Databases and database systems have always been at the heart of information systems. While their visibility has been decreasing in recent years, their importance as a core infrastructure underlying modern IT systems, including those on the Web and in the cloud, has always been growing. This is due to the fact that database systems offer functionality, such as high-level querying or transactional contracts, that is central to many applications, and that they have adapted to the growing requirements regarding availability, scalability, and data modelling.

Since 1997, the Chair of Practical Computer Science has been led by Prof. Dr. Herbert Kuchen. He is responsible for teaching in the area of software engineering, programming languages, and programming. Maintaining close partnerships and collaborations with several local companies, his group is offering students the chance to write bachelor's and master's theses with high practical relevance.

Our research explores the impact of information and communication infrastructures in an organizational context. We are interested in the development of the digital organization: how do organizations and leaders respond to the challenges and opportunities of an informated society and economy. In particular we study new modes of organizing, coordination and collaboration from the micro level of work practices, to the meso level of group practices and the macro level of infrastructure development.

The ITM is the leading Institute for Information, Telecommunication and Media Law in Germany. The Institute’s work aims at exploring the legal framework and underlying policies of the information society with a particular focus on “information” as an economic and cultural good. The Institute emphasises the importance of interdisciplinary work since a proper understanding of technological or economic backgrounds is a prerequisite for successful regulation. Many activities are carried out in close cooperation with the Faculty of Economics of the University of Münster.

Today’s supply chains (SC) have to cope with growing uncertainties and complexity, e.g. from increasingly volatile customer demand, natural or human threats, or through an increasing number of actors in the value adding process. Tackling these issues is the major objective of the Chair for Information Systems (IS) and Supply Chain Management (SCM), directed by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernd Hellingrath. In particular, the research group develops application-oriented research contributions in the areas of SCM, logistics and operations management with regard to the support by IS.

The Institute of Information Systems at the University of Liechtenstein was founded in the early 1990s and has been continuously growing since then. Members of the institute have published in leading IS journals, including MIS Quarterly, Journal of the AIS, Journal of MIS, and Journal of Information Technology. The institute offers a Master’s in Information Systems with majors in Business Process Management and Data Science, a PhD program in Information and Process Management, and a major in Information Management & IT within the Bachelor’s program in Business Administration.

The Institute of Information Management at the University of St. Gallen (IWI-HSG), founded in 1989, is an autonomous research institution of the University of St. Gallen (HSG). The Institute pursues a mixed funding approach from both public and private sources. Privately funded research at IWI-HSG is usually organized in the form of research consortia (“competence centers”, CC). In addition to its research activities, IWI-HSG is engaged in executive education, offering degree and non-degree programs in Business Engineering, IT Business Management, Banking Operations and Smart Sourcing.