Student team projects in information systems development: Measuring collective creative efficacy

Abstract

For information systems development project student teams, learning how to improve software development processes is an important training. Software process improvement is an outcome of a number of creative behaviours. Social cognitive theory states that the efficacy of judgment influences behaviours. This study explores the impact of three types of team knowledge: domain knowledge, methodological knowledge and implementation knowledge, as well as achievement motivation on student teams' collective creative efficacy (CCE) during information system development. This research also discusses the correlation between CCE and project performance using data from 98 student teams. Because of the difference in project characteristics, we divided the teams into "actual demand" project teams (having a real business case) and "suppositional demand" (having no real case, just an artificial or simulated case) project teams. The results show that achievement motivation positively influences CCE, either in "actual demand" teams or in "suppositional demand" teams. Domain knowledge is significantly correlated to CCE in "actual demand" teams, but methodological knowledge and implementation knowledge significantly influenced CCE in "suppositional demand" teams. CCE is not significantly related to project performance in "actual demand" teams. However, CCE is related to process performance and product performance in "suppositional demand" teams. Whilst this study explores issues in team project learning activities for students in information systems, some suggestions are made for educational designers using similar activities in other disciplines.

Factors That Influence Student Teams in Information System Development Project: Student’s Perspectives

“…The success of information systems development activities are not only influenced by technological aspect, but it is also influenced by aspects of human resources. Many studies have examined the key influences on the improvement of the information system development process, which includes the support and participation of employees [2], the time and resources involved [2], the experience of the staff [3], as well as the knowledge and experience of team members [4]. Experience and knowledge of team members is the key to performance improvements in the software process [4].…”

“…Some studies related learning information systems development has been done. In general, the study discusses the learning process of information systems development and assessment of the capabilities and performance of students in the study [1] [4][5]. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a study to identify the factors that influence the student teams in information systems development project.…”

“…This study will focus on the student team as a developer of information systems, in which teams of students have little experience or no experience at all. Though the experience and knowledge of the team members is the key to performance improvements in the software development process [4] [8].…”

“…Previous research has been carried out by [4] which measures the ability of the student in the learning development of information systems and correlate to the results of student performance which are assessed by their teachers. The ability of students in the development of information systems includes an understanding about knowledge of domain, methodology, and implementation.…”

“…The ability of students in the development of information systems includes an understanding about knowledge of domain, methodology, and implementation. In addition, [4] also added a motivational aspects of students to excel in learning information systems development. Aspect of motivation is derived from each individual student.…”