This is a slice of history, in the words of the people who made it. We are currently in a time when computers are ubiquitous, inexpensive, powerful, used and generally understood by people of all ages. We would not consider it unusual to see several in a kindergarten nor be appalled if one of our children asked for one for their birthday. We could probably not envisage working in a business environment without access to one. It is good for us to be reminded that this was not always so.

Peter Juliff (Emeritus Professor, Deakin University)

Sixty five years ago there were no stored-program electronic computers stored-program electronic computers  in the world. Even fifty years ago a computer was something that few organisations could afford, and few people could use. Suddenly, in the 1960s and 70s, everything changed and computers began to become accessible. Today, the need for studies in computing in higher education institutions is widely acknowledged, with each of Victoria's universities offering courses of this type. This book is primarily concerned with the development of one type of computing course: Information Systems, however the boundaries between this and other aspects of computing are far from distinct. It examines why a need developed for courses in Information Systems, and what happened to promote the extremely rapid adoption of such courses.

Dr Arthur Tatnall is an Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Business at Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia. He holds bachelors degrees in science and education, a Graduate Diploma in Computer Science, and a research Master of Arts in which he explored the origins of business computing education in Australian universities. His PhD involved a study in curriculum innovation in which he investigated the manner in which Visual Basic entered the curriculum of an Australian university. His research interests include technological innovation, information technology in educational management, information systems curriculum, project management and electronic commerce. He has written several books relating to information systems and has published numerous book chapters, journal articles and conference papers. He has just completed editing the Encyclopaedia of Portal Technology and Applications for Idea Group Reference.

Contents
Computer Science and Information Systems

Machines and Methods

Early University Courses and the Commonwealth Government

Courses in the Colleges of Advanced Education

University Courses from the 1970s and Other Developments

Re-Inventing the Business Computer

Appendix:
   Information Systems Body of Knowledge and Model Curricula

   Timeline of Business Computing and Information Systems

   Glossary of Acronyms and Technical Terms

National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication data:
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Tatnall, A, (Arthur)
    Curriculum Cycles in the History of Information Systems in Australia
    Bibliography

    Includes index

  ISBN 978-1-920889-10-4 (paper back)

  ISBN 978-1-920889-11-1 (hard cover)

    1. Information storage and retrieval systems - Education.

    2. Information resources management - Australia.  I. Title.

025.04
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