Title: An empirical investigation of the basic computer education in the business school

Authors: Mahmoud M. Yasin, Jerry D. Sawyer, Marwan A. Wafa

Addresses: College of Business Administration, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee 37614, USA. ' School of Business Administration, Kennesaw State College, Marietta, Georgia 30061, USA. ' School of Business Administration, University of Southern Indiana, Evansville, IN 47712, USA

Abstract: This paper examines the nature of the basic computer education provided in the business schools. A survey was conducted of 416 students from three different higher education institutions to assess their knowledge of computer concepts as they enrolled in the basic computer education course offered by the business school. Results showed that a significant percentage of those surveyed were unfamiliar with computer productivity tools such as spreadsheets, databases and word processors. It is concluded that computer education in the business schools should for the present continue to stress the hands-on productivity tools and basic concepts of information systems. However, as students become more familiar with these basics, computer education in the business schools should shift their approach towards decision-support systems.

Keywords: computer literacy; computer education; business schools; spreadsheets; databases; word processing; computer languages; productivity; information systems; decision support systems; DSS.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.1993.030278

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 1993 Vol.3 No.1/2, pp.95 - 105

Published online: 14 Dec 2009 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article