Disclaimer: This post reflects my personal learning experience while preparing for the COMP exam in ITS-839 at the University of the Cumberlands. All examples provided are hypothetical and do not represent actual exam content or structure.
Strategy for Preparing for the COMP Exam (ITS-836/ITS-839)
Like many students following the standard course sequence, I had an ~8-month gap between completing my core coursework and sitting for the COMP exam. To bridge this gap effectively, I developed a structured approach that helped me prepare efficiently and confidently. Below is a breakdown of my strategy and key takeaways:
Understanding the Exam Structure
Expect the exam questions to be scenario-based and integrative, often combining concepts from two or more core courses. Recycled or previously seen questions are unlikely. Instead, you must demonstrate a deep, applied understanding using a clear and scholarly writing approach.
Use the IMRAD format (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion): IMRAD on Wikipedia.
This structure helps you answer comprehensively and aligns with academic writing standards, which is especially helpful for your dissertation journey.
General Framework for Answering Questions
For any given topic, structure your response methodically:
- What is the concept (e.g., Strategic Planning, Blockchain)?
- What are its characteristics or constructs?
- What are the benefits and limitations?
- Why is it important in the given context?
- What is the broader impact?
- Summarize with a thoughtful conclusion.
A generic pattern to answer Comp Exam questions could be
- What is <tech>?
- Define the characteristics.
- What are the benefits of implementing it?
- How is it associated with the overall context or importance?
- Impact?
- Conclusion
Example: Q: Why is strategic planning essential to compete in a globalized economy? This touches on ITS-831 (Strategic Planning) and ITS-832 (Globalization & Technology). Break it down as follows:
- Define strategic planning
- Discuss its constructs (e.g., vision, mission, SWOT, alignment)
- Explain globalization and its influence on markets
- Discuss how organizations can leverage strategy to scale globally
- Reflect on the role of leadership in driving strategy
- Conclude with synthesized insights
Inferential Statistics Strategy
Sometimes, the question of what test to use is obvious, but if not, follow the clue to identify the exact test type. e.g.,.
- Cause & Effect – Regression,
- Compare & Contrast 2 Groups – T-Test,
- 3+ Group – Anova,
- Frequencies – Chi-Square,
- Correlation/Ranked Data – Spearman
Follow the pattern provided in the exam prep to answer the examp question-
In this problem, <subject> is trying to determine <relationship>. Given <data type>, the appropriate test is <statistical method>.
Syntax of the equation – X²(df, N = sample size) = value, p = p-value
Detailed answer – As per the study, <subject> is investigating the <issue>. Considering there is a <reason for test> here. <subject> needs to perform the <test/analysis type> which handles <clue e.g. cause and effect>. <Other explanation here with result and p value>
Prep Duration & Simulation
Due to strict word limits and time constraints, I recommend simulating the exam by writing for 4 uninterrupted hours. Aim to generate over 1,000 well-structured words. I practiced this twice to ensure I could meet both quality and quantity expectations.
Set aside 1 full day for inferential statistics, reviewing types of tests, interpreting results, and writing responses in the expected format.
Prep Materials
- Review notes and assignments from ITS 831–836.
- Revisit foundational research papers and textbook chapters.
Review learnings from ITS 831-836. You may already have your notes, but if not, go through the research paper provided on each subject. Again, having a mental model is key to applying these learnings to the questions. For me, visuals are the best way to learn, so I reviewed the key chapters from the subject and created a set of diagrams, all on 1 page, linking learnings from each subject. For example, ITS 831 – strategic planning diagram linking organizational strategy, business strategy, and IT strategy with their key components. Small diagram, easy to refer to, and infer information to build the thought process.
Optional Support: If anyone is looking, I can share my 6-7 page raw prep material, just penciled-on-paper visuals. Please reach out to me at cprakash AT outlook.com
cprakash 