Authors: Paul Ralph
Tags: 2012, analytical research, education, process theory, software engineering
The Association for Computing Machinery and the Association for Information Systems publish a variety of “model curricula” including recommendations for bachelors degrees in Software Engineering and Information Systems. Anecdotally speaking, these model curricula appear well constructed, covering many important and useful topics; however, design-related topics seem underrepresented. This paper therefore investigates whether model curricula omit crucial design concepts by comparing them to Herbert Simon’s suggested topics for curriculum in design science and Sensemaking-Coevolution-Implementation Theory (an explanatory theory of the software design process). This analysis reveals good coverage of Sensemaking, problem modeling, and Implementation but poor coverage in both curricula of the generation of solution candidates. Revising these influential model curricula to improve coverage of this crucial topic may positively influence many degree programs globally. Specific recommendations include refocusing covering design candidate generation strategies and techniques such as means-ends analysis and sketching.
Cite as:
Ralph P. (2012), “Improving Coverage of Design in Information Systems Education,” in AIS SIGSAND, Vancouver, BC, Canada, June 1-2, 2012.
