Planned Research
The goal of AIM’s ongoing research program is to support AIM’s Information Technology mission in the areas of strengthening the workforce, developing appropriate public policy, improving education and youth opportunities, and advancing organization development through technology. This goal is to be addressed by making AIM a visible thought leader and facilitating the transfer of research into best practices and useful products.
In order to keep current with the dynamic environment in information technology, education, and economic development, AIM participates in a variety of on-going research-oriented activities.
Research Projects Underway
Career Trends Report featuring the Workforce Index (WFI): Working with Creighton University College of Business Administration to compare job demand with unemployment rates accompanied with career trend data.
Women’s careers in IT: Interview-based study of the IT careers of women.
IT Compensation Survey: Survey of 1,500 IT employers to create a database for recruiting both companies and individuals.
Business use of emerging technologies: Survey of company use of emerging technologies including cloud, mobile, and social networking.
Analysis of IT-friendly public policies: Working with UNO School of Public Administration to develop an analysis of state IT policies nationwide.
Research on regional IT educational programs: Identifying the number of people in each IT program and comparing the results to measures of job demand.
The AIM Youth in IT Initiative
Beginning in 2011, a series of studies and programs designed to analyze the perceptions of youth about IT careers and to increase the number of youth entering the field.
Potential Projects in the Longer Term
Digital Citizenship workshops for nonprofits and small business: Applies Dr. Miller’s dissertation research to best practices training.
Community colleges and Virtualized Environments:
Extension of Midwest Center for Information Technology.
North Omaha workforce development: Comprehensive inventory of existing workforce programs and identification of the need for new initiatives.
Five keys to success in the Midwest: Study of successful Midwest companies to identify unique regional factors of success.
Local government website interactivity: Analysis of local government websites in the Omaha-Lincoln area, comparing them to national best practices benchmarks.
What companies need in IT: Periodic surveys on specific topics in IT.
Who stays and who leaves: Study of regional IT workforce trends.
Longitudinal study of TRIO programs: Study of program impact on participants’ careers.
For more information, please contact:
Dr. Levi Thiele, Research Director
Dr. Kandace Miller, President and CEO
Dr. Robert Sweeney, President and CEO Emeritus