ERIC Number: EJ1158380
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Oct
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2327-5324
EISSN: N/A
What Spreadsheet and Database Skills Do Business Students Need?
Coleman, Phillip D.; Blankenship, Ray J.
Journal of Instructional Pedagogies, v19 Oct 2017
The Principles of Information Systems course taught at a medium-sized Midwest University consists of Information Systems conceptual material plus Microsoft Excel and Access skills that the Information Systems faculty feel are most important to business students from all business disciplines. These skills range from using basic mathematic functions and formulas to complex "what-if" statements for Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. Microsoft Access topics range from constructing simple tables, queries, forms, and reports to complex calculations using Expression Builder. However, aside from a few comments from faculty teaching in accounting, economics, management, finance, or marketing, it is not known specifically what specific skills that faculty from other major universities consider important for successful completion of their programs. A survey consisting of 18 spreadsheet and database case attributes was sent to graduating seniors, business faculty and to area businesses requesting that they rate each case as to its importance in their specific major, business curriculum or knowledge skill set respectively. Each participant was asked to select the appropriate block on a Likert scale ranging from "not very important" to "very important" for each of all 18 cases. The responses were returned by 18 students, 22 faculty, and 81 area businesses. While there was nothing that indicated that the Information Systems faculty were not teaching important skills there were some interesting facts noted. Considering this, the faculty has decided to broaden the scope within each case to ensure fluency in Excel and Access by employing a fewer number of cases and more emphasis on specific skills.
Descriptors: Business Administration Education, Spreadsheets, Databases, Skill Development, College Seniors, College Faculty, Professional Personnel, Business, Majors (Students), Curriculum, Knowledge Level, Likert Scales, Technological Literacy, Teaching Methods, Information Systems, Surveys
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A