SIGBDP 5 (Panel Discussion): Human resource requirements for business application development

In 1973, the Management Information Systems Research Center of the University of Minnesota and 14 “Associate Firms” headquartered in the Twin Cities conducted a study of skill requirements needed by and possessed by MIS practitioners. The study results were surprising when contrasted with recommendations made by the ACM Curriculum Committee on Computer Education for Management. This session will use the study results as a starting point for a discussion of what IS and DP practitioners need to know to perform their jobs. Positions from programmer to managerial leads were examined. After the introduction to the previous results and updating them to 1975, questions pertaining to the future will be examined. Included will be: What will the demand be for IS and DP personnel in the late 70's and 80's? What skills will be required for various positions? How are these skills to be provided, i.e., what is the role of OJT, Vendor Classes, Secondary Education? What is the current state of the affairs regarding education in MIS and what trends exist?