This report and research analysis relate to the Milwaukee Area Technical College Research Project, a study undertaken to determine a curriculum to meet the information processing/management training needs of individuals entering or continuing careers in the information marketing and business data processing occupational clusters. The report of this project describes the research design--a survey of approximately 400 Data Processing Management Association members and 150 members of a small business users group with follow-up interviews. These outcomes are reported: (1) respondents prioritized courses; (2) competencies in some courses were revised and upgraded; (3) a competency-based curriculum model was developed; (4) new courses were created; and (5) the training needs of employees were identified. The research analysis describes the survey technique and discusses findings of the study, which identified the topics in data processing and management information systems that businesses and industry considered essential. Findings are reported under these headings: profile of companies surveyed; job titles used in organizations; job titles that will become part of the information systems environment; priority of technical courses and of supportive courses; data analysis based on company size; and identification of technical and supportive courses. Seventeen tables are included. Appendixes contain 36 tables based on data analysis determined by company size. (YLB)