In the business information systems major you will develop a thorough understanding of business information systems, fundamental business IT concepts and how IT can be used to serve business needs. You will learn how to conduct a detailed analysis of a business problem and design a computer-based solution.
You will acquire the knowledge and skills in the broad areas of business programming, information systems, e-business, business analytics, data science and decision support, which will enable you to solve business problems in organisations of all sizes. You will learn to communicate with, and understand the needs of software developers, business managers and users.
This major includes a special focus on business analytics. You will learn how analytical tools and simulation software are used to model, analyse and design business processes. You will acquire practical skills in using quantitative methods, data mining and visualisation to look for patterns and trends in data, helping organisations solve problems and add value.
Data and case studies will be drawn from diverse sources including health, life sciences, web traffic and social networking, business data including transactions, economic data, customer traffic, scientific research and experimental data. This area of study will be of interest to IT students who want to work in business or finance, and to students wanting to complement their business or commerce studies with IT-based methods.
The broad base of this major will prepare you for leadership roles in IT management.
Availability
Business information systems is listed in the Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences in South Africa as a minor or major.
Outcomes
In addition to achieving the broad outcomes of their course, students successfully completing this major will be able to:
- apply analytical techniques to interpret business data, solve quantitative problems, and improve business processes
- analyse business information needs and determine the scope for IT-based solutions.