Business Intelligence and Process Management

Degree programme

This Master’s degree programme in Business Information Systems teaches applied knowledge at the interface of organization and technology. The course focuses on the use of Information Technology to effect improvements in organizational value creation. »Business Intelligence« is used to establish the significance of data for decision-making processes (Big Data). »Business Process Management« deals with the organizational aspects of this discipline.

The degree programme teaches the interdisciplinary knowledge requisite for the development of sustainable solutions. Graduates will have gained goal-orientated analytic skills and be able to conceive and implement strategic and operative measures and find employment in a wide range of public and private fields. All courses are taught via interactive seminars; the language of instruction is English. The use of case studies enables students to gather practical and first-hand experience. Working in small groups enables students to enter intensive dialogue with their peers and teachers, whilst learning international communication and collaboration skills.

Professional field

Data and process-analysis are gaining ever more importance in a changing world. The marketing researcher consultants »Gartner« interviews some 2000 CIOs (Chief Information Officers) and IT managers every year to establish the challenges currently facing top managers. Respondents have named »Analytics and Business Intelligence« as the most important technological issue which they face and the need to support »operative and strategic business processes« as the most pressing commercial issue. Studies from the trade association BITKOM and McKinsey Global institutes, have identified considerable demand for graduates with data and processing skills.

Graduates of this Master’s degree programme are superbly equipped to take the next step in their career, whether in line management, project management or consulting. The combination of economics-based expertise and IT skills provided by this Master’s degree qualifies its holders to address complex commercial problems and assume responsible managerial positions.

Degree structure

The degree programme consists of a foundation and specialization stage taught in the first semester and a specialization and project stage in the second semester. One focus of the teaching in this degree programme lies on case studies and project work. This seeks to enable students to apply the theoretical knowledge which they have gained to practice-based questions.

The first semester works with the skills and understanding of a Bachelor’s degree programme to generate a common foundation, whilst deepening the students’ understanding of selected topics in Business Intelligence and Business Process Management. The modules of the second semester add to and extend this knowledge. Working in the Analytics & Process Laboratories, students attain a good grounding in the analysis, design and implementation skills fundamental to their later careers. The third semester is intended for the Master’s thesis and the final oral examination. A research methodology seminar supports the acquisition of academic working practices.

Students who have gained less than 210 ECTS in their first degree must acquire the missing credits by completing an internship. If the student undertakes an internship, the degree programme will be extended from three to four semesters (see below).