Investigating the need for costing and estimating in information technology academic programs at technikons

This study was initiated to determine whether cost estimation is a necessary skill for an Information Technology (IT) consultant. The historic poor record in the software industry for delivering software projects within budget has highlighted a need for IT students to receive adequate preparation for future experiences in the world of work especially if they were to become self employed. The literature revealed that a variety of employability skills are required when preparing students for entrepreneurship. In IT there is a particular need for project management skills when the entrepreneur is responsible for all aspects of the software project. Cost estimation is a key function of project management.The objectives of the study were: I. To determine whether the IT industry and Technikons regard cost estimating as a necessary skill for an IT consultant. 2. To examine the course content of IT Skills - Entrepreneurship programs at Technikons to determine whether there is a module that specifically addresses cost estimation. 3. To gather feedback from the IT industry about the techniques commonly used to produce realistic cost estimates to inform the development of such a component in the IT Skills - Entrepreneurship subject. 4. To determine from IT consultants whether realistic accurate cost estimates contribute to sustaining and expanding an IT consultancy.To fulfill the objectives data was gathered by means of various questionnaires completed by industry and IT Skills - Entrepreneurship lecturers. The results of the study revealed that the IT consultants reported a need for IT students who were potential consultants be taught to estimate costs for software projects accurately and competitively.The study further revealed that despite not teaching cost estimating in IT Skills - Entrepreneurship, the Technikon lecturers concurred with the finding. Bearing in mind the cooperative relationship to education that exists between Technikons and industry, these findings can be utilized as recommendations to inform a review of the preparation of students in the IT Skills - Entrepreneurship subject with reference to the cost estimating skills taught.