Because of the increased use of computers in today's business world, there is a large demand for management students with a computer systems minor.  With the BSIM/CS degree, graduates can start working in a variety of positions.  These include the development, sales, support, and administration of computer systems.  Each of the four areas offers opportunity for career advancement in the direction of increasing managerial responsibility.  Long range possibilities involve positions such as chief information officer, or chief knowledge officer responsible for managing all aspects of a firm's knowledge assets.

Developers include systems analysts who determine the requirements of systems based on user needs, system designers who formulate plans to fulfill these requirements, and system implementors who use various techniques such as programming to execute the plans.  Sales and marketing positions exist in the many companies that sell the computer systems and services they develop to other organizations and individuals.  Support  positions involve the provisions of training and ongoing assistance to the users of computer systems.  Administrative positions are concerned with managing the development, introduction, and use of computer systems in organizations.

The continuing evolution of computer systems is having major impacts on the way organizations are managed.  Organizations need people who understand current and emerging trends in the computer systems field.  They need managers who can recognize and capitalize on the opportunities presented by this technology.  They need managers who can successfully address the many challenges that result from advances in the computer systems field.  The BSIM/CS coursework is designed to complement a graduate's managerial skills with a solid foundation in computer systems.  In addition to providing a managerial perspective on the nature and uses of computer systems, this foundation gives a good basis for grasping tomorrow's innovations in the field.

Examples of career directions for Management Information Systems graduates are cited below:

Systems Analyst:   A systems analyst determines or discovers the requirements of prospective computer systems.  This is normally accomplished by understanding the needs and problems of potential users of the systems.  A good background in the functional areas of management plus effective interpersonal skills are important for successful systems analysis.  Sometimes a systems analyst actually does the design activity rather than passing design specifications to a designer.

Project Manager:   Frequently, the development of a computer system is a team effort.  A project manager is responsible for coordinating the team's resources in the interest of a successful project.  A Management Information Systems graduate's career path may lead in the direction of managing computer system development projects.

Data Administrator:   A data administrator is responsible for the ongoing control of data stored in a computer system.  This includes the integrity, security, and maintenance of data.  It involves the timely recovery from computer system failures and the continuing effort to tune the system performance in light of user needs.

Business Analyst:  A business analyst is concerned with supporting the decisions and plans made in some functional area of an organization.  This may involve the development of computer systems for decision support purposes.  It could also require an understanding of how to incorporate computer systems into the decisions and plans that are made.  For instance, a marketing analyst may develop a computer system to support marketing decisions or may be involved in the market analysis for a new computer system.

Information Center Consultant:   Large organizations need a way to manage end user computing.  This is the use of computer resources by persons who are not computer systems professionals.  The group of people who train, advise, and support end users is often called an information center.  In addition to their knowledge of computer systems issues, information center consultants must be able to effectively communicate with managers from a variety of functional areas.  An information center consultant may progress to the level of information center manager or into a position of consulting within a particular functional area.

Sales Representative:  The computer industry continues to grow dramatically.  Computer companies need sales representatives to present computer systems to prospective clients.  It is extremely helpful if a sales rep is sufficiently conversant in managerial issues to readily identify client needs.  A good appreciation of computer systems issues, beyond specific traits of the company's products, is also highly desirable.  Both needs are addressed by the Management Information Systems program.

Technical Support Specialist:   A technical support specialist assists sales reps during the selling process and customers after the sale is made.  This person is an expert in the operation and use of specific computer systems.

Designer:   A designer takes a specification of what a computer system is required to do and creates a plan or model of how those requirements can be met.  Drawing on an understanding of what can be done with a computer, a designer creates the step-by-step instructions that are given to a programmer to implement.  Designers can also design the appearance of a user's interface to a computer system and the structure of knowledge (e.g., data) that the computer system will store.

Programmer:  A programmer translates detailed, step-by-step instructions of how a computer system should operate into a language that a computer can understand.  In this way, a programmer implements the computer system software that will be used by others.  A programmer creates, documents, and maintains programs that make up the software portion of a computer system.  Although BSIM/CS students can structure coursework to emphasize programming skills, it is important to note that programming is not the central concern of a managerial perspective on computer systems.  Those BSIM/CS graduates who take entry level positions as programmers typically do so with the objective of progressing to other positions (e.g., management of programming project teams, design, analysis).