Innovative teaching materials and methods for systems analysis and design

Abstract

This article describes materials and methods for a course in systems analysis and design. While the article is prescriptive rather than empirical, it offers new directions for instructors who wish to adopt an action research approach to syllabus development. Information systems developers perform two roles in the process of managing a development project: the developer is both analyst/designer and facilitator. Traditional textbooks for systems analysis and design courses emphasize the analyst/designer role, but say little about the facilitator role. We have developed course materials and teaching methods to address facilitation skills: outcome thinking, group process, and communications. We also emphasize some analyst/designer skills that are not addressed in the traditional texts, such as creative thinking. socio-technical systems, and CASE tool concepts. Our teaching methods include the personal journal, which allows students to tailor classroom materials to their own needs, as well as other methods for providing experiential learning of course materials.