Responses to Information Systems Graduate Preparation and Job Needs: Implications for Higher Education

This study examined the perspectives on academic preparation and job skill needs of Information Systems programgraduates from an Eastern state in the US. A historical review of the literature surrounding information systems skillrequirements was conducted for this study, to provide an understanding of the changes in information systems overthe past several decades. This historical look at the literature placed into perspective the fact that the field changesrapidly, causing the need for the information systems professional to also continuously change. The study employeda non-experimental, research design to allow a descriptive interpretation of the views of recent IS graduates. Theresults of the study revealed that a consensus exists regarding the perceptions of the skills needed for the informationsystems worker. However, graduates are concerned about how these skills are being delivered to develop competentinformation systems professionals for the work force.