Who is "Stacie Petter?"

From an early age, I dreamed of being a teacher, but a high school science teacher opened my eyes to the possibilities of science and research. When I enrolled at Berry College, I selected biochemistry as my major. My goal was to obtain a Ph.D. in epidemiology and work at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia. During my freshman year of college, I took a computer programming course and became hooked on the idea of a career related to technology. I graduated Berry College with a major in Computer Science and a minor in Business Administration.

After graduating college, I missed academia and began pursuing my M.B.A. part-time at Georgia State University while I was working for a telecommunications firm. A professor in the Computer Information Systems department encouraged me to consider pursuing my dream of obtaining a Ph.D.; however, this time, I thought about seeking a Ph.D. in business rather than the sciences. Upon reflection, I realized I could have a career comprised of the two interests I had throughout high school and college -- teaching and research. My time at Georgia State University prepared me to excel at both of these interests. I am blessed to have a career that is directly aligned with two things that I am passionate about.

Research Philosophy

Research that is interesting to me has both relevance and rigor. By focusing on topics relevant to the practicing information technology professional, I can better educate the business leaders of tomorrow through teaching and education. By achieving rigor in my research, my work becomes credible and can be a building block to further improvements in the field of information systems.

Research Stream 1: Software Project Management

As an application developer, I became aware of the importance of having good software project managers. In my experience, some project managers worked diligently to ensure that the best product was developed for the customer, while others took this responsibility less seriously. In my research, I have realized that by enabling the project manager do his/her job better, the software developer can more efficiently and effectively do their job and the software user has the opportunity to obtain a better product.

Research Stream 2: Information Systems Success

Even if a software project is managed successfully, there is no guarantee that the information system will be successful within the organization. Factors such as system quality, user satisfaction, user participation, and other organizational factors can affect whether or not the resulting information system is a success. My research in this area strives to discover how to measure success and the factors that can predict information systems success.

Research Stream 3: Research Methodology

Research that may be relevant to practitioners is of little value if there is not at least some degree of rigor. Rigorous research may be interesting to academics, but may have little to contribute to practice. In an effort to learn how to balance both rigor and relevance, I am also interested in methodological issues related to both explanation and design science research.

Research Stream 4: Pedagogy

Without students, the university is irrelevant. I sincerely view my position as a professor is to prepare my students for a dynamic and changing workplace in today's digital world. Therefore, I am interested in studying approaches that not only improve learning within the classroom, but also to help my students gain experiences and knowledge that will follow them into the workplace.

Teaching Philosophy

Teaching is a privilege and a responsibility. I believe students need the opportunity to apply knowledge to build confidence and enhance learning. In-class activities, homework, and course projects enable students to achieve these goals. By encouraging class participation, it is possible to ensure that the student understands concepts and can think critically about the subject.

The college classroom is a beginning point to teach students about the “real world” that lies before them. In the business world, employees need to communicate effectively, think critically, and carry themselves in a professional manner. In my classroom, students are expected to do all of these things by participating in class discussions, preparing for class, and acting respectfully towards me and their fellow classmates.

I continually strive to be a better teacher by introducing interesting content and teaching methods. I carefully reflect upon each class to determine how I can improve my lectures, class discussion, and exercises in the future. I believe the students deserve my best and I strive to deliver that in every class that I teach.