Volume 1 Number 2
Winter, 1998
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23-29

V.J. Hobbs, T.J McGill,. and H.E Rowe.
Murdoch University, Australia

This study investigated the ability of students to assess the quality of applications they developed as part of their course work. Both students and independent expert assessors scored the applications on various dimensions of quality. Students rated all aspects of their applications more highly than did the experts. Although students and experts agreed in their relative assessments of user-friendliness, a negative correlation existed between student and expert assessments of the reliability dimension. Some implications of these results for teaching are discussed.

31-36

Training Facilitators for Face-to-Face Electronic Meetings: An Experiential Learning Approach

Pak Yoong
Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand

The need for effective facilitation in Group Support Systems (GSS) environments is well documented. Results from recent studies of facilitation in face-to-face electronic meetings have demonstrated that more and different research is required before we have a clearer picture of GSS facilitation. The training of GSS facilitators has been acknowledged as an important issue in GSS research but, up to now, has received little research attention. This paper describes an experiential learning approach to the training of facilitators for face-to-face electronic meetings. It begins with a description of the nature of GSS facilitation training. The experiential learning method of training is then explained. Finally, the GSS facilitation training program is described.

37-42

Arlene August & Judy Caouette
Pace University, USA

This paper examines the process and outcome of a major curriculum update for the Office Information Systems (OIS) major in the Office Information Systems Department in the School of Computer Science and Information Systems (CSIS) at Pace University. The curriculum was updated to better prepare our students for success as end-user specialists in today’s flattened organizations. The changes made were based on modules recommended from the Office Systems Research Association (OSRA)--recommendations that were both reliable and valid. OSRA’s national curriculum was flexible enough to allow us to incorporate regional business demands as well as adhere to CSIS’s mission statement. The success of this curriculum, now two years old, is measured by the success of our graduates (B.Sc. degree) in obtaining meaningful employment.

43-51

Practical Liability Issues of Information Technology Education: Internship and Consulting Engagements

Daniel A. Peak & Michael J. O'Hara
University of Nebraska at Omaha, USA

This article examines university liability created by internship and consulting relationships. Business clients participating in outreach relationships formulate performance expectations based on perceptions of experience and / or qualifications. Clients assign tasks accordingly, and the university incurs liability that is conditioned by business clients’ expectations. Substantial liability is related to unusually large and rare unfavorable outcomes in the outreach engagement, known as tail events. Tail events can significantly and negatively impact the client. Both the liability for and the probability of tail events increase as universities continue to expand business outreach activities. As internship and consulting engagements increase, the probability of a tail event also increases. The responsibilities of IT intern engagements and potential liability of the sponsoring university are analyzed. The university is the primary insurer for the client and indemnifies its representatives. All internship engagements should be formalized by written contract. An example contract is attached.