Enriching the information systems curriculum to enable digital innovation capacity

Abstract

The diffusion of technology is opening up numerous opportunities to transform business and society through digital innovations are emerging as a result of the diffusion of technology. Information Systems (IS) education needs to prepare students to apply technology to improve the effectiveness of business, the environment and society. Their ability to utilise digital innovations will be at the crux of the transition to a digital world because they are instructed in both Information Technology (IT) and business. They should therefore have the ability to identify the value of advances in technology to meet an unmet organisational or societal need. Graduates in IS need to play a leading role as the innovators of the future and the teaching and learning environment needs to prepare them for this uncertain, complex and ambiguous world. Drawing on findings from a PhD study, this article explores complexities of our higher education environment, coupled with the explosion of digital technologies and, at the centre, the students and their well-being. The intention is to explore the skills required to enhance the capability of IS students to participate in, and ultimately orchestrate, digital transformation in business and society. A design-based research (DBR) approach was applied in a mixed-methods design via three iterations during 2016 and 2017. The study produced scientific outputs resulting in eight design principles to capacitate students for the future world of work.