The University of Liechtenstein congratulates Sophie Hartl on the successful defense of her dissertation titled “Explaining and Understanding Organizational Dynamics Using Digital Trace Data.”
How do organizations change in the digital age, and how can these processes be made visible? This was the question Sophie Hartl explored in her dissertation under Prof. Dr. Jan vom Brocke at the Department of Information Systems at the University of Liechtenstein. The focus of the work is on the potential of digital trace data—process data from IT systems—for analyzing organizational dynamics.
Based on five scientific studies, Hartl developed structured methodological approaches to identify, interpret, and better understand changes in processes. The research combines computer-based analyses with context-specific, theory-based insights.
The findings provide new insights into how IT-driven changes influence process flows, which contextual factors should be considered in process analysis, and how data-based foundations for decision-making can be created. The work thus makes an important contribution to research in the field of process science and supports organizations in dealing with digital transformation.
The University warmly congratulates Sophie Hartl on the successful defense of her dissertation and thanks her supervisor Prof. Dr. Jan vom Brocke, co-supervisor Prof. Dr. Martin Matzner from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, as well as the chair of the defense committee Prof. Dr. Leo Brecht for their valuable support.
On 29 January 2024, Prof. Dr. Konstantina Papathanasiou, LL.M., participated as a keynote speaker at the ISACA/IIA Switzerland Conference 2024 in Zurich, entitled “The Digitalisation of Business Processes and its Impact on Internal (IT) Audit”. She delivered a presentation on “The Aspect of Criminal Law, Compliance, and Ethics”.
Prof. Papathanasiou addressed the diverse and important role of ethics in relation to AI. Ethical issues in this context arise primarily with respect to the transparency of AI decision-making, as well as the role of bias and fairness in those decisions. Protecting privacy in the processing of data by AI must also be considered, along with the long-term societal impacts of AI technologies. Especially in the age of AI, it is crucial to foster critical thinking and questioning.
Furthermore, Prof. Papathanasiou presented the perspective of (cyber) criminal law and explained how digital transformation influences compliance requirements in companies, and what criminal law risks can arise from digitalisation in the business world. She also emphasised the importance of cyber resilience, which today constitutes an essential part of preventive compliance. In closing, Prof. Papathanasiou highlighted the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA; EU Regulation 2022/2554) and its significance for Swiss companies.
Based on the agreement between the government and the Swiss Federal Council on the promotion of science-based innovation of 26 January 2021 and the corresponding commitment credit approved by Parliament, the Swiss Innosuisse innovation promotion program is also available to companies and research institutions in Liechtenstein.
In this context, the University of Liechtenstein, together with the company HELGA.works in St. Gallen, successfully submitted a funding application to Innosuisse. Following approval of the project funding by the government, the support agreement was signed on March 12, 2024 by the Head of the Office of Economic Affairs, Katja Gey, the Rector of the University of Liechtenstein, Christian Frommelt, and the implementation partner Vincenzo Neidhardt, CEO of Helga AG.
Securing income for artists with artificial intelligence methods
The music industry is facing a growing challenge: unpaid royalties for copyrights are expected to soon reach almost 8 billion dollars annually, compared to the current 2.5 billion dollars. With a groundbreaking initiative to combat this unfair distribution, the Eastern Swiss start-up HELGA.works is launching an Innosuisse project together with the Department of Information Systems & Computer Science at the University of Liechtenstein.
The aim of the project is to help artists receive the royalties to which they are entitled. The main challenge is to identify the rightful recipients despite insufficient data quality. By using state-of-the-art machine learning models, such as graph neural networks, which can deal with incomplete and inaccurate data, the aim is to create a solution that is not only innovative, but also remains simple and interpretable. The aim is to develop a prediction service that estimates the risk and amount of unpaid royalties. The potential product solution has already attracted significant interest from investors and the industry, including renowned music publishers and artists. In addition to creating economic value, the proposed innovative solution will help artists, especially niche artists, to receive their rightful remuneration. The project thus also contributes to cultural and musical diversity.
The Office of Economic Affairs and the National Contact Point for Research and Innovation in the Department of Economic Affairs are available to provide further information (www.avw.llv.li; contact: Frank Heeb, T +423 236 67 45; Frank.Heeb@llv.li).
At the beginning of 2024, the 57th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences took place. Over 1300 attendees from 45 countries attended this event.
HICSS – The Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences – has been known worldwide as one of the longest standing scientific communities in the information systems and technology fields. Since 1968, it has become a respected destination that attracts high-caliber scholars and professionals in academia, industry and government agencies around the world to discuss their cutting-edge research.
Among the 764 papers accepted to the conference, one was due to the contribution of a now graduated student from the Master in Information Systems at the University of Liechtenstein: Fiona Koh (formely, Fiona Ruettimann). The paper, entitled "Voices from the Frontline: Revealing the AI Practitioners' Viewpoint on the European AI Act", featured the research carried out by Fiona for her Master Thesis---a work done under the guidance of Ass. Prof. Giovanni Apruzzese. The paper also fostered the contribution of a well-known researcher from EPFL, Dr. Kathrin Grosse.
The paper was presented at the conference on January 5th by Ass. Prof. Giovanni Apruzzese. The presentation was extremely well-received by the attendees: the Q&A session lasted much longer than usual, underscoring the importance of the themes tackled in the paper. Indeed, the never-ending interest towards AI induced sovereign entities to advance regulation that will dictate its future development. The paper shines light on what industry practitioners in AI think about the upcoming AI Act proposed by the EU.
Information about the conference: https://hicss.hawaii.edu/program-hicss57/
It is possible to read the paper here: https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/items/cd1c5a61-87c6-4827-a200-745d450e25c2
Information on the study programme: https://www.uni.li/de/studium/studienprogramme/master-wirtschaftsinformatik/master-wirtschaftsinformatik)
The Top Cyber News Magazine provides information and insights on technology, innovation, and cybersecurity directly from experts. In its 2024 special edition, it honored 40 outstanding talents under the age of 40 from 21 countries and 5 continents, including Prof. Dr. Konstantina Papathanasiou.
Amid the global shortage of cybersecurity professionals, it is essential to recognize talents who dedicate their energy and careers to this field. The special edition highlights remarkable professionals in cybersecurity and the digital industry, all of whom are part of the inspiring force behind the global cybersecurity awareness movement.
Together with an industrial company in Liechtenstein, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Johannes Schneider from the University of Liechtenstein has investigated how modern technologies can improve the health of construction workers.
A key health risk in the construction industry is the hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), which is caused by working with highly vibrating tools. To date, there are only limited options for monitoring the duration and intensity of vibration exposure, especially when several tools are in use.
In the study, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Johannes Schneider analyzed movement data recorded during the use of combi-hammers using a smartwatch. This data made it possible to precisely determine the intensity with which the combi hammers were used and for which activities.
The knowledge gained forms the basis for future measures to prevent the hand-arm vibration syndrome. For example, the individual vibration exposure time could be transmitted directly to the worker to warn them against excessive use of the tools. At the same time, the planning office can benefit from an aggregated overview of vibration exposure, enabling more efficient and cost-saving planning of tasks, personnel and equipment - all while complying with HAVS limits.
The study, published in the trade journal “Automation in Construction”, impressively demonstrates how close collaboration between university and industry can lead to innovative solutions that benefit both partners and the industry as a whole.
Details of the study:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926580524004205#d1e1065
Altheimer, J., & Schneider, J. (2024). Smart-watch-based construction worker activity recognition with hand-held power tools. <i>Automation in Constructin</i><i>, 167</i>v
On behalf of digital-liechtenstein.li, the University of Liechtenstein is conducting a survey on digital change.
The aim of the survey is to find out more about the attitudes of citizens in Liechtenstein and the region towards the opportunities and risks of digitalization. There is also a particular focus on the topic of artificial intelligence. The aim is to derive specific recommendations and measures for the state and the economy in dealing with digitalization.
The survey allows a comparison with surveys in other countries and is intended to show the extent to which public attitudes towards digitalization in Liechtenstein differ from those in our neighbouring countries.
We would be delighted if you would take part in the survey. Completing the survey will take around 8 to 10 minutes. The results will be presented in November 2024.
https://s2survey.net/digitalisierung_liechtenstein/
Thank you very much for participating.
The textbook is based on the competency model for graduate programs in Information Systems, which was developed jointly by the AIS (Association for Information Systems) and the ACM (Association for Computing Machinery). It is designed to support information systems students and faculty who wish to integrate state-of-the-art MIS concepts, frameworks and applications into their teaching.
When teaching his Management Information Systems (MIS) course, Bernd Schenk often had difficulty finding a suitable textbook and explains: "This gap inspired me to develop a coherent textbook based on existing foundations in order to provide students and lecturers in Bachelor's and Master's programs with deeper, practice-oriented insights. This textbook is based on the competency model for graduate programs in Information Systems, which was jointly developed by the AIS (Association for Information Systems) and the ACM (Association for Computing Machinery). It is designed to support information systems students and faculty who wish to integrate state-of-the-art MIS concepts, frameworks and applications into their teaching. I hope it will help close the gap for anyone teaching or studying MIS."
The result is a textbook for advanced courses on management information systems (MIS). It bridges the gap between theoretical frameworks and practical applications, offering insights into both fundamental principles and emerging trends. Covering topics such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, enterprise architecture, and information systems governance, the book explores the multi-layered nature of MIS and its transformative impact on modern organizations.
Each chapter integrates foundational IS research with the latest thinking and applies it to case studies to ensure both relevance and academic rigor. Topics include alignment between business and IT, data-driven decision making, and the ethical challenges of managing information systems in today's complex, interconnected world. Through a combination of theoretical models, practical frameworks, and real-world examples, this book provides readers with the tools they need to navigate the evolving MIS landscape.
This book is supported by a companion website: www.advanced-mis.com, which provides teaching materials such as lecture slides, discussion questions and other resources to support teachers and students.
