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Chapter 1 The Importance of MIS
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Figure 1-5
Growth of Jobs by Sector
from 1989 to 2009
Source: From The Evolving Structure
of the American Economy and the
Employment Challenge by Michael
Spence and Sandile Hlatshwayo.
Copyright © 2011 by The Council on
Foreign Relations Press. Reprinted
with permission.

in the United States and parts of Europe from the 1960s to 2010. They found that early in this
period, education and industry were the strongest determinants of employment and salary.
However, since 1990, the most significant determinant of employment and salary is the nature
of work performed. In short, as the price of computer technology plummets, the value of jobs
10
that benefit from it increases dramatically. For example, plentiful, high-paying jobs are avail-
able to business professionals who know how to use information systems to improve business
process quality, or those who know how to interpret data mining results for improved market-
ing, or those who know how to use emerging technology like 3D printing to create new products
and address new markets. See the Guide on pages 62–63 for more thoughts on why you might
consider an IS-related job.

What Is the Bottom Line?

The bottom line? This course is the most important course in the business school because:

1. It will give you the background you need to assess, evaluate, and apply
emerging information systems technology to business.
2. It can give you the ultimate in job security—marketable skills—by
helping you learn abstraction, systems thinking, collaboration, and
experimentation.
3. Many well-paid MIS-related jobs are in high demand.