A dissertation completed at The Center for Education, Widener University, One University Place, Chester, PA 19013
A STUDY OF THE OVERALL IMPORTANCE OF THE INTEGRATION OF ENTERPRISE SYSTEMS SOFTWARE INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY INTO THE UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS CURRICULUM Amelia A. Maurizio, Ed. D. March 29, 2002
RETURN edited 7/23/02

ABSTRACT

Technological change has become a steady fixture on the landscape and technological innovations appear to be changing the world of the business community and the working environment. With each technological innovation, the business community may alter the way in which it conducts its business operations to be more efficient and competitive in an arena that is complex, global in scope, and relentless in its quest to achieve a competitive advantage over business adversaries. The question facing higher education today is: How can we best equip the students to cope with this 21st century business environment?

The purpose of this research was to identify factors which might affect the view of the dean regarding the overall importance of enterprise systems software instruction in the undergraduate business curriculum. This study considered the following factors: Carnegie ranking of the post-secondary institution, accreditation by the AACSB, FTE enrollment of the post- secondary institution, institutional budget of the postsecondary institution, affiliation (public vs. private) of the post-secondary institution, age and gender of the dean, and final decision making authority on curriculum changes.

The population for this study was a random sample of the deans of business colleges/schools in American institutions of higher education. One hundred ninety-three respondents were included in the study. This represented an 84% response rate. Eight research hypotheses were analyzed. Of the eight hypotheses, it was found that a difference in view which might affect the view of the dean toward the integration of enterprise systems software instruction into the undergraduate business curriculum existed due to the following factors: Carnegie ranking of the institution, AACSB accreditation, FTE enrollment of the institution, institutional budget, and institution affiliation.

It was found that no difference in view toward the integration of enterprise systems software instruction into the undergraduate business curriculum existed due to the age or gender of the dean or the final decision making authority on curriculum changes in the respondent's institution.

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