Rankings and impact – what is it all about and why is it important at all. We will take a closer look at these questions.
Why are rankings important?
Rankings play an essential role in the science of business informatics. They allow researchers, universities, students, and professionals to gain an idea of the quality, impact, and relevance of research and educational institutions. Rankings can help in making decisions about programs of study, research collaborations, and career moves.
Methods of Assessment:
- Publications and citations: A commonly used method is to analyze scholarly publications and citations. The more frequently a publication is cited, the higher it is rated.
- Research reputation: the reputation of an institution is often determined by surveys of experts. These surveys help assess the perception and influence of research institutions.
- Teaching quality: The quality of teaching can be evaluated based on factors such as student-teacher ratio, number of graduates, employment prospects, etc.
- International outlook: an institution's international outlook can be measured by international collaborations, student exchanges, and research collaborations.
Leading institutions:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): MIT is known for its excellent research and teaching in information systems. It houses the MIT Sloan School of Management and the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.
- Stanford University: Stanford University is a pioneer in the fields of technology and information systems. It is home to the Stanford Technology Ventures Program and the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence.
- Harvard University: Harvard Business School offers programs in technology management and innovation. The university also has renowned information research centers.
- University of California, Berkeley: UC Berkeley is known for its research in information systems, data analytics, and technology management.
Tips for interpreting rankings:
- Understand methodology: Understand the criteria and weightings used to rank. A poorly understood methodology can lead to incorrect conclusions.
- Variety of criteria: Consider that rankings are based on a variety of criteria. Depending on your personal goals, some criteria may be more important than others.
- Individual needs: The "best" ranking is subjective and depends on your individual goals. A university that does well in a particular ranking is not necessarily the best choice for your needs.
- Long-term success: rankings can change over time. Also, consider an institution's long-term success instead of short-term fluctuations.
What are the rankings?
There are three significant ones in information systems one is the
- AIS Senior Scholar Basket of Eight (A search guide can be found here) / AIS - Senior Scholars' List of Premier Journals
- VHB-JOURQUAL3: Business & Information Systems Engineering
- FT50 Ranking
Conferences in Information Systems
In addition, there are numerous conferences. This series I rank as follows:
- International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS)
- Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS)
- Pacific Conference on Information Systems (PACIS)
- European Conference on Information Systems (ECIS)
- Wirtschaftsinformatik (WI)
- Midwest Conference on Information Systems (MWAIS)
- Italian Conference on Information Systems (ItAIS)
Independently of this, there are numerous special conferences. Feel free to contact me (Matthias Gottlieb) if you have any questions about this.
Journals and SIGs in Information Systems
According to the Department of Economics at FU Berlin, the following journals and SIGs are still relevant. [1]
Journals in Information Systems:
- Electronic Markets [B]
- Business and Information Systems Engineering [B]
- Information and Organization [B]
- Communications of the Association for Information Systems [C]
- Business Process Management Journal [C]
Journals in Operations Research:
- Operations Research [A+]
- Transportation Science [A]
- European Journal of Operational Research [A]
- Computers & Operations Research [B]
- Transportation Research (six separate Journals, a.o.: Part A (Policy and Practice) [-], Part B (Methodological) [B], Part C (Emerging Technologies) [-], Part E (Logistics and Transportation Review [-])
Journals in Entrepreneurship:
- Research Policy [A]
- Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice [A]
- Journal of Business Venturing [A]
- Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal [A]
- Small Business Economics [B]
- Journal of Small Business Management [B]
- The Journal of Technology Transfer [B]
Notice:
Remember that rankings are only a tool to help form your decisions, and that your individual goals and preferences should ultimately be the deciding factor.
Link
[1] https://www.wiwiss.fu-berlin.de/fachbereich/bwl/pwo/lehre/Journal-Empfehlungen/index.html, accessed at 08/30/2023