Generic attributes of IS graduates : an Australian academic view

This paper reports on a follow-up study that validates a group of generic attributes of graduates of Australian undergraduate degree programs with majors in Information Systems (IS). A three round Delphi questionnaire was used. Major findings include the high ratings of generic interpersonal attributes involving teamwork, problem definition, analysis of various solution, oral and written communication, listening are rated as essential team participation and the commitment to further learning and intellectual development. Oral and written communications are significantly rated as more important than a comprehensive knowledge of IS. There has been a shift in the top ranking attributes with information retrieval and defining problems in a systematic way being ranked above the previous studies top ranking attributes of teamwork and the commitment to further learning and intellectual development. This study has a very strong overall correlation with previous Australian and Queensland studies.