Sixteenth International Conference on Technology, Knowledge & Society

Abstract

This study attempts to find out the main success factors of information systems (IS) graduate capstone course. A capstone course is placed at the end of the curriculum and allows students to assess and share their achievement of the program’s outcomes. Capstone courses review program goals, lead students through a structured reflection to become self-directed learners and communicate students’ academic accomplishment to professional peers. A graduate capstone course can provide proof of the educational effectiveness of a program. Capstone courses have been used in academic degree programs in different kinds of schools such as business, engineering, information technology, health care, and education. How to measure the outcomes of a capstone course is important to the course success. In this study, we will try to figure out the success factors of a project-based IS capstone course from 3 different perspectives: student satisfaction, client satisfaction, and instructor effectiveness. In each perspective, various factors will be examined: (1) Student Satisfaction, including course instruction, client involvement, team work, project management, and self-learning; (2) Client Satisfaction, including commitment and feedback, and product evaluation; (3) Instructor Effectiveness, including course organization, team management, and outcome measurement. By identifying these success factors, this study can provide helpful suggestions to improve the quality of the capstone course.