Information Systems for the Future

The author of INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR THE FUTURE has taught IS courses for more than 35 years. He has also served for the Education Testing Service on a committee that constructs the CLEP exam used to test out of the introductory IS course. This text contains all main concepts which are covered in all traditional IS texts. However, there are major differences between this text and the majority of the introductory IS texts on the market.

One major difference is that an entire chapter is devoted to Total Quality Management

while another entire chapter is devoted to Project Management. These topics are integral for MIS Professionals and are typically not covered in detail in introductory IS texts. Many group projects are suggested in this text. This is not the first text to suggest group projects but it is one of the few that covers Project Management skills and tools in depth prior to students being given group project assignments.

Another major difference in this text is it was written taking a global perspective throughout the text. For example, students are encouraged to analyze the changing market shares of browsers, operating systems, mobile systems by researching current data and comparing differences in trends when comparing countries. This text was written taking the view that this may be the only information systems course covered by students. It was written to be beneficial for all majors. Many references are given which are URLs providing current data and not relying on outdated static data. Thus students are encouraged to visit sites such as http://gs.statcounter.com/ in order to be able to use up to date information. Using the etext a student just needs to copy and paste to access current real world data. Of course the printed text is also available.

One other difference in this text is that it has been the author’s experience that a student who enjoys computer related work sometimes selects the wrong major. So rather than only discuss the types of IS jobs that exist, the text delineates the differences in possible career paths comparing Computer Science majors, Information Technology or Engineering majors, and Management Information Systems majors.

A last note is that the author has taught the material as given in this text for several years and actually presented it for years prior to the actual writing of this text.