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Sat, Nov 3, 4:00 - 4:25, Ellwood 1     Paper (refereed)
Recommended Citation: Harris, R B.  A Systems Analysis and Design Semester Project: A Stand-alone Project vs a Competitive Project.  In The Proceedings of the Information Systems Education Conference 2007, v 24 (Pittsburgh): §3712. ISSN: 1542-7382. (A later version appears in Information Systems Education Journal 7(11). ISSN: 1545-679X.)
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A Systems Analysis and Design Semester Project: A Stand-alone Project vs a Competitive Project

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Refereed8 pages
Ranida B. Harris    [a1] [a2]
School of Business
Indiana University Southeast    [u1] [u2]
New Albany, Indiana, USA    [c1] [c2]

Numerous educators have suggested and shown the value in having a real world project for a Systems Analysis and Design course. These real projects are often structured as semester group projects. Traditionally I have had each group work on a different client system. I changed this project structure when an opportunity presented itself to have students complete projects on the same client in more of a competitive environment, similar to an organization soliciting bids on analyzing and designing a new system. At the end of the semester, based on both student comments and the final deliverables, I concluded that there are definite pros and cons of having stand-alone vs. a competitive semester project. However, if I had to choose one, I would have students complete competitive semester projects as experience led me to believe that overall outcomes are better and more positive.

Keywords: group project, Systems Analysis and Design, teaching methods, semester project

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