Business informatics

Last updated

Business informatics (BI) is a discipline combining economics, the economics of digitization, business administration, information technology (IT), and concepts of computer science. Business informatics centers around creating programming and equipment frameworks which ultimately provide the organization with effective operation based on information technology application. [1] The focus on programming and equipment boosts the value of the analysis of economics and information technology. The BI discipline was created in Germany (in German: Wirtschaftsinformatik). [2] It is an established academic discipline, including bachelor, master, diploma, and PhD programs in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, The Netherlands, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey, and is establishing itself in an increasing number of other countries as well, including Finland, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Malaysia, Mexico, Poland, and India.

Contents

Business informatics as an integrative discipline

Business informatics shows similarities to information systems (IS), which is a well-established discipline originating in North America. However, there are a few differences that make business informatics a unique discipline:

  1. Business informatics includes information technology, like the relevant portions of applied computer science, to a significantly larger extent than information systems do.
  2. Business informatics includes significant construction and implementation-oriented elements. Another thing is one major focus lies in the development of solutions for business problems rather than the ex post investigation of their impact.

Information systems (IS) focus on empirically explaining the phenomena of the real world. Information systems has been said to have an "explanation-oriented" focus in contrast to the "solution-oriented" focus that dominates business informatics. Information systems researchers make an effort to explain the phenomena of acceptance and influence of IT in organizations and society by applying an empirical approach. In order to do that, usually qualitative and quantitative empirical studies are conducted and evaluated. In contrast to that, business informatics researchers mainly focus on the creation of IT solutions for challenges they have observed or assumed, and thereby they focus more on the possible future uses of IT. [3]

Tight integration between research and teaching following the Humboldtian ideal a major goal in business informatics. Insights gained in actual research projects become part of the curricula quite quickly since most researchers are also lecturers at the same time. [4] The pace of scientific and technological progress in business informatics is quite rapid; therefore, subjects taught are under permanent reconsideration and revision. [5] In its evolution, the business informatics discipline is fairly young. Therefore, significant hurdles have to be overcome in order to further establish its vision. [6]

Career prospects

Specialists in Business Informatics can work both in research and in commerce. In business, there are various uses, which may vary depending on professional experience. Fields of employment may include:

In consulting, a clear line must be drawn between strategic and IT consulting.

Journal

Business & Information Systems Engineering

See also

Related Research Articles

Management science is a wide and interdisciplinary study of solving complex problems and making strategic decisions as it pertains to institutions, corporations, governments and other types of organizational entities. It is closely related to management, economics, business, engineering, management consulting, and other fields. It uses various scientific research-based principles, strategies, and analytical methods including mathematical modeling, statistics and numerical algorithms and aims to improve an organization's ability to enact rational and accurate management decisions by arriving at optimal or near optimal solutions to complex decision problems.

An information system (IS) is a formal, sociotechnical, organizational system designed to collect, process, store, and distribute information. From a sociotechnical perspective, information systems are composed by four components: task, people, structure, and technology. Information systems can be defined as an integration of components for collection, storage and processing of data of which the data is used to provide information, contribute to knowledge as well as digital products that facilitate decision making.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of academic disciplines</span> Overviews of and topical guides to academic disciplines

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to academic disciplines:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Applied science</span> Practical application of scientific knowledge

Applied science is the use of the scientific method and knowledge obtained via conclusions from the method to attain practical goals. It includes a broad range of disciplines such as engineering and medicine. Applied science is often contrasted with basic science, which is focused on advancing scientific theories and laws that explain and predict natural or other phenomena.

Social informatics is the study of information and communication tools in cultural or institutional contexts. Another definition is the interdisciplinary study of the design, uses and consequences of information technologies that takes into account their interaction with institutional and cultural contexts. A transdisciplinary field, social informatics is part of a larger body of socio-economic research that examines the ways in which the technological artifact and human social context mutually constitute the information and communications technology (ICT) ensemble. Some proponents of social informatics use the relationship of a biological community to its environment as an analogy for the relationship of tools to people who use them. The Center for Social Informatics founded by the late Dr. Rob Kling, an early champion of the field's ideas, defines the field thus:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Community informatics</span>

Community informatics (CI) is an interdisciplinary field that is concerned with using information and communication technology (ICT) to empower members of communities and support their social, cultural, and economic development. Community informatics may contribute to enhancing democracy, supporting the development of social capital, and building well connected communities; moreover, it is probable that such similar actions may let people experience new positive social change. In community informatics, there are several considerations which are the social context, shared values, distinct processes that are taken by members in a community, and social and technical systems. It is formally located as an academic discipline within a variety of academic faculties including information science, information systems, computer science, planning, development studies, and library science among others and draws on insights on community development from a range of backgrounds and disciplines. It is an interdisciplinary approach interested in using ICTs for different forms of community action, as distinct from pure academic study about ICT effects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoinformatics</span> Application of information science methods in geography, cartography, and geosciences

Geoinformatics is a technical science primarily within the domain of Computer Science. It focuses on the programming of applications, spatial data structures, and the analysis of objects and space-time phenomena related to the surface and underneath of Earth and other celestial bodies. The field develops software and web services to model and analyse spatial data, serving the needs of geosciences and related scientific and engineering disciplines. The term is often used interchangeably with Geomatics, although the two have distinct focuses; Geomatics emphasizes acquiring spatial knowledge and leveraging information systems, not their development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Economics in Katowice</span> Business school in Katowice, Poland

University of Economics in Katowice is a public higher education institution in Katowice, Poland.

The University of Michigan School of Information is the informatics and information science school of the University of Michigan, a public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It offers baccalaureate, magisterial, and doctoral degrees.

Master of Business Informatics (MBI) is a postgraduate degree in Business Informatics (BI). BI programs combine information technology (IT) and management courses and are common in central Europe. The first master programs in Business Informatics were offered by the University of Rostock, as a face-to-face program, and by the Virtual Global University (VGU) together with the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) as an online program . An MBI programme, which includes inter-cultural studies affecting business operations in European markets, was first offered by Dublin City University. Within the Bologna process, many Central European universities have been, or are in the process of, setting up master programmes in Business Informatics. Due to legal frameworks and restrictions, however, most of these programs are forced to award an M.Sc. degree instead of an MBI degree.

The Virtual Global University (VGU) is a virtual university offering online distance education or virtual education on the Internet.

The Höhere Berufsfachschule für Wirtschaftsinformatik (HBFS-WI) located in Saarbrücken, Germany is a school providing higher vocational education in information technology and economics awarding the designation "Staatlich geprüfte(r) Wirtschaftsinformatiker(in)". According to the German Qualifications Framework, the designation is at the same level to a university-level bachelor's degree.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas</span> Public university in Moscow, Russia

The Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas is a public university in Moscow, Russia. The university was founded in 1930 and is named after the geologist Ivan Gubkin. The university is colloquially known as Kerosinka, meaning 'kerosene stove'.

<i>Business & Information Systems Engineering</i> Academic journal

Business & Information Systems Engineering (BISE) is an international scholarly and double-blind reviewed journal which publishes scientific research on the effective and efficient design and utilization of information systems by individuals, groups, enterprises, and society for the improvement of social welfare. Information systems are understood as socio-technical systems comprising tasks, people, and information technology. Research published in the journal examines relevant problems in the analysis, design, implementation and management of information systems and covers areas of information management, computer science, business administration and economics, new media, and operations research. BISE publishes bimonthly, and features a double-blind peer review process.

Collaborative decision-making (CDM) software is a software application or module that helps to coordinate and disseminate data and reach consensus among work groups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Institute for Management Information Systems</span> Austrian research institution

The Institute for Management Information Systems is a research institution of the Department of Information Systems and Operations, at the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU). The WU is the largest university having a business and economics focus in Europe. The master's program "Information Systems" provided by the department is ranked 4th by "The Eduniversal Best Masters Ranking" in Western Europe.

The Swiss Informatics Society, short "SI", is a Swiss organization of computer science educators, researchers, and professionals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mannheim School of Computer Science and Mathematics</span> University in Mannheim, Germany

The Mannheim School of Computer Science and Mathematics (MSCM) is among the younger of the five schools comprising the University of Mannheim, located in Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The School of Computer Science and Mathematics, established in 1967, covers the fields of Computer Science, Business Informatics and Mathematics. The Department of Computer Science at the University of Mannheim is considered as a leading public institution for computer science/business informatics in Germany. It has been consistently ranked among the top computer science programs in recent years. In the past 15 years, researchers from University of Mannheim Department of Computer Science have made developments in the fields of algorithms, computer networks, distributed systems, parallel processing, programming languages, robotics, language technologies, human-computer interaction and software engineering.

Behavior informatics (BI) is the informatics of behaviors so as to obtain behavior intelligence and behavior insights. BI is a research method combining science and technology, specifically in the area of engineering. The purpose of BI includes analysis of current behaviors as well as the inference of future possible behaviors. This occurs through pattern recognition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Key Pousttchi</span>

Key Pousttchi is a professor of Business Informatics and Digitalization, author and entrepreneur. From 2015 to 2020 he held the SAP Endowed Chair at the University of Potsdam's Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, where he was also the director of their Master of Science program in digital transformation, in co-operation with the Hasso-Plattner Institute. His research focuses on the impact of digitalization on everyday life, economy and society as well as on digital transformation strategies for traditional industries.

References

  1. ↑ "Business Informatics". Idaho State University. Retrieved 2020-10-31.
  2. ↑ "Digitalisierung von Wirtschaft-Wirtschaftsinformatik".
  3. ↑ Becker, Jörg; Krcmar, Helmut; Niehaves, Björn (2009). Wissenschaftstheorie und gestaltungsorientierte Wirtschaftsinformatik. Heidelberg: Physica-Verlag HD. ISBN   978-3-7908-2335-6.
  4. ↑ "Virtual Global University". Archived from the original on 2007-03-03.
  5. ↑ Ives, B.; J. Valacich; R. Watson; R. Zmud; et al. (December 2002). "What Every Business Student Needs to Know About Information Systems". Communications of the Association for Information Systems. 9. doi: 10.17705/1CAIS.00930 . S2CID   31444643.
  6. ↑ Lyytinen, K.; R. Baskerville; J. Livari; D. Te'eni (2007). "Why the old world cannot publish? Overcoming challenges in publishing high-impact IS research". European Journal of Information Systems. 16 (4): 317–326. doi:10.1057/palgrave.ejis.3000695. S2CID   2022540.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.