Table 3.3. Relative performance capabilities of computing graduates by discipline
Area  Performance Capability  CE  CS  IS  IT  SE
Algorithms Prove theoretical results  3 5 1 0 3
  Develop solutions to programming problems  3 5 1 1 3
  Develop proof-of-concept programs  3 5 3 1 3
  Determine if faster solutions possible  3 5 1 1 3
Application programs Design a word processor program  3 4 1 0 4
  Use word processor features well  3 3 5 5 3
  Train and support word processor users  2 2 4 5 2
  Design a spreadsheet program (e.g., Excel)  3 4 1 0 4
  Use spreadsheet features well  2 2 5 5 3
  Train and support spreadsheet users  2 2 4 5 2
Computer programming Do small-scale programming  5 5 3 3 5
  Do large-scale programming  3 4 2 2 5
  Do systems programming  4 4 1 1 4
  Develop new software systems  3 4 3 1 5
  Create safety-critical systems  4 3 0 0 5
  Manage safety-critical projects  3 2 0 0 5
Hardware and devices Design embedded systems  5 1 0 0 1
  Implement embedded systems  5 2 1 1 3
  Design computer peripherals  5 1 0 0 1
  Design complex sensor systems  5 1 0 0 1
  Design a chip  5 1 0 0 1
  Program a chip  5 1 0 0 1
  Design a computer  5 1 0 0 1
Human-computer interface Create a software user interface  3 4 4 5 4
  Produce graphics or game software  2 5 0 0 5
  Design a human-friendly device  4 2 0 1 3
Information systems Define information system requirements  2 2 5 3 4
  Design information systems  2 3 5 3 3
  Implement information systems  3 3 4 3 5
  Train users to use information systems  1 1 4 5 1
  Maintain and modify information systems  3 3 5 4 3
Information management  Design a database mgt system (e.g., Oracle)  2 5 1 0 4
(Database) Model and design a database  2 2 5 5 2
  Implement information retrieval software  1 5 3 3 4
  Select database products  1 3 5 5 3
  Configure database products  1 2 5 5 2
  Manage databases  1 2 5 5 2
  Train and support database users  2 2 5 5 2
IT resource planning Develop corporate information plan  0 0 5 3 0
  Develop computer resource plan  2 2 5 5 2
  Schedule/budget resource upgrades  2 2 5 5 2
  Install/upgrade computers  4 3 3 5 3
  Install/upgrade computer software  3 3 3 5 3
Intelligent systems  Design auto-reasoning systems  2 4 0 0 2
  Implement intelligent systems  2 4 0 0 4
Networking and  Design network configuration  3 3 3 4 2
communications Select network components  2 2 4 5 2
  Install computer network  2 1 3 5 2
  Manage computer networks  3 3 3 5 3
  Implement communication software  5 4 1 1 4
  Manage communication resources  1 0 3 5 0
  Implement mobile computing system  5 3 0 1 3
  Manage mobile computing resources  3 2 2 4 2
Systems Development Manage an organization’s web presence  2 2 4 5 2
Through Integration Configure & integrate e-commerce software  2 3 4 5 4
  Develop multimedia solutions  2 3 4 5 3
  Configure & integrate e-learning systems  1 2 5 5 3
  Develop business solutions  1 2 5 3 2
  Evaluate new forms of search engine  2 4 4 4 4