© Heikki Topi

MSIS 2016 Progress Report

ACM Education CouncilDenver, CO

August 24-25, 2015Heikki Topi, Bentley University

BackgroundPreliminary ACM/AIS task force recommendation in

2013 to launch a comprehensive review of MSIS 2006; ACM and AIS decisions to move forward in 2013-2014

Funding commitment from ACM and AIS for three years 2014-2017

Joint ACM/AIS task force formed in 2014 (4+4 members)

Task force work started in December 2014

MSIS 2016 Task ForceACMHeikki Topi Bentley University, USA (co-chair)Brian Donnellan National University of Ireland, IrelandMark Thouin University of Texas at Dallas, USAJun Shen University of Wollongong, Australia

AISEija Helena KarstenÅbo Akademi, Finland (co-chair)Susan BrownUniversity of Arizona, USAJoão Alvaro Carvalho Universidade do Minho, PortugalBernard C.Y. Tan National University of Singapore

ScheduleTask force work started in December 2014First face-to-face meeting in April 2015First public deliverable in June 2015 – a position

paper to articulate key process and design architecture decisions (www.msis2016.org)

Three conference sessions in 2015: ECIS, PACIS, and AMCIS – active discussions at all of them

Second face-to-face meeting before ICIS 2015 (Fort Worth, TX) in December 2015

ScheduleFirst draft of the curriculum in January/February

2016Second draft of the curriculum in May/June 2016Third face-to-face meeting of the task force in

August 2016Submission to ACM and AIS in September 2016

Key Process ElementsHighly global process (including the task force composition)

Comprehensive review of existing programsStrong focus on understanding the key graduate competences

at the time of graduationGaining a deeper understanding of the IS profession

Comparisons with medicine, engineering, etc.Acknowledging the multiple existing forms of master’s degrees

in ISComments from a variety of stakeholder groupsUtilization of existing competence frameworks, such as e-CF

3.0 and SFIA v. 6

Core premisesMSIS is a professional master’s degree that integrates

computing with a specific domain of practiceMSIS requires an undergraduate degree in IS or another

computing discipline (or equivalent bridge studies)MSIS requires an academic background in its domain of

practice (or equivalent bridge studies)Different MSIS programs require different levels of

practical IS experience; it is possible to offer an MSIS to students without any IS work experience

Four key elements: computing, IS/IT management, domain of practice, and individual foundational competences

© Heikki Topi

Key Feedback Elements from Summer 2015MSIS degrees should be available for students with multiple

experience levelsBroad undergraduate backgrounds should be acceptableExisting competence frameworks are not sufficiently forward

looking – it is essential to try and understand the future competences (“need for a crystal ball”) Importance of engaging various stakeholder groups, particularly

recruiters and industry thought leadersAt the master’s level, the curriculum is only one source of

graduate competences – others have to be considered carefully, too

National and regional differences are truly significant

Work Continues – Your Feedback is EssentialWith questions or comments, please contact

Heikki Topi (htopi@bentley.edu)Thank you very much!