Business informatics

Business informatics (BI) is a discipline combining economics, the economics of digitization, business administration, accounting, internal auditing, 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. 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). It is an established academic discipline, including bachelor, master, diploma, and PhD programs in Austria, Belgium, Egypt, 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, India and South Africa.

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.

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. The pace of scientific and technological progress in business informatics is quite rapid; therefore, subjects taught are under permanent reconsideration and revision. In its evolution, the business informatics discipline is fairly young. Therefore, significant hurdles have to be overcome in order to further establish its vision.

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:

• Management consulting
• Information technology consulting
• IT account manager
• Systems analysis and organization
• Business analyst
• IT project manager
• IT auditor
• Solution architect
• Enterprise architect
• Information technology management

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

Tertiary Institutions Providing Business Informatics Degree

• University of Louisiana at Lafayette
• Idaho State University
• Northern Kentucky College
• University of South Africa (Unisa)

There are more and more universities and community colleges providing business informatics degree.

Journal

Business & Information Systems Engineering

See also

• Bachelor of Business Information Systems
• Master of Business Informatics