Analyzing the dynamics of skill sets for the U.S. information systems workforceusing latent growth curve modeling

Abstract

This paper attempts to track the changes in importance of IS skills from the perspective of 70 IS managers using latent growth curve modeling. The analysis identifies that the importance of many IS skills are continuously increasing, that wireless communication applications, mobile commerce applications/protocols, IT security, Web applications/services/ protocols, and data management are the top five growing skills and that IT security, data management, project management and other relevant business skills, Web applications/services/ protocols, and wireless communications/applications are expected to be the top five skill sets five years from today. Based on these results, the changing human resource needs of IS profession are discussed, and the challenges and recommendations for IS education are provided.