "Changing Patterns in IT Skill Sets 1988--2003: A Content Analysis of Classified Advertising," Databases for Advances in Information Systems, 35(3), pp. 64--87. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Huang, H., Kvasny, L., Joshi, K. D., Trauth, E., and Mahar, J. (2009) "Synthesizing IT Job Skills Identified in Academic Studies, Practitioner Publications and Job Ads," Proceedings of SIGMIS CPR 09, May 28--30, 2009, Limerick, Ireland, pp. 121--127. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Joshi, K. D., Kuhn, K.M. and Niederman, F. (2010) "Excellence in IT Consulting: Integrating Multiple Stakeholders' Perceptions of Top Performers," IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 57(4), pp. 589--606.Google ScholarCross Ref
- Joshi, K.D. and Kuhn, K.M. (2007) "What it takes to succeed in information technology consulting: Exploring the gender typing of critical attributes," Information Technology & People, 20(4), pp. 400--424.Google ScholarCross Ref
- Komarjaya, J., Huifang, L, and Bock, G.-W. (2004). "Consulting from students' perspective,"Consulting to Management, 15(2), pp. 29--33.Google Scholar
- Lee, D., Trauth, E. and Farwell, D. (1995) "Critical skills and knowledge requirements of IS Professionals: A joint academic and industry investigation", MIS Quarterly, 19(3), pp. 313--338. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Lee C. K. (2005). "Transferability of skills over the IT Career Path,"Proceedings of SIGMIS CPR 05, April 14-16, 2004, Atlanta, Georgia, pp. 85--93. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Lee, K. and Mirchandani, D. (2009). "Analyzing the dynamics of skill sets for the U.S. information systems work force using latent growth curve modeling," Proceedings of SIGMIS CPR 09, May 28-30, 2009, Limerick Ireland, pp. 113--120. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Purao, S. and Suen H. (2010) "Designing a Multi-Faceted Metric to Evaluate Soft Skills,"Proceedings of SIGMIS CPR 10, May 20-22, 2010, Vancouver, BC, Canada, pp. 88--90. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Straub, D.W. (1989) "Validating Instruments in MIS Research," MIS Quarterly, 13(2), pp. 147--169 Google ScholarDigital Library
- Todd, P.A., McKeen, J.D. and Gallupe, R.B. (1995) "The evolution of IS job skills: a content analysis of IS job advertisements from 1970 to 1990,"MIS Quarterly, 19(1), pp. 1--26. Google ScholarDigital Library
Index Terms
- Identifying skills for entry-level IT consultants
Recommendations
Synthesizing IT job skills identified in academic studies, practitioner publications and job ads
SIGMIS CPR '09: Proceedings of the special interest group on management information system's 47th annual conference on Computer personnel researchThis research examines IT job skills across three genres of texts: scholarly articles, practitioner literature, and online job ads. The job skills are organized in three broad categories: technical, humanistic and business skills. Findings suggest that ...
Changing patterns in IT skill sets 1988-2003: a content analysis of classified advertising
This paper examines trends in required job skills for IT professionals. Through an empirical study of classified job advertising for IT professionals over the past 17 years, we evaluate whether the observed trends support earlier predictions offered by ...
Developing a survey to identify IT consultant skills for incorporating in the IS curriculum
SIGMIS-CPR '12: Proceedings of the 50th annual conference on Computers and People ResearchIn this paper, we describe the research questions and methodology for a research project investigating excellent performance in Information Technology consulting, both technical and behavioral attributes. Exploratory qualitative data will be gathered ...
Comments