Programme Profile
The master degree International Information Systems Management (IISM), which has been offered since the winter semester 2014/15, focuses on deepening the know-how for the operation of IT and information systems as well as discussing strategic IT management issues. Value is placed on an international orientation. Knowledge and skills in the field of management of internal and cross-company information systems as well as project management skills, foreign languages, cultural management skills and "soft skills" will be taught. By compulsory internships abroad, the students gain experience in professional and cultural practice.
The Degree Programme’s Added Value
Students in the master’s programme in International Information Systems Management develop not only technical but also social competence in the field of information systems management with a specific focus on international corporations and inter-corporate cooperation.
The technical skills comprise foundational knowledge in information systems management, and a specific focus is placed on the particular characteristics of businesses operating internationally. The curriculum of the IISM master’s programme is formed from the core areas of information systems, as well as the related fields of business management, economics and law. This means that the technical skills established in the programme are of an interdisciplinary nature.
Additionally, considerations are made for (current) practical corporate demands mirrored in the range of technical and also social content of the curriculum. For this reason, subjects covered include not only those clearly pertaining to information systems, but also ones that allow for analysis and consideration of, among other things, socio-cultural, economic, political and legal demands. Moreover, IISM students’ awareness and recognition of long-term developments (e.g. globalization, increased regulation) should be improved.
A student who has completed a degree in IISM is aware of his/her social and ethical responsibilities (e.g. implications of cost cutting). Moreover, working with interdisciplinary and intercultural teams is among the social skills covered in the programme. The programme particularly focuses on topics of practical relevance (soft skills, courses taught by professionals working in the field) in order to prepare graduates for a smooth transition into professional life. Further social skills focused on in the programme are negotiation skills and target-group-oriented presentation, as well as foreign languages taught in practical settings (studies abroad or international internships).
Differentiation from Information Systems
The goal of the degree programme is to prepare graduates for different fields of application pertaining to the international management of IT and information systems. Compared with other Information Systems degree programmes, the fundamental area of curricular focus is the management of information systems operation and the interface between users and technical operations, which plays an important role in the context of areas like change management, business process optimization and service management.