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Computing Professionals Changing Needs for the 1990s (1993) / Chapter Skim
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Executive Summary
Pages 1-5

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From page 1...
... Skilled professionals, in turn, are responsible for developing and implementing computer-based technology and for its diffusion through~out our society. These highly skilled professionals are often treated as part of a large occupational group, a group that can be referred to as "computing professionals." But that label masks an unusually wide range of occupations, including researchers in computer science and computer engineering, developers of commercial applications and systems, and individuals involved in deploying applications and systems.
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From page 2...
... Participants were selected for their insights into real-world practice in these different arenas. The steering committee found reasonable consensus among workshop participants about the following: Demand Is Fluid and Skill Requirements Are Growing · Demand for computing professionals is subject to strong crosscurrents that are masked by statistical averaging.
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From page 3...
... Equality of Opportunity and the Increasingly Global Talent Pool Are Among Supply Challenges · In general, given the current economic environment, the total supply of computing professionals is adequate for today's needs. Workshop participants acknowledged the existence of spot shortages in specific areas requiring specialized applications knowledge; also, almost by definition, skills involved in developing the leading edge of technology or its applications tend to be in tight supply.
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From page 4...
... Workshop participants observed that computing professionals need to become more aware of the importance of continuous learning. Support for continuing education is needed from educational institutions and employers, while individual employees may need encouragement to secure retraining periodically.
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From page 5...
... Workshop participants emphasized the importance of continued interaction on issues relating to the supply and demand of computing professionals among employers, educators, and policymakers, in the interests of promoting a better fit between the supply and demand for computing professionals over the coming decade and beyond. Collaboration among all of these parties is essential for successful pursuit of a wide variety of next steps, such as those suggested in the concluding chapter of this report.
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Key Terms

  • computing professional
  • professional occupations
  • skill requirements
  • advanced education
  • computer engineering

  • degree production
  • labor market
  • continuing education
  • skills involved
  • applications knowledge

  • requirements grow
  • increasingly global
  • adequate flow
  • total supply
  • computer revolution

  • spot shortages
  • remain accurate
  • highly skilled
  • economic environment
  • target appropriate

  • reasonable consensus
  • statistical averaging
  • growing proportions
  • computer sector
  • research appears

  • coming decade
  • human resource
  • deploying applications
  • continuous learning
  • skill sets


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