What Is BIS?

BIS?

If someone asked you what BIS is, would you be able to answer them?Don't feel bad if the answer is "no" - about 90% of people you ask isn't going to know what the definition is, and the other 10% won't be able to agree on the definition. This is not because no one knows what it really is – there is just so many ways to define it.

BIS!

Business Information Systems (BIS) contains within it not just the technology that drives business. It also relates to the processes, data and the people that use these technologies, processes and data every day. Today,BIS is involved in almost every aspect of doing business and it is about using IT in useful and effective ways to improve how business operate. Studying BIS gives students the opportunity to understand how businesses operate and benefit from using new technologies. Learning how to implement, use, and manage various types of information systems equips students with the advantage of knowing how to creatively solve business problems by employing current technologies in new and innovative ways.That being said, we should keep a couple of things in mind when we think of BIS:

1. BIS ≠ IT

BIS is not about building technology, but about knowing how to use it! BIS is a highly diverse, extremely valuable, but unfortunately unfamiliar discipline to most students, as it is often equated with computing. However, you will find that BIS and IT are not only operating in completely different teams, they tend to sit on different floors in the same organization as well. A good way of looking at BIS is to consider the two most important aspects of businesses these days: you get the business side that runs day to day activities, and you get the technology side that facilitates these activities. People working within a BIS-type team are like the "translators" who sit in between the two components - translating business needs into IT requirements.

2. BIS = variety

For the BIS professional, no two days are ever exactly the same. BIS students learn how BIS concepts and practices support many aspects of today’s businesses, especially solving complex business problems in accounting, economics, finance, marketing, human resources, to name a few. Core areas include information management, business innovation, business process improvement, enterprise systems, and project management. Because BIS is everywhere and in everything we do, you can choose to combine it with whatever your heart desires - nothing functions without BIS anymore!

3. BIS = creativity

In BIS, there is not always one solution to a problem. Replicating the current solution is not an option if are attempting to IMPROVE a process and if you want to stand out from the competition, therefore you need to think about meeting business requirements in an innovative way.

4. BIS = challenging

BIS is an ever changing field. New technologies emerge, new processes are developed, and no two clients are alike. This means that throughout your career you will always be challenged with new situations and new solutions will have to be developed. There is no such thing as a "standard fit" in BIS. Some situations will call on you to understand a company's processes before you can make recommendations. The result is a career that will never bore you.

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5. BIS = Opportunities

BIS is in everything we do. By the time you get to class or work today, chances are you have already accessed about 4 Information Systems already. And although BIS plays such a big role in business and society today, so few choose to follow it as a career. Although the opportunities and career paths are endless (see Pathways), BIS graduates typically work as business consultants or in the role of business analyst. Business analysts assess the overall business and information needs of an organisation. They co-ordinate the design of new IT solutions to improve business efficiency and productivity, often in the role of project manager.

BIS graduates typically find their first position during their third year of study. Demand for BIS graduates is high, and so is the earnings potential (see http://paycheck.seek.com.au for a comparison with other professions). Due to the high demand for BIS graduates ‘ICT business analyst’ has been recognised as a Skilled Occupation by the Department of Immigration.

In addition, the Business School at the University of Sydney is offering the newly relaunched INFS3080 BIS Project Industry Placements unit. The idea of this unit of study is to bridge the gap between the worlds of academia and industry. Students in this unit will be sent on a real-life internship journey to work with one of the Discipline’s corporate partners. In doing so, students gain valuable industry experience while studying. Close links with industry are an important asset of the BIS Discipline in offering high quality business-focused education, and these industry placements are a key step in that direction.

Moral(s)of the story

• Don’t be a follower – sure, accounting, finance, etc. are important majors, but don’t just pick them because that’s what everyone else does. Carefully think about what YOU want out of your career, not your friends, parents or siblings.

• Base your decisions on fact – if you’re not sure what a subject or career path involves, find out! Don’t just base your decisions on what you’ve heard through the grapevine or on an ill-informed suspicion.

• Be open-minded – don’t be afraid of the unfamiliar – open your mind to new ways of learning and thinking.

• Get work experience – it’s the only way you can really find out if you are suited to a particular field. It’s also a great way to see how theory is put into practice.

• Mix it up– set yourself apart from the pack by strategically choosing your double majors.

• Choose what’s in demand – find out what the gaps in skill sets are that employers are struggling to fill

What we see emerging today is that BIS has become the foundation of business and society. BIS provides a platform for modern organisations to meet their goals, drive innovation and comply with complex requirements. No matter what passion you have, BIS has a place for everyone – it is a world of endless opportunities for every BIS graduate!