Who can participate in the IT Trends Study?
ONLY SIM members in good standing are invited to participate and all SIM members can meaningfully participate (including academics, members in transition, and retired members).
How do I participate in the IT Trends Study?
The initial invitation email is sent to all SIM members in early April containing their personal link to the questionnaire. If you do not receive an invitation, please check your spam folder (and if there, please add noreply@qemailserver.com and Vess.Johnson@unt.edu to your safe list).
How long will it take me to complete the questionnaire?
We estimate it takes 15-30 minutes to complete the questionnaire. This estimate is based on multiple pilot test runs, but it varies because some questions are contingent on your answers to earlier ones. The average is typically about 20 minutes.
Do I have to complete the questionnaire in one sitting?
No. Clicking “Next” saves the current page and moves you to the next one. You cannot return to saved pages, however, if you exit, you can return to the last saved page. Your browser’s “back” button will exit you.
Why should I participate?
- Benchmark yourself with your peers: If you complete the questionnaire you’ll get a confidential, personalized report comparing your responses to all responses provided by your fellow SIM members.
- Help your chapter compete in the SIM IT Trends Study Chapter Challenge Contest, which can lead to prizes that benefit your chapter's leadership development and philanthropic programs.
- Benefit SIM: SIM’s IT Trends Study is an important part of SIM’s value proposition with its members, all of whom get the Study’s Comprehensive Report free of charge (sold to non-members for $995). The Study provides significant publicity and prestige for SIM as the “Voice of IT” in the IT and business press.” The Study also continues the collaboration between IT professionals and MIS academics that began in 1980, and is widely cited in academic journals and in college classrooms around the world.
- Learn something new: Reading the questionnaire may be educational. Creating it certainly was.
What if I don’t know an answer to a question?
Most of the time, if you don’t know an answer and don’t have the time to research it you can leave it blank or select “don’t know.” We just want your best, honest answers.
Are my responses anonymous?
Access to data is restricted to a small group of the academics that make up the IT Trends Study Research Team. All data is kept in confidence and individual responses are never disclosed to anyone outside of this small team. When reporting results, we provide aggregate data only (except in your personal report, which is only sent to you).
When will the results be available?
Those who complete the questionnaire will receive their personal report around late September. The Comprehensive Report will be compiled and published around Thanksgiving. Supplemental findings and other insights gleaned from the study may be communicated through SIM’s e-newsletters and MIS Quarterly Executive throughout the year.
Who designed the study, and who collects, analyzes, and reports the findings?
The SIM Research Fellows, all of whom are active SIM members and faculty members at leading Universities, conduct the study each year: Vess Johnson (DFW) and Russell Torres (DFW). In addition, the team consists of several professors, doctoral students, and IT practitioners who also aid in the development and administration of the survey.
Questions? Contact Primary Investigator Vess Johnson at Vess.Johnson@unt.edu.