Alignment of technology and information systems tasks: a Singapore perspective
| Date | 01 September 1999 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/02635579910253788 |
| Pages | 235-246 |
| Published date | 01 September 1999 |
| Author | Sim Kim Lau,Ang Yang Ang,Graham Winley |
| Subject Matter | Economics,Information & knowledge management,Management science & operations |
Alignment of technology and information systems
tasks: a Singapore perspective
Sim Kim Lau
Department of Business Systems, University of Wollongong, Wollongong,
New South Wales, Australia
Ang Yang Ang
Department of Business Systems, University of Wollongong, Wollongong,
New South Wales, Australia
Graham Winley
University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
Introduction
A considerable body of literature has devel-
oped, particularly in the past ten years,
which examines the nature of the informa-
tion technology/information systems (IT/IS)
discipline, IS curricula and the education
and training needs of IS professionals in an
environment which is dynamic in terms of
technological innovations and changing or-
ganizational structures. Many studies have
focused on the design of IS curricula and
have been influenced by information gath-
ered from IS academics and practising IS
professionals (Cassidy, 1990; DEET, 1992; Ang
and Winley, 1993; Knapp, 1993; Ang et al.,
1994; Jones and Dick, 1994; Monin and Deive,
1994; Quarstein et al., 1994; Richards and
Pelley, 1994; Sallis, 1994). Some of the major
issues identified include: a perceived gap
between IS curricula objectives and the needs
of practising professionals (Trauth et al.,
1993); the need for graduates to have high-
level communication skills (Jiang, 1994); and
the balance between the emphasis placed on
these systems development and systems
management skills (Winley et al., 1997).
In addition, it is important to note that the
dynamic nature of information technology
and rapid change of technology can influence
the nature of work performed by IS/IT
professionals (Cassidy, 1990). Technologies
which are being used at present will have an
impact on skills and knowledge acquisition
today and technologies which become im-
portant in the future will have an impact for
future long-term education and training for
IS/IT professionals.
Purpose of the study
The purpose of this study is to identify the
importance of various technologies used in a
range of organizations in Singapore and to
identify tasks perceived by IS/IT profes-
sionals to be important at present and in the
future. The relationship between technolo-
gies and tasks will also be examined.
Method
The study was conducted in 1996 and 1997. A
cover letter explaining the purpose of the
study and questionnaire were sent to a total
of 200 large organizations in Singapore (Dun
and Bradstreet, 1995).
The questionnaire was divided into three
parts. Part A consists of questions relating to
the organizations:
.number of IS/IT employees employed in
the organization;
.planned investment in IS/IT over the next
five years; and
.questions relating to systems development
in the organization.
Part B consists of a list of 35 technologies (see
Appendix A) adopted from Cassidy (1990).
Each technology is grouped under one of six
categories: systems architecture, telecom-
munications and networks, languages, sys-
tems development, database, and open
systems (3). Part C consists of a list of 72 tasks
(see Appendix B) adopted from Lau et al.
(1996) and Cassidy (1990). Each task is
categorized as a systems development (SD),
systems management (SM) or systems sup-
port (SS) task. The categorization of each task
has been presented and discussed in a
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Industrial Management &
Data Systems
99/6 [1999] 235±246
#MCB University Press
[ISSN 0263-5577]
Keywords
Information systems,
Information technology,
Singapore, Organizational change
Abstract
Technology can influence the nat-
ure of work performed by informa-
tion systems and information
technology professionals. This
study aims to identify technolo-
gies and tasks performed by in-
formation systems and information
technology professionals in a
range of business organisations in
Singapore. The study examines
what technologies will become
increasingly important in the busi-
ness organizations as advances in
information technology affect the
work performed by information
systems professionals. A list of
information systems tasks and
relationships between the tasks
and technologies will be exam-
ined. The role of information sys-
tems and information technology
professionals in relation to the
tasks performed will also be dis-
cussed.
This study was completed
with financial support from
the Faculty of Commerce
Research Committee at the
University of Wollongong,
Australia.
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