Nature of Computing CareersNature of Computing Careers

Dr. Larry Vail

CSIS 201/401 Seminar

PurposePurpose

Overview of the nature of computing careers

Based on my personal experience and over 25 years of advising

OverviewOverview

Nature of the Industry Nature of the Business Nature of the Company Nature of the Job Nature of Computing

Nature of the IndustryNature of the Industry

Communications Computing Education Finance Government Manufacturing Medical Transportation

Nature of the BusinessNature of the Business

Essential organizational mission and competitive peer group

Examples of business types in particular industries

Communications IndustryCommunications Industry

Example business types mail telegram telephone (voice) cable (video) digital (multimedia) wireless (cellular, radio, satellite)

Computing IndustryComputing Industry

Example business types Personal computers (e.g. Dell, Compac) Workstation computing (e.g. SGI, SUN) Mainframe or super computers (e.g. IBM, Cray) Peripherals (e.g. disk, tape, printing) Software (e.g. Microsoft, WordPerfect, Novell) Networking (e.g. Cisco) Consulting (e.g. Anderson)

Education IndustryEducation Industry

Example business types Private Public K-12 Junior College, 4 year, Graduate Professional Training

Financial IndustryFinancial Industry

Example business types Credit union Savings & loan Bank (e.g. local, state, federal, international) Investment brokers (e.g. stocks, commodities) Insurance (e.g. auto, home, life)

Government IndustryGovernment Industry

Example business types Local, state, federal governments Armed services (e.g. Army, Navy, Air Force) Law enforcement (e.g. local, state, CIA, FBI,

NSA) Government agencies (e.g. IRS, DCFS)

Manufacturing IndustryManufacturing Industry

Example business types Auto (e.g. Ford, Chrysler) Aerospace (e.g. Boeing, McDonald-Douglas) Steel (e.g. Birmingham) Electronics (e.g. Motorola, Sony, TI) Medical products (e.g. Aventis) Textile, plastics, etc.

Medical IndustryMedical Industry

Example business types Hospitals Clinics HMO Private practice Emergency (e.g. Ambulance)

Transportation IndustryTransportation Industry

Example business types Freight (e.g. UPS, FedEx, J. B. Hunt) Passenger (e.g. American Airlines, Amtrak) Ground (e.g. Taxi, Limo, Bus, Rail) Air (e.g. UPS, United Airlines)

Nature of the CompanyNature of the Company

Corporate culture, company environment Size (e.g. small, medium, large) Culture (e.g. structured, formal, open) Philosophy (e.g. conservative, bleeding edge)

Examples

Company ExamplesCompany Examples

IBM Size - very large multinational company Culture - very structured, corporate image Philosophy - cautious, conservative

Company ExampleCompany Example

Bank of Bourbonnais Size - small Culture - stable, formal, conservative, regulated Philosophy - cautious but open and flexible

Class Participation ExamplesClass Participation Examples

Nature of Company Size - small, medium, large Culture (e.g. structured, formal, open) Philosophy (e.g. conservative, bleeding edge)

Examples to characterize Novell, State Farm, Caterpillar , ONU

Nature of the JobNature of the Job

Continuum between user and system Promotion: management or technical

Job Titles: Users to SystemsJob Titles: Users to Systems

End user computing (closest to users) Systems analyst Application programmer/analyst Application programmer Network, Database specialists System programmers

development, dbms, network, operating systems

Promotion: Management or TechnicalPromotion: Management or Technical Management

Team/Project leader group leader/ supervisor Department/IT manager VP IS/ Chief Information Officer (CIO)

Technical network administrator database manager

Nature of computingNature of computing

Information systems Scientific programming Control systems

Computing: Information SystemsComputing: Information Systems

Business, information systems related Examples

Accounting, Inventory control, scheduling, package tracking

Library reference systems, document storage, data warehousing

Office automation

Computing: ScientificComputing: Scientific

Math & science problem solving related Examples

Numerical analysis, forecasting, actuarial Simulation modeling, scientific visualization,

graphics Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Computing: Control SystemsComputing: Control Systems

Engineering related Examples

Factory automation, robotics Microwave/automobile/ aircraft embedded

systems Instrumentation interfaces and automated data

collection (e.g. automated weather stations) Device interfaces (e.g. printers, scanners,

ATMs)

Your professional goals?Your professional goals?

The different aspects of the Nature of Computing Careers are not completely separate but combine in unique ways to create unique positions for unique people with unique interests. Use this framework to identify your skills and interests with a job and career path that will be satisfying and rewarding for you and your employers.

Assignment: What about your career goals?Assignment: What about your career goals? Identify your skills & interests Match your skills & interests to an:

Industry Business Company environment Job and Computing type Career path