The College of Business (COB) at Northern Washington University (NWU) needs new data systems to provide reports and information both internally and for its external accrediting body. Dewitt Brown, COB’s associate dean, has been tasked with determining COB’s needs and developing recommendations for sources of systems. COB could develop the systems internally since it has database expertise among its faculty and staff. Or, it could outsource to NWU’s information technology staff. A third option, at least for some systems, is to purchase from an outside vendor. The decision is crucial: efficient, accurate reporting of data is key to COB’s strategic plan to continue its accreditation as well as ensure that operations are smooth as possible. If COB were to lose its accreditation, it would lose status and likely lose funding and students as well.

This study investigates the influence of internship experience, grade-point average (GPA), and job market on the starting salaries of management information systems (MIS) graduates. The seven-year period of the study includes the strong job market of the Internet boom, as well as the weak job market following the Internet bust. The regression results indicate that several factors are significantly related to starting salary including internship experience, GPA, job market, and size of employer. Internship experience was found to play a particularly strong role in predicting MIS starting salaries. A significant interaction effect indicates that the positive effect of internship experience is stronger during a weak job market. Graduates with internship experience also found employment more quickly. The study is based upon academic and placement data collected from 126 graduates from an AACSB accredited MIS program at Western Washington University during the years 1997-2003.

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This paper reports on a survey of consumers' experiences with local services firms that was conducted by the Montgomery County, Maryland Office of Consumer Affairs and supported by an FTC grant. Over 1,200 individuals evaluated auto repair, heating and air conditioning, home remodeling, roofing, and insulation contracting firms on three dimensions: satisfaction with work performed, price in relation to quality, and strength of recommendation. Results for the heating and air conditioning category were published and widely disseminated.