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Paper (refereed) IT Education: Best Practices

Recommended Citation: Chrysler, E. A Methodology for Incorporating Programming Management Concepts Into a COBOL Course. In The Proceedings of the Information Systems Education Conference 2001, v 18 (Cincinnati): §12a.

A Methodology for Incorporating Programming Management Concepts Into a COBOL Course

Refereed

Earl Chrysler    [a1] [a2]
CIS Department
Quinnipiac University    [u1] [u2]
Hamden, Connecticut, USA    [c1] [c2]

A student in the first course in COBOL is typically taught the syntax of the language and basic processing logic, e.g., creating and updating files with file maintenance data and transactions and printing accounting and/or management reports. This paper presents a methodology for introducing the student to programming management procedures such as establishing program naming conventions, utilizing source statement library procedures for file definitions, and designing, performing and documenting thorough program tests. These techniques will not only assist students in developing valuable habits and recognizing the value of such programming management techniques, but make them aware that these techniques should be in place in the IS area in which they program or manage programmers. That is, the first COBOL course can be one of those courses that contains concepts of value not only in their entry-level position but in IS positions they hold later in their careers. The specific programming management procedures as they relate to COBOL programs are presented and examples are discussed.

Keywords: programming management, career skills, COBOL standards, program testing

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