Information systems play a central role in the digital transformation of the public sector. But who is driving this development? Discover the most important associations that are shaping the future of business informatics and driving eGovernment solutions.
Associations in Information Systems and professional societies structure the scientific community, provide forums for knowledge and technology transfer, and shape the further development of the discipline. They organize conferences, promote young scientists, and serve as points of contact for politics, administration, and business, especially on issues of digital transformation and eGovernment. This article provides an overview of key associations and societies in business informatics and highlights their benefits for research, teaching, and practice.
1. International Society: Association Information Systems (AIS)
The Association for Information Systems (AIS) is the leading international professional society for business informatics and information systems. It brings together researchers, educators, and practitioners from around the world and contributes significantly to the professionalization and internationalization of the discipline.
The core activities of the AIS include organizing major conferences, publishing renowned journals, and promoting young academics, for example through colloquia for doctoral students and mentoring initiatives. For students and doctoral candidates, AIS membership offers access to a global network, special interest groups (SIGs) on various topics, and information on career paths in business informatics.
In a nutshell: The AIS is the leading international association for information systems based in the USA.
- Aims: To promote research, education and practice in the field of information systems
- Members: Academics, practitioners and students worldwide
- Activities: Organization of network meetings, workshops and conferences (TOP conferences) such as the International Conference Information Systems, the European Conference Information Systems, the Americas Conference in Information Systems
- Special feature: Global network with a focus on international cooperation
- Further information: https://aisnet.org[1]
2. German-speaking Associations and Professional Societies
2.1. Die Wirtschaftsinformatik e.V. (DieWI)
The association Die Wirtschaftsinformatik e.V. (DieWI) sees itself as a platform for exchange within the German-speaking business informatics community. It connects science, teaching, and practice and, in particular, supports the visibility of the discipline in German-speaking countries.
DieWI initiates and supports workshops, conferences, and publication projects and offers opportunities for students, doctoral candidates, and postdoctoral researchers. Membership can play an important role for young academics in giving their first lectures, finding project partners, and gaining access to established researchers.
In a nutshell:
DieWI represents German-speaking information systems in science and practice.
- Aims: Networking, knowledge transfer and promotion of education and training
- Members: Business informatics specialists from research, teaching and industry
- Activities: Organization of network meetings, workshops and conferences
- Further information: https://wirtschaftsinformatik.de[4]
2.2. Gesellschaft für Informatik (German Informatics Society - GI) and Information Systems Section
The Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI) is the central professional society for computer science in the German-speaking countries. Within GI, the Information Systems section plays a key role in anchoring the discipline at the intersection of computer science, business administration and public administration.
The section organizes conferences, working groups and position papers and represents the views of the information systems community to the public, policy-makers and funding bodies. For researchers in the field of e-government and digital public administration, it serves as a contact point for networking, developing joint projects and discussing current research questions.
In a nutshell: The GI is the professional association for computer science in German-speaking countries.
- Aims: Representation of the interests of computer science in science, the public and politics
- Members: IT experts from research, teaching, administration and business
- Focal points: Interdisciplinary cooperation and social discourse
- Further information: https://gi.de[2][3]
3. Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and Specialists Groups
Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and comparable specialist groups pool expertise on specific information systems topics. Within AIS, DieWI and the Information Systems section of GI, there are numerous SIGs and working groups, for example on e-government, information security, business process management, data and analytics or artificial intelligence.
SIGs typically organize workshops, conference tracks, online seminars and mailing lists through which current research results, project ideas and teaching materials are exchanged. For early-career researchers, SIGs are particularly valuable because they facilitate entry into an international community, provide feedback on early-stage research and help to initiate co-authorships for future publications.
In a nutshell: SIGs are topic-specific working groups within the associations.
- Function: Focused work on specific topics or aspects
- Examples of SIGs:
- eGovernment
- IT security
- Artificial intelligence
- Digital transformation
- Advantages: In-depth expertise and targeted solution development
How can these associations support your eGovernment projects? Which SIG meets your current challenges? Discover the opportunities for collaboration and benefit from the expert knowledge of these networks!
4. Benefits for different target groups
4.1. Students
For students of information systems, associations and professional societies provide orientation and opportunities to build networks. By participating in conferences, workshops and local events, they can gain early insights into current research topics, professional roles and career paths. Membership also offers access to reduced conference fees, scholarship schemes and mentoring programmes.
A typical trajectory might look as follows: A master’s student joins a local group or a section, attends their first conference, takes part in a student workshop and gradually builds a personal network in the community.
4.2. Doctoral researchers and postdoctoral researchers
Doctoral researchers and postdoctoral researchers benefit in particular from the structured networking and visibility offered by associations. Through SIGs, working groups and conferences, they can discuss research ideas, initiate collaborative projects and take on reviewing activities. Many associations offer specific formats such as doctoral consortia, summer schools or awards for outstanding dissertations.
Especially in the field of e-government and digital public administration, active involvement in relevant SIGs can help to bring research results into policy and administration and to identify practice-oriented research questions.
For many doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, it is also important to know how their work is reflected in rankings and impact metrics. To better understand relevant journals, conferences and their significance for career development, the article “Ranking and Impact in Information Systems” can be consulted.
4.3. Practitioners in public administration and industry
For practitioners in public administration and industry, information systems associations act as a bridge to the academic world. Through professional events, working groups and project formats they can learn about current research trends, present their own practical challenges and find cooperation partners from universities and research institutions.
In the context of the digital transformation of the public sector in particular, associations enable an exchange on best practices, standards and innovative solution approaches. This helps to stimulate innovation while at the same time identifying risks and undesirable developments at an early stage.
5. Practical Guidance on Getting Involved
Involvement in information systems associations can take place at different levels of intensity. A low-threshold way to get started is membership in an international or national professional society, which provides access to newsletters, mailing lists and events.
Building on this, interested persons can become active in Special Interest Groups, working groups or local chapters, for example by helping to organize workshops, submitting contributions or taking on smaller roles. With growing experience, they can assume greater responsibility – for instance as track chair, SIG officer or board member. In this way, associations contribute to the self-organization and governance of the information systems discipline while offering diverse learning and development opportunities for their members.
References:
[1] https://aisnet.org
[2] https://gi.de
[3] https://www.wissenschaftsregion-bonn.de/wissenschaftseinrichtungen/bildung-und-informationen/gesellschaft-informatik-gi/
[4] https://wirtschaftsinformatik.de/%C3%BCber-uns
[5] https://wirtschaftsinformatik.de/unsere-disziplin/wissenswertes/
[6] https://ayedo.de/glossary/sig-special-interest-group/
[7] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_for_Information_Systems
[8] https://goitsystems.de/de/lehre/ranking-und-impakt-in-der-wirtschaftsinformatik
[9] https://ft-informatik.de
[10] https://fb-wi.gi.de
[11] https://www.mensa.at/aktivitaeten/sigs_-_special_interest_groups