The ERCIS – European Research Center for Information Systems is an international research network of universities and research institutions that deals with issues related to
Digital Transformation
Digital transformation (DT) is the process of adoption and implementation of digital technology by an organization in order to create new or modify existing products, services and operations by the means of translating business processes into a d ...
,
Information Systems
An information system (IS) is a formal, sociotechnical, organizational system designed to collect, process, store, and distribute information. From a sociotechnical perspective, information systems comprise four components: task, people, structu ...
, and
Organizational Design
Organizational architecture, also known as organizational design, is a field concerned with the creation of roles, processes, and formal reporting relationships in an organization. It refers to architecture metaphorically, as a structure which ...
. It promotes
interdisciplinary
Interdisciplinarity or interdisciplinary studies involves the combination of multiple academic disciplines into one activity (e.g., a research project). It draws knowledge from several fields such as sociology, anthropology, psychology, economi ...
research with high societal and economic relevance in collaboration with partners from academia, industry, and the public sector.
History and Structure
ERCIS was founded in 2004 at the
University of Münster
The University of Münster (, until 2023 , WWU) is a public research university located in the city of Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany.
With more than 43,000 students and over 120 fields of study in 15 departments, it is Germany's ...
and is regarded as a pioneer in European
Information Systems
An information system (IS) is a formal, sociotechnical, organizational system designed to collect, process, store, and distribute information. From a sociotechnical perspective, information systems comprise four components: task, people, structu ...
research. Today, it is a globally active network focused on the challenges of
digital transformation
Digital transformation (DT) is the process of adoption and implementation of digital technology by an organization in order to create new or modify existing products, services and operations by the means of translating business processes into a d ...
.
The central governance of the network is handled by the Steering Board, which defines the strategic orientation and promotes international collaboration.
The Steering Board is composed of representative members from selected partner institutions of the network.
Research Focus
Researchers at ERCIS study the interaction between people, organizations, and technology in the context of socio-technical information systems. The research is
interdisciplinary
Interdisciplinarity or interdisciplinary studies involves the combination of multiple academic disciplines into one activity (e.g., a research project). It draws knowledge from several fields such as sociology, anthropology, psychology, economi ...
and application-oriented, covering, among others, the following topics:
* Process Science
*
Data Science
Data science is an interdisciplinary academic field that uses statistics, scientific computing, scientific methods, processing, scientific visualization, algorithms and systems to extract or extrapolate knowledge from potentially noisy, stru ...
*
Business Process Management
Business process management (BPM) is the discipline in which people use various methods to Business process discovery, discover, Business process modeling, model, Business analysis, analyze, measure, improve, optimize, and Business process auto ...
(see e.g., the involvement of ERCIS partners in the ''
International Conference on Business Process Management
The International Conference on Business Process Management is an academic conference organized annually by the BPM community. The conference was first organized in 2003 Eindhoven, Netherlands.
Since then the conference has been organized annually ...
Misinformation
Misinformation is incorrect or misleading information. Misinformation and disinformation are not interchangeable terms: misinformation can exist with or without specific malicious intent, whereas disinformation is distinct in that the information ...
*
Digital Transformation
Digital transformation (DT) is the process of adoption and implementation of digital technology by an organization in order to create new or modify existing products, services and operations by the means of translating business processes into a d ...
in
Small and medium enterprises
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) or small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are businesses whose personnel and revenue numbers fall below certain limits. The abbreviation "SME" is used by many national agencies and international organizat ...
*
Crisis Management
Crisis management is the process by which an organization deals with a disruptive and unexpected event that threatens to harm the organization or its stakeholders. The study of crisis management originated with large-scale industrial and envi ...
*
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the capability of computer, computational systems to perform tasks typically associated with human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and decision-making. It is a field of re ...
in
Managerial finance
Managerial finance is the branch of finance that concerns itself with the financial aspects of managerial decisions.
*
E-Government
E-government (known for electronic government) involves utilizing technology devices, such as computers and the Internet, for faster means of delivering public services to citizens and other persons in a country or region. E-government offer ...
& Public Sector Innovation
The research combines perspectives from
business administration
Business administration is the administration of a commercial enterprise. It includes all aspects of overseeing and supervising the business operations of an organization.
Overview
The administration of a business includes the performance o ...
,
computer science
Computer science is the study of computation, information, and automation. Computer science spans Theoretical computer science, theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, and information theory) to Applied science, ...
,
law
Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior, with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been variously described as a science and as the ar ...
, and
sociology
Sociology is the scientific study of human society that focuses on society, human social behavior, patterns of Interpersonal ties, social relationships, social interaction, and aspects of culture associated with everyday life. The term sociol ...
. ERCIS’s broad scope ranges from conceptual design through technical implementation to the evaluation of IT systems at individual, organizational, and societal levels.
ERCIS researchers regularly publish academic position papers (similar to
Op-eds
An op-ed, short for "opposite the editorial page," is a type of written prose commonly found in newspapers, magazines, and online publications. They usually represent a writer's strong and focused opinion on an issue of relevance to a targeted au ...
) to actively shape ongoing debates on IT-related topics, particularly at the European level. The goal is to contribute well-founded scientific perspectives to political, societal, and economic discourses and to provide concrete impulses for shaping
Digital Transformation
Digital transformation (DT) is the process of adoption and implementation of digital technology by an organization in order to create new or modify existing products, services and operations by the means of translating business processes into a d ...
.
Network
ERCIS consists of more than 30 partner institutions worldwide, collaborating closely in research and teaching. The network supports regular member exchange through annual workshops and participation in major conferences of the
Association for Information Systems
The Association for Information Systems (AIS) is an international, Not-for-profit organization, not-for-profit, professional association for scholars of Information system#As an academic discipline, information systems that was established in 1994 ...
, especially ECIS
European Conference on Information Systems
The Association for Information Systems (AIS) is an international, Not-for-profit organization, not-for-profit, professional association for scholars of Information system#As an academic discipline, information systems that was established in 1994 ...
and ICIS
International Conference on Information Systems
International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS) is an annual international conference for academics and research-oriented practitioners in the area of information systems. Previously known as the Conference on Information Systems (CIS), ICIS ...
.
International Research Partners
ERCIS maintains close relations with the following associated research partners:
Advisory Board
An advisory board, consisting of companies from various industries, supports the work of ERCIS and ensures the connection between academia and practice. It promotes applied research, teaching formats, and the development of young talent.