What do information technology managers need to know about how to improve the systems development process through joint optimization? Why?"

Read

McSweeney, A. (2011) Integrating It Frameworks, Methodologies And Best Practices Into It Delivery And Operation. Slideshare. [PPT presentation]. Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/alanmcsweeney/integrating-it-frameworks-methodologies-and-best-practices-into-it-delivery-and-operation-3528481

But what are IT managers actually learning? Does it fit in with what we have been talking about? Check out the following articles, as you will find out when you hit the job market!

Dillon, A. (2000). Group dynamics meet cognition: combining socio-technical concepts and usability engineering in the design of information systems. in E. Coakes,. et al. (Eds.) The New Socio Tech: Graffitti on the long wall. London: Springer-Verlag, pp 119-126. Retrieved from http://www.ischool.utexas.edu/~adillon/BookChapters/sociotechnical.html

Grudin, J. (2009). The development of interactive systems. Retrieved from http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/people/jgrudin/past/Papers/IEEE91/IEEE91.html

Finally, here is a very thoughtful blog post regarding education and the real world; it is cast more in terms of computer science than IT management, but the same issues are involved. Be sure to read through the comments following the basic post, to get a sense of the range of reactions and ideas provoked by this discussion:

Sommerville, I. (2011) Computer science education and the real world. Thoughts on software and systems engineering. Retrieved from http://se9book.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/computer-science-education-and-the-real-world/

paper should be short (5-6 pages, not including cover sheet and references) and to the point. It is to be structured as a point/counterpoint argument, in the following manner.

You are expected to:

• Begin this paper by stating your position on this question clearly and concisely
• Citing appropriate sources, present the reasons why you take this position. Be sure to make the most effective case you can. Then present the best evidence you can, again citing appropriate sources, against your position -- that is, establish what counterarguments can be made to your original position.
• Finally, review your original position in light of the counterarguments, showing how they are inadequate to rebut your original statement.

By the end of your paper, you should be able to unequivocally re-affirm your original position.