Business Information Systems

Introduction

This course introduces concepts, principles, and practices concerning the use of digital technology to support a firm’s strategic goals and key activities. A firm’s business model as well as its operational activities are supported by an information technology infrastructure that consists of hardware and software, in short, business information systems. Business information systems enable all sorts of activities necessary to perform tasks within and across firms. Therefore, a central competence for modern managers, consultants, or entrepreneurs is the ability to understand the interaction between business decisions and technology decisions to align a firm’s strategic and operational goals with technological capabilities.

To engage with these issues, this course serves as an introduction to the role and importance of information systems (IS) and information technology (IT) in a world that is increasing being digitalized. The course introduces basic concepts of IT/IS and relates them to corporate and business strategy. Topics include but are not limited to strategic alignment, principles and practices of its implementation, enterprise systems architecture, development, and design as well as key applications of information systems in businesses.

The course combines conceptual knowledge about information systems in business with hands-on exercises involving state-of-the-art tools and systems through teaching cases, tool demonstrations, and simulations. Knowledge of IS/IT as well as any technical skills such as programming or database management are not required.

Course content

• Introduction to information systems (IS) and information technology (IT)
  • Elements of information systems and technologies
  • Types of information systems and technologies
  • The role of IS in industries and organizations characterized by digitalization
• Elements of a digital infrastructure
  • Structural aspects of information technology
  • Hardware and software elements
  • The role of cloud-based systems and Software as a Service (SaaS)
• Alignment of business and information systems strategy
  • Implications of business strategy for the use of information systems and digital technologies
  • Information systems requirements to support operational activities
  • Development and implementation of an appropriate IS strategy
• Management of digital technologies
  • Justifying investments into technology
  • Cybersecurity and privacy issues
  • Ethics and social issues in information systems