The supply and demand of IS professors shifted in the last decade. Understanding the fluctuation of the IS faculty job market is a critical success factor for future planning and recruitment efforts. This paper presents the results of a longitudinal study that monitored the supply and demand of IS professors between 1992 and 2004. Data, primarily from the AIS and ICIS placement services, were analyzed to identify the trends in this market. Other relevant issues such as the composition of IS faculty position applicants, supply of IS doctorates, and trends in IS professor salary are also discussed. The paper concludes with recommendations to business and IS schools based on the findings. Explain what the findings were Keywords: management information systems faculty, supply and demand, IS faculty.While the demand of IS faculty cooled since 2000, this reduction in demand was believed to be the result of an economic recession, a sluggish IT job market, a negative portrayal of the IT career outlook by the media, and severe state budget shortfalls. However, this gloomy atmosphere may be tempered somewhat by other statistics. As the 2002-2003 report from the ] clearly indicated, computer occupations are expected to be among the fastest growing careers in the coming years. Therefore, modest demand of IS faculty may not continue forever. The surge in IS faculty demand in the late 1990's caught many universities unprepared. To develop an effective action plan to prepare themselves for future changes in the IS faculty job market, business and IS schools need to take this opportunity to reflect on and learn from experience.The objective of this study is to provide an accurate picture of the IS faculty job market over an extended time period. The results should help both administrators and faculty better understand the dynamics that affect the supply and demand of IS professors.
PAST WORKThe supply and demand of IS professors is of interest to every academic in IS. Insightful previous work on this topic includes Jarvenpaa et al. [1991] and Freeman et al. [2000]. While this study differs from prior research in terms of research methodology, research questions, and Lei-da Chen is Assistant Professor of Information Systems and Technology in the College of Business Administration of Creighton University. His research and consulting interests include electronic commerce, mobile e-commerce, Web-based systems development, data warehousing and mining, and diffusion of information technology in organizations. He is the author of over 40 professional articles in refereed journals and national and international conference proceedings.