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Abstract
With the extensive availability and rapidly decreasing cost of the Internet bandwidth around the world, the share of the outsourced service work from developed countries that is offshored is increasing. The global impact of this phenomenon has implications for properly preparing information systems (IS) students for this reality, whether to survive in this harsh reality or to seek potential opportunities. We present an exploratory case study of a successful curricular response to this reality. First, we examine background literature on outsourcing/offshoring phenomenon and on IS curricular redesign. A conceptual model is presented of team collaboration and outsourcing as they relate to IS graduate curriculum. A case study of one approach to an IS graduate curriculum redesign incorporating outsourcing is then introduced. The paper examines whether or not the case supports the usefulness of the model. We found that improved curricular coverage of interpersonal communications, cultural diversity, teamwork, and risk assessment contribute to success for graduates involved in outsourcing who participate in international collaborative teams. Consultation with industry is recommended for incorporating outsourcing in Master in IS/IT curricula.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
James B. Pick
James B. Pick is professor in School of Business at University of Redlands. He is past chair of the Department of Management and Business and past assembly chair of the School of Business. He is the author of 120 journal articles, book chapters, and refereed proceedings in the research areas of management information systems, geographic information systems, population, and urban studies, and author or co-author of eleven books, including Exploring the Urban Community: A Spatial Approach (2010, in press), Geo-Business: GIS in the Digital Organization (2008), and Geographic Systems in Business (editor, 2005). He was visiting researcher at University of California Irvine in 2005 and winter 2009 and visiting scholar at Lingnan University, Hong Kong in spring of 2009. Among his awards are Outstanding Faculty Research Awards in 1993, 2000, and 2008 from University of Redlands, Outstanding Alumni Award of College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Northern Illinois University in 2004, and Futcaight Senior Lecturer/Research Award in Mexico, 2001. He has been funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Ford Foundation and other agencies, and serves on five journal editorial boards. He holds a B.A. from Northwestern University, M.S.Ed. from Northern Illinois University, and Ph.D. from University of California Irvine.
Hindupur Ramakrishna
Hindupur Ramakrishna is a professor of information systems at the University of Redlands School of Business. At Redlands he is also the coordinator for the MSIT program and the Director of the study-abroad India program. He earned his Ph.D. from Georgia State University. His research interests focus on Information Systems personnel, IS curriculum, business analytics, and geographic information systems (GIS). He has taught in a variety of business schools in the U.S. during the past 31 years.
Dr. Ramakrishna is a member of the DSI, AIS, and INFORMS. He has published in the Interfaces, Journal of CIS, Omega, Information and Management, Human Performance, Human Resource Development Quarterly, Computer Personnel, and other journals.