Management of Information Systems Projects
Each spring, students in the Lerner College MIS program, participate in projects involving actual companies, organizations, and charities. These two course—technical problem-solving (MISY431) and problem-solving project management (MISY432)—guide the students though the process of defining, researching, analyzing, recommending, and implementing solutions that address the client’s problem or issue. These projects challenge the students to combine their academic experience with the realities of today’s business environment. The ideal project allows the students to be able to implement their solution even if it is only a pilot or prototype.
Projects typically ask students to solve a business problem that has a technology solution or component. The projects begin in early February and end in mid-May. The students are graduating seniors; each organization is assigned a team of 4 to 6 students. Both MIS majors and MIS minors participate: MIS majors have a strong technology background, along with a concentration in another business or IT discipline. The MIS minors are business majors (ACCT, FINC, OM, MGT, MKT, EC) or computer science majors.
These students are mentored and monitored by experienced faculty who collectively have over 30 years of experience working with students, as well as more than 35 years of consulting experience in industry.
What Kinds of Projects Do Students Work on?
- network and host configurations
- automate tasks to reduce customer wait times and return trips
- assess, implement, and train new users of various web-development tools
- develop an integrated computer system for accounting, fundraising, and shop sales.
- analyze current systems/software and determine how the processes/functions can be integrated to function more efficiently
- research a product to determine if other solutions may be more feasible and implement the recommended solution.
- analyze systems to determine if processes can be improved
- create IT marketing programs
- identify process improvements and other database/technology needs and implement changes
How Do Students Benefit from the Experience?
- Real-worldExperience: The opportunity to use the years of education to solve an actual business problem while working with industry professionals creates an understanding and a confidence that is difficult to gain in any other academic setting.
- Understanding the Nature of Consulting:Many students begin their careers with leading consulting firms. This experience has been cited by alumni as the single most useful experience of their academic careers.
- Interacting in Cross-functional Teams:The MIS Minor is the only opportunity for students to work on a structured problem in a cross-functional environment. This allows students to begin to appreciate the talents of an academically diverse group and to learn practical methods of communication.
- Matching the Project with the Students’ Strengths: To maximize a student's interest in the specific problem or issue to be addressed, the student determines on which project team to work.
For more information or to learn what students enrolled in the Capstone course can do for your business, please contact Diane Wright, MIS Project Coordinator, at 302-831-6515.
