Teaching the Systems Approach in the Information Systems Curriculum

This paper contends that establishing a central theme in the information systems curriculum is important to program stakeholders. An analysis of the IS 2010 Curriculum Guidelines (Topi et al., 2010) reveals that the systems approach can be an effective integrating theme throughout the IS curriculum. This paper concludes that the systems approach to problem solving, applied at different levels of abstraction throughout an IS program, can be a unifying theme linking technology, management, organization and transformation processes. The systems approach is a problem solving approach to supporting organizations. The key stakeholders of information systems programs would benefit from a persistent theme of the systems approach throughout the curriculum. This paper will establish the importance of establishing a theme in the IS curriculum, define the systems approach, and examine the IS 2010 Curriculum Guidelines for elements of the systems approach. The paper concludes with tactics/strategies to integrate the systems approach to current and future IS students.