R. Ryan Nelson, "Educational Needs as Perceived by IS and End-User Personnel: A Survey of knowledge and Skill Requirements", MIS Quarterly, Dec, 1991, vol 15, no 4, pp. 503-525.
INTRODUCTORY EXPLANATION
Perceived usefulness (in an individual's job) of proficiency in the
following areas/constructs is measured by the items in parentheses:
Organizational knowledge (A1 - A4)
Organizational skills (A14 - A17)
Knowledge about the organizational unit (A10 - A12)
General IS knowledge (A5 - A9, A13)
Technical skills (A18 - A24)
IS product knowledge (A25 - A30)
An individual's perceived proficiency in the following areas/constructs
is measured by items in parentheses:
Organizational knowledge (B1 - B4)
Organizational skills (B14 - B17)
Knowledge about the organizational unit (B10 - B12)
General IS knowledge (B5 - B9, B13)
Technical skills (B18 - B24)
IS product knowledge (B25 - B30)
Sections C and D measure various demographics and have one question about
information system satisfaction (C2).
Note: text which was underlined in the original instruments is
presented in bold italics.
WELCOME!
You are about to participate in a study of opinions about the
importance of various knowledge and abilities within your organization.
Before we begin, I would like to define a few terms for you. Please
keep these definitions in mind when completing this questionnaire.
Information System (IS). A (computer-based) system that
processes data into a form that can be used by the recipient.
Information systems consist of transaction (data) processing systems
(e.g., payroll or accounting systems), management information systems
(e.g., exception or managerial reporting systems), decision support
systems (e.g., semi- or un-structured modeling systems), and office
automation systems (e.g., word processing, electronic mail, or calendar
management systems). Information systems can be personal, departmental,
or organizational in scope.
IS Personnel. Individuals whose primary job responsibility
involves the management, development, maintenance, or support of
information systems within the organization.
End Users. People (employees) who ultimately use the output of
an information system (IS). This definition pertains only to NON-IS
Personnel, i.e., persons outside the IS department.
Please indicate your job area by circulating the appropriate number
below:
1 IS Personnel 2 End User
Note: In completing this questionnaire, I am interested in
your opinion of the importance of various knowledge and abilities
within your organization.
Also, please remember the following:
1. All the information you give will be kept confidential.
2. I need answers to all questions (i.e., please don't skip any).
3. I would like your opinion. Please don't talk to others about how to
respond to the questions.
4. Move rapidly through the questionnaire. I am interested in your first
impressions, so please don't spend an excessive amount of time on each
question. The questionnaire should take no more than 15 minutes of
your time to complete.
Section A
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Please rate how important you believe proficiency in each item is for
________ to successfully perform their/your job.
a. IS personnel within your organization,
b. end user personnel within your organization, and
c. you
NOTE: Proficiency is defined as being advanced in knowledge
or ability.
2. For all three scales, within each item, circle a number from one
to five, indicating the importance of the item from "of no use":
represented by "1" to "of absolute necessity" represented by "5".
A-1 Knowledge about the goals and objectives of the organization (i.e.,
the corporate-wide business entity) is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-2 Knowledge about the primary functions of the organization is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-3 Knowledge about the few key factors that must go right if the
organization is to succeed is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-4 Knowledge about the environmental constraints that the organization
operates within (e.g., government regulation, supplier relationships,
competition, etc.) is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-5 Knowledge about information systems policies and plans within the
organization is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-6 Knowledge about the fit between IS policies and plans and the
overall goals and objectives of the organization is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-7 Knowledge about existing information systems applications within the
organization is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-8 Knowledge about the potential for information systems/technology
within the organization is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-9 Knowledge about the potential use of information systems technology
to achieve competitive advantage is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-10 Knowledge about the objectives of your work unit is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-11 Knowledge about the main problems your work unit faces in achieving
its objectives is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-12 Knowledge about the level of interdependence between your work unit
and other units within the organization is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-13 Knowledge of the privacy issue and its implications on databases (both
private and public) is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-14 The ability to communicate effectively with others is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-15 The ability to recognize and manage personality problems which
interfere with job completion is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-16 The ability to work effectively in groups is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-17 The ability to manage projects is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-18 The ability to program (e.g., in COBOL, FORTRAN, BASIC, etc.) is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-19 The ability to use software packages (e.g., LOTUS 1-2-3, MACDRAW,
etc.) is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-20 The ability to build models (e.g., formulate and solve complex
simulation models) is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-21 The ability to recognize which management science (operations research)
model is appropriate for a particular problem is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-22 The ability to access data (e.g., data retrieval, queries, etc.) is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-23 The ability to develop (design and implement) databases using
generalized database management system (e.g., IMS, TOTAL, dBASE III,
etc.) is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-24 The ability to handle data communications is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-25 The ability to use specific application systems is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-26 The ability to use office automation systems (e.g., electronic mail,
voice mail, text editing, calendar management, etc.) is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-27 The ability to use operating systems is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-28 The ability to prepare effective user documentation for an information
system is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-29 The ability to use and understand documentation is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
A-30 The ability to evaluate system performance and make needed
adjustments to a system after implementation is ...
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for IS personnel.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for end users.
of no of absolute
use 1 2 3 4 5 necessity ... for yourself.
Section B
Now, I would like for you to focus on YOUR current level of knowledge/
ability. For each item, circle a number from one to five indicating
YOUR level of knowledge/ability from "extremely low" represented by "1" to
"extremely high" represented by "5".
B-1 Knowledge about the goals and objectives of the organization
(i.e., the corporate-wide business entity).
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-2 Knowledge about the primary functions of the organization.
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-3 Knowledge about the few key factors that must go right if the
organization is to succeed.
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-4 Knowledge about the environmental constraints that the organization
operates within (e.g., government regulation, supplier relationships,
competition, etc.)
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-5 Knowledge about information systems policies and plans within the
organization.
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-6 Knowledge about the fit between IS policies and plans and the overall
goals and objectives of the organization.
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-7 Knowledge about existing information systems applications within the
organization.
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-8 Knowledge about the potential for information systems/technology
within the organization.
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-9 Knowledge about the potential use of information systems/technology
to achieve competitive advantage.
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-10 Knowledge about the objectives of your work unit.
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-11 Knowledge about the main problems your work unit faces in achieving
its objectives.
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-12 Knowledge about the level of interdependence between your work unit
and other units within the organization.
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-13 Knowledge of the privacy issue and its implications on databases
(both private and public).
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-14 Ability to communicate effectively with others.
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-15 Ability to recognize and manage personality problems which interfere
with job completion.
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-16 Ability to work effectively in groups.
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-17 Ability to manage projects.
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-18 Ability to program (e.g., in COBOL, FORTRAN, BASIC, etc.)
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-19 Ability to use software packages (e.g. LOTUS 1-2-3, MACDRAW, etc.)
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-20 Ability to build models (e.g., formulate and solve complex simulation
models).
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-21 Ability to recognize which management science (operations research)
model is applicable to a particular problem.
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-22 Ability to access data (e.g., data retrieval, queries, etc.).
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-23 Ability to develop (design and implement) databases using a
generalized database management system (e.g., IMS, TOTAL, DB2, dBASE
III, etc.).
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-24 Ability to handle data communications.
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-25 Ability to use specific application systems.
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-26 Ability to use office automation systems (e.g., electronic mail,
voice mail, text editing, calendar management, etc.).
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-27 Ability to use operating systems.
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-28 Ability to prepare effective user documentation for an information
system.
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-29 Ability to use and understand documentation.
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B-30 Ability to evaluate system performance and make needed adjustments
to a system after implementation.
Your Level of Extremely Extremely
Knowledge/Ability: Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
Section C
C-1 How would you describe the amount of computer-related training that
YOU have received from each of the following sources? Circle the
appropriate number in each area.
A. Self Extremely Extremely
Training ........ Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
B. College
Training ........ Extremely Extremely
Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
C. Company
Training ........ Extremely Extremely
Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
D. Vendor
Training ........ Extremely Extremely
Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
E. Other
Training ........ Extremely Extremely
Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
C-2 Overall, how satisfied are you with information systems/technology
that you have used?
Extremely Extremely
Dissatisfied 1 2 3 4 5 Satisfied
C-3 On the average day, how many hours do you spend using information
systems/technology to do your job?
___________________ Hour(s)
Section D
Finally, I would like to ask a few questions about yourself for statistical
purposes. Could you please indicate:
D-1 Your sex (circle number of your answer):
1 Male 2 Female
D-2 Your present age: __________ years
D-3 Your department: ______________________________________________
D-4 Your job title: ______________________________________________
D-5 Years you have worked in your current department:
_____________ years
D-6 Years you have worked in this organization:
_____________ years
D-7 What is the highest level of education that you have completed?
(circle number)
1. High School Graduate
2. Technical or Community College Graduate
3. Bachelor's Degree
4. Mater's Degree
5. Doctoral Degree
D-8 Circle the number which best describes your job with respect to
organizational level.
1. Executive/Top Management
2. Middle Management
3. Supervisory
4. Professional
5. Technical
6. Clerical
7. Other (Please specify)
________________________________________________________________
Thank you very much for your participation!
If you wish to add any comments or further observations, please use the
space below.
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To Receive a Copy of the Results:
If you wish to receive a copy of the study findings please write your name
and address below (at attach your business card). Alternatively, you may
request a copy of the findings under separate cover.
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