MIS/IT TodayMIS/IT Today

Christian Brothers UniversitySchool of Business

Choosing a Field of Study

• Competition for the best degreed jobs is tough !

• You must choose your field of study very carefully:

• Something you enjoy doing

• Something you do well

• A field that is going to grow strongly !

NACE August 2008[National Association of Colleges and Employers]

• In 2008, MIS graduates saw healthier increases in their average salaries that any other field (8.2%) with an average of $50,888 – 71% of offers were over $50,000

• Average salary for IT, MIS, and computer science graduates were higher that any other field

IT is Strong, and Getting Stronger !

• Although they took some knocks in the early 2000’s, software workers have the strongest prospects in the economy !• Business Magazine, March 2003

• “Software Engineers top list of best jobs with average pay of $80,500.• Money Magazine 2006 (Salary.com survey)

• In April 2006, more Americans were employed in IT than at any other time in the nation’s history !• Information Week - April 18, 2006

Fastest Growth Rates Thru 2014[2006 - US Bureau of Labor Statistics]

• Computer System Software Engineer ($81,140)• Computer Application Software engineer ($76,310)• Biomedical Engineer ($70,520)• Physician Assistant ($69,250)• Environmental Engineer ($67,620)• Computer Systems Analyst ($67,520)• Database Administrator ($61,950)• Physical Therapist ($61,560• Network Analyst ($61,250)• Hydrologist ($60,880)

IT “Most Lucrative”

Information Technology• IT jobs have now fully recovered from the

“dot-com bust” and outsourcing scares !• The US Commerce Department estimates

1.3 million new IT jobs will be created through the year 2006, up from earlier estimates of 1 million

• That would bring IT up to 8% of our economy; that’s more people than build cars and trucks at the US Big 3

• Incredible worldwide IT shortage today

• Over 500,000 unfilled IT jobs in the United States today

• 10% of available positions !• Department of Commerce

• The technical graduate shortage (less students graduating in technology) has been developing since the 90’s

• It will take a long time before supply and demand are back in sync

Exciting Times for Information Technology !!!

• Companies using IT as primary customer interface (sales, customer support, logistics support)

• Electronic Commerce between companies (EDI)• Globalization (International business)• Internet - a redefinition of ways of doing business• Re-engineering corporate mainframe system and

client/server systems to web based applications• IT Security Issues• Decision Support – information an a primary asset

Role of Information Technology

• In today’s world, information systems play a key role and an increasing role in the overall process of producing/delivering products or providing services

• For a growing number of CEO’s, IT is the “critical factor” for success• Information Week Magazine

• “A competitive advantage comes only with superior IT”• Aetna Healthcare - Chairman/CEO (Huber)

Internet• It took the telephone 40 years to reach 50

million users• It took radio 38 years to reach 50 million

users• It took cable TV 10 years to reach 50

million users• It only took the Internet 5 years to reach

50 million users !!!

2007 Graduates

Hot IT Skills• New Computer Languages (Java, PHP, C++)• Web Development (HTML, XMK, JavaScript,

PHP, Cold Fusion, ASP)• Database (MySql, Access, SQL Server, Oracle,

DB2)• Operating Systems ( Linux, Unix, Windows)• Networking (TCP/IP) & Internetworking• Security• Computer Graphics• Enterprise Applications & ERP• Project Management

IT Base and Manager Salaries

U.S. Tech Employment Hits Its Highest Point In Seven Years

[Information Week, July 2007]• The unemployment rate for IT occupations fell to 2%, and total IT

employment has reached nearly 3.6 million, better than it has been the past seven years, according to the most recent household employment survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

• The results paint a much better picture for the health of the IT profession than during the recession of 2003 and 2004, when the IT unemployment rate hit 5.3%.

• But a shift in the type of work U.S. tech workers do also is continuing. The biggest job gains the past year come for software engineers, IT managers, and network systems analysts. Programmers and support specialists continue to lose jobs.

• Total IT employment of 3.58 million and the size of the available IT workforce -- 3.65 million working or unemployed -- are at their highest levels since the BLS started using these eight computer-related job categories in 2000.

• At 2%, the tech unemployment rate matches that of the larger management and professional class measured by BLS. Employers added about 93,000 computer-related jobs from a year ago.

Top 10 Jobs Where Employers Come Looking for YOU[Chloë Dowley , YAHOO Education 6/29,2007]

• Computer Software Engineer - The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts this occupation to be one of the fastest-growing through 2014.

• Paralegal - With employers trying to cut costs by replacing lawyers with these well-trained professionals, paralegals are expected to be in high demand.

• Accountant - According to CNNMoney.com, job-hunters in accounting can probably negotiate a great salary due to the high demand for accountants.

• Occupational Therapist - The need for occupational therapy is growing and qualified workers may find themselves overwhelmed by job possibilities.

• Post-Secondary Teachers - Number two on CNN.com's list of the top 50 jobs in America, this one's a great bet if you're willing to put in some time earning a teaching degree. Teachers in the fields of health, business, and computer science are especially in demand.

• Actuary - Essential in risk assessment for the insurance industry, actuaries are highly skilled in mathematics and should have strong computer skills.

• Medical Assistant - It is possible to have a career in medicine without devoting the next decade of your life to school.

• Lawyer - With growth coming from the areas of health care, energy, and environmental law, lawyers will be needed in the years to come.

• Home Health Aide - Home health aides are desperately needed as our population ages and needs extra medical care.

• Computer Systems Analyst - With more and more organizations relying on information technology, computer systems analysts are needed.

Degrees vs Job Openings

IT/MIS Jobs[Next 10 years, CNN News 2/2008]

• 1. Network systems and data communications analystsProjected growth by 2016: 53 percentMedian annual salary: $64,600

• 2. Computer applications software engineersProjected growth by 2016: 45 percentMedian annual salary: $79,780

• 3. Database administratorsProjected growth by 2016: 29 percentMedian annual salary: $64,670

• 4. Computer systems software engineersProjected growth by 2016: 28 percentMedian annual salary: $85,370

• 5. Network and computer systems administratorsProjected growth by 2016: 27 percentMedian annual salary: $62,130

“New Breed of IT Manager” [InfoWorld, April 6, 1998]

• It used to be that software designers and programmers worked alone, which led to the perception that their technical skills we more important than their people skills

• Now with flatter management structures and the use of “teams” for rapid response to global opportunities, IT staff also need strong communication, business, and project management skills

“Dual Personalities”[Computerworld, January, 2001]

• “Business technologists – masters of both technology and business strategy – are becoming increasing critical to organizations”

• “Creating or finding employees skilled in both business and technology is a tall order”

Information Week (12/08/2003)

• Most business leaders are forecasting an increase in hiring for information technology workers in 2004 and beyond

• The surge in new IT hiring will demand a cross between sophisticated technical skills and business intelligence

What is the MIS Specialization?

Focus:• Current, Practical and Relevant Skills

Integration of:• Computer Science

• Systems Analysis and Design

• Telecommunications & Operating Systems

• Database and Applications• Business Core Disciplines (Accounting, Finance, Statistics,

Economics, Management, Business Law, Marketing, and Ethics)

• Solving Business Problems using Information Technology

Many Job Types Available in MIS/IT

MIS Specialization Courses

• MicroComputer Applications (153)• Introduction to MIS (231)• Systems Analysis and Design• Networks and Security• Database Management• Applications (including web programming)• Practicum and Project Management