As many professors will attest, the most valuable academic experiences come when students step outside of their comfort zones. Such is the case for Broad College of Business students pursuing an in-demand Information Technology minor, as they are now required to take a course not led by Broad faculty, and not exclusively for Broad students.
Information Technology Management (ITM) 444 is a senior capstone class that business, computer science and engineering, and media and information students take together for the opportunity to work in cross-functional teams. “Such an opportunity is likely to help develop their interpersonal communication and a culture of flexibility, tolerance, and inclusion, all of which will serve them well as they embark on their careers upon graduation,” said Dr. Constantinos K. Coursaris, professor of Media and Information who is teaching the course.
This semester 77 students are enrolled in ITM444. In teams of four, students go out into the “real-world” to tackle and manage companies’ digital and information technology projects. “Learning the principles, tools, and techniques relevant to project management will provide the foundation, said Coursaris, “while the hands-on experience will provide the training ground that will help them become effective and efficient managers.”
Camden Princing (BA Supply Chain Management ‘17) and his team, comprised of two other SCM majors and one Media and Information major, are working for a company called Driver for Hire located in Toronto, Canada. Their goal is to give this specialized driver a social media presence, rebrand him on the market, and increase the overall interest and knowledge of his business. “Working with students from other majors will provide a bit of cognitive diversity which is going to be essential in a project such as ours,” said Princing. “This allows more room for different kinds of ideas and other ways of thinking which will provide great insight to the different ways to tackle any issues that we face during this semester.”
As Princing gains more relevant experience, he can head into his future more confidently. “I know later on in my career I will be tasked with projects,” said Princing. “This experience will allow me to know how to plan, execute, and monitor the individual tasks within them.”
