I am currently using the MBA background in performing Institutional Research processes from '98 to present.
Software used in performing Institutional Research processes include:

• Word
• Excel
• Access
• Netscape Composer/Browser
• Interent Explorer
• Windows Explorer
• ASCII Editors
• Outlook
• SAS
• Datatel's Colleague database(all six of the SD public Universities use this database)
• NCS Scanner operations used to perform Institutional survey work(third party software from Scanning Dynamics, Inc. used to develop scanable forms, to define how to scan the forms, and to develop reports from what was scanned --> Report Form, Scan Form, and Report Form).