Business informatics: Cross-cultural differences between Germany and Australia

Diploma Thesis from the year 2003 in the subject Computer Science - Commercial Information Technology, University of Regensburg (Economics), language: English, abstract: The Australian higher education system and its historical background can be compared to the German, as both systems are dependent on government funding. It was proposed that Germany could learn from the Australian higher education model at a conference in 1998 on the reform in higher education in Australia and Germany at the Australian Centre in Germany. Recent developments in the German higher education sector indicate more work is needed as the sector moves towards more internationalisation, for example, in the introduction of international study programs like the Bachelor and the Masters.

This study gives an overview about the Business Informatics discipline in Australia with a strong focus on Business Informatics aspects at Australian universities. The approach taken to exploring Business Informatics at Australian universities was to conduct intensive interviews with eleven Australian IS academics within the following states and territories of the country: Queensland, New South Wales, The Australian National Capital and Victoria.

In summary, Business Informatics in Australia is defined from a German perspective. An overview of the Australian IS discipline is given from the perspective of the researcher during the research period 2002 and early 2003. A comparison of the discipline is made between Australian and German universities in organisational issues. The objective is to identify the organisational location of IS in Australian universities and to give, based on the research outcomes, proposals to Australian IS academics in reference to the organisational structure of Business Informatics in German universities. This overview contributes to a better understanding, and suggests new ideas that may increase the visibility of the Australian IS discipline.
Differences and similarities within the Business Informatics/IS discipline in higher education between Germany and Australia have been explored. Additional recommendations from the author should be seen as a thought-provoking-impulse and support further development in higher education. One challenge identified in Australia, for example, is creating a more visible organisational structure for the IS discipline in education at universities.