Scientific Journal of Riga Technical University

Computer Science. Applied Computer Systems

2011
_________________________________________________________________________________________________ Volume 46

Competence Orientation in Business Informatics

International Master Program
Jean-Hugues Chauchat, University Lyon 2, France, Iryna Zolotaryova, Kharkiv National University of Economics,
Ukraine

Abstract – The need for competence-based approach in storage, and need it to work flawlessly. As business becomes
professional and educational standards is required by modern more driven by quality of information, most enterprises and
economy. Development and improvement of systems of different
companies will likely see the need to apply business
competences provides a link between education and training and
labor market. The discussion on the current state and prospects informatics, in order to remain competitive.
of development of joint master's program in Business Informatics
is being held. Hereby there is a suggestion on competencies II. THE FIELD OF BUSINESS INFORMATICS IN UKRAINIAN
description for the Business Informatics Curriculum based on EDUCATION
descriptors. To realize the competence oriented model for
masters’ program it is suggested to mark out educational
Today in Ukraine professionals in the spheres of
concepts through the type of courses in each discipline. informatics and computer technology are trained in such
specialization as Computer Science, Computer Engineering,
Keywords – competences, employability, skills, stakeholders, Program Engineering, Informatics and Applied Math. In
descriptors, business informatics. Ukrainian educational market there are more than 140
universities, from which 46 thousand of Masters and
Specialists graduate each year. The field of Business
I. THE CHALLENGE OF BUSINESS INFORMATICS Informatics was never granted an independent formal
The ongoing development of Information and recognition in the Ukrainian Tertiary Education. The most
Communication Technology (ICT) is challenging many cognate field of study is specialization Information Systems
aspects of business and management today. As the result of and Technologies that is based on the bachelor program
the transition of society from industrial to information labor Computer Science. In the Ukrainian education system study
market development requires professionals who have complex majors are a subject of standardization by the Ministry of
knowledge not only in traditional disciplines (economics, law, Education and Science. The State Education Standard is being
marketing, etc.) but also in informational technology. developed for each area / specialty separately and it consists of
Implementation of the course in business informatics is caused three main parts: the educational and skill characteristics,
by the urgent need for specialists in the field of information education and qualification programs and diagnostic tools (in
systems, information and communication technologies to the terminology of Bologna Process - Quality Assurance
improve the effectiveness of business. A field like business System (QA)). Scientific and methodical commissions
informatics is interdisciplinary in nature, meaning it combines (curricula committee) and a specialized institution of the
several fields of study and expertise into one [1]. Ministry of Education and Science are responsible for
Business informatics is an emerging discipline that development of the state standards. At this time neither
combines various aspects of business management, employers nor students are involved in the process. Though it
information and communication technology, and informatics is obvious that employers should play a crucial role in
[2]. The goal of business informatics is to integrate fully developing standards, in cooperation with universities create a
computer science and business administration into one field. system and quality tools. In the sphere of Computer Science
Such a field is changing and developing rapidly, and teaching only while developing Bachelor Program in Programming
must therefore be constantly revised and reconsidered. Engineering the representative of the largest employers'
The educational system in this case should meet the association IT-Ukraine participated in the scientific-
requirements of economy, e-business management and methodical commission.. Participation of students and
Lifelong Learning principles [1, 3]. Professionals in business students‟ associations seem helpful in such a process. In old
informatics will act as a go-between or a bridge to connect classical educational process a student met the employer only
management and the information sphere in a company. By during internship at the enterprise. This means that a student
understanding both sides qualified experts in business was a passive element of the system. In modern times a
informatics will be able to help perfectly both those who build student becomes a consumer of educational services, their
and those who use computers and information systems. It is author.
speculated by many scientists and practitioners that companies In 2011 the Curricula Committee in the field of Computer
structured around business informatics will increasingly Science developed a new Bachelor Standard. The Standard is
become the norm. This is particularly the case with businesses based on recommendations СС2001-СС2004, international
in the life science industries, which need large amounts of data experience, existence of scientific schools, tendencies of

99
 Scientific Journal of Riga Technical University
Computer Science. Applied Computer Systems
2011
_________________________________________________________________________________________________ Volume 46
development of information and telecommunication  Human Resource Management and Corporate
technologies. Governance.
The Standard determines that a graduate from Bachelor  Strategic Marketing and Sales Management.
Program in Computer Science should have general scientific  Organization of IT Services.
sin the areas of knowledge such as Mathematics,  IT Governance.
Programming, System and Computer Engineering. At the  The architectural approach.
same time competence is defined as “ability to use knowledge The Program lasts for 1.5 years (3 semesters), the cost of
and skills (in particular, the theoretical knowledge in the education is 11 950 hryvna (1100 EURO) per 1 semester.
academic field) in professional activities (practical and The other example of Master Program is a joint project of
operational application of knowledge in specific situations), as Ukrainian business school MIM-KYIV and one of the major
well as successful on the basis of practical experience in IT companies INCOM «МВА in ІТ-management». This
solving problems of general-purpose” [7]. program is oriented on IT managers (CIO and IT Directors)
The Standard represents competences in such groups as and it consists of the following structural blocks [9]:
socio-personal, general science, instrumental, professional Features of a modern business environment:
(general and specialized). Business Administration,
Total educational time allocation to cycles of training has the Business Economics,
following facilities: Commercial Law,
 Cycle of humanitarian and socio-economic training – Business Taxation.
24 ECTS credits, Functional business management tools:
 Mathematical and Scientific cycle – 48 ECTS credits, Management: Organizational Development,
 Cycle of professional and practical training – 108 Financial Statements,
ECTS credits (including 4,5 ECTS credits for Audit in Business Management,
Technological Practical Training and 4,5 ECTS Personnel Management,
credits for Diploma Research), Managerial Psychology and Communication,
 Optional Courses – 60 ECTS credits. Marketing,
Thereby the Standard is aimed at preparing professionals in Logistics Management.
the fields of Mathematics and Computer Studies, little Integration of knowledge management and information:
educational time is dedicated to students‟ practice in Information Systems Management,
enterprises, and there is practically no educational time for Modern Development of IT Industry,
Economy and Management. IT Enterprise Architecture,
But still the new standard for Master in Information System IT Process Management (ITIL) and IT Organization
has not been developed. Today the old Standard that was Structure,
developed in 1994 is functioning. Business Modeling and Analysis of Business Processes
This Standard regulates training of Masters only for 1 year. (ARIS),
And Universities can realize the vision of training of Information Security,
professionals only at the expense of elective courses (20% of Development of Business Plans / Budgets (capex / opex),
studying time). Outsourcing / Insourcing,
“IT Directors” Association in cooperation with University The Process of Software Development, Product Life Cycle,
“KROK” (Kyiv) in 2009 started MBA Program with Testing.
specialization “Information Management” (MBI). This Business Development in a Global Environment:
Program is aimed at developing competences in the fields of Strategic Management,
corporate management in IT sphere of highest qualification Corporate Finance,
(CIO) according to national and international standards. The Financial Management,
MBI Program is focused on training middle and senior IT Management Accounting,
managers. The Program combines the issues of economics and Project Management,
management with a concentration on information resource Financing Business Development,
management organizations and information business [8]. International Business / Productive Foreign Internships,
Developers of this Master Program consider that it is crucial Computer business simulation Global Management Game
to ensure students develop competences of strategic, value, (in partnership with the Tepper School of Business, Carnegie
marketing and systems thinking, deep understanding of Mellon University, USA).
customer requirements organization, and focus on The feature of the program is that program participants will
entrepreneurship and continuous strategic and technological be integrated in one virtual audience through video. In the
innovation. The program includes the following core modules: second year of study foreign students undertake programs in
 Introductory course. the USA (Silicon Valley), which includes meetings with top
 Scientific foundations of Business and Management. management of the leading companies on the IT market,
 Strategic Management. lectures by invited professors, visits to companies that will
give students an opportunity to summarize promising world

100
 Scientific Journal of Riga Technical University
Computer Science. Applied Computer Systems
2011
_________________________________________________________________________________________________ Volume 46
experience in building an efficient IT- infrastructure company IV. DEVELOPMENT OF DOUBLE DIPLOMA JOINT MASTER
and its management. PROGRAMS. THE EXAMPLE OF COOPERATION BETWEEN
The Program will start in October, 2011 and it will cost U NIVERSITY LYON 2 (FRANCE) AND KHARKIV NATIONAL
96 000 Hryvnya (10 000 EURO). ECONOMIC UNIVERSITY (UKRAINE)
The analysis has demonstrated that there are only 2 Master Double Diploma International Master Program in the field
Programs which have cycle training in the field of information of Business Informatics of Lyon 2 University and Kharkiv
technology as economics, management, project management National Economic University developed from Master
on the educational market of Ukraine. Program «Informatics of Decision Making and Statistics»,
They are designed for top managers, their cost is very high which has been functioning since 2005.
and territorially they are located in Kiev. 10 students study at 92 graduates of the Program gained degree of the Master of
Master Program in University “KROK” and the Program of both Universities from 2005 till 2010. As the analysis has
business school MIM- Kyiv will be launched in autumn of shown successful students of the Program are those who have
2011. basic economic or computer science education (Fig. 1).

III. ACM AND AIS COMPETENCES RECOMMENDATIONS

In the case of Information Systems and Business
Information Systems Design two professional associations
ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) and AIS
(Association for Information Systems) develop models of
curricula recommendations.
The Curriculum Guidelines for Undergraduate Degree
Programs in Information Systems (2010) assume that
understanding and improving organizational processes is one
of the key capabilities of all IS graduates [6]. The
competences that graduates in Information Systems are
expected to have can be divided into three categories and
subcategories:
1. Information Systems Specific Knowledge and Skills: Fig. 1. Distribution of students according to their bachelor degree
 Identifying and designing opportunities for IT-enabled
organizational improvement, This Master Program prepares professionals with high level
 Analyzing trade-offs, of knowledge in Informatics (Information System Principles,
 Designing and implementing information systems Programming, Web, Data mining, Data warehouse), Statistics
solutions, (Testing, Questioning, Projection), and related disciplines. It
 Managing ongoing information technology operations. gives students the vision that they have to realize the needs of
2. Foundational Knowledge and Skills: enterprises, to provide them with ideas how problems can be
 Leadership and collaboration, solved and then to implement the ideas. This diploma involves
 Communication, students in conducting projects at enterprises supervised by
 Negotiation, their professors.
 Analytical and critical thinking, including creativity In 2010 the Program was impartially and independently
and ethical analysis, evaluated by Agency for Evaluation of Scientific Research -
 Mathematical foundations. AERES (France), and got the highest rank Awards A+ 2010.
3. Knowledge and Skills Related to Domain Fundamentals: The Commission also recommended paying attention to such
 General models of the domain, an aspect of educational cycle as business management.
 Key specializations within the domain, It was decided to take into account the changing needs of
 Evaluation of performance within the domain the society and current and future demands in the labor field.
Integrated Curriculum for a Bachelor of Science in In the design of the Business Informatics program, it is
Business Information Systems Design (BISD 2010) differs expected that students will have a full competency and skills
from many of the current IS model curriculum discussions in in the following areas: research and development; general
modeling for a European tertiary education context and the management; information systems and technology; finance;
Bologna accord, expected learning outcomes, structure and economics; accounting; international business law; project
basing on a capability driven pedagogical model [5]. management related to general education.
These recommendations relate to education bachelor The main attention was paid to such aspects as analysis of
programs, but the approaches, the list of disciplines, hi-level employers‟ view of different competences, providing
capabilities, structure of basic concepts, leaning outcomes can opportunities for graduates to be demanded in today's labor
be studied and used for the development of Curriculum for market, organization of cooperation of the main stakeholders
Master Program. (the education system, employers and students). Both
Universities (KhNEU and Lyon2) are very experienced in

101
 Scientific Journal of Riga Technical University
Computer Science. Applied Computer Systems
2011
_________________________________________________________________________________________________ Volume 46
application of competence approach in education. A special • Competence that shows the employability of the graduate
approach to improving the technical requirements and the – 78%,
formation of competencies is fruitful cooperation among • Positive attitude to work – 72%,
Kharkiv National Economics University and Ukrainian • Practical experience – 54%,
employers, "Job Fair", survey of potential employers. This • Specialization of education – 41%,
survey was conducted by the Center of Innovative • Level of assessment during training – 28%.
Technologies of KhNEU. The University Lion2 achieves the employability of
The aim of the survey was to obtain information about the students by the organization of internship at enterprises for six
most valuable competences that a graduate should have during months, co-operation of professors with employers'
the competition for a job and during further professional associations, chambers of commerce, support, ongoing contact
activity (employability). Employability covers the following with alumni.
general competences: level of self-organization, ability to New Business Informatics Master Program is based on the
work in teams, ability to solve concrete tasks, accuracy, and idea of applying the competence model as a source of
command of Informational Technologies. The results of the information for designing a curriculum.
survey showed that a chance to get the best job on labor The following competences have been set up for Joint
market depends on: Master Diploma based on Dublin Descriptors (Table 1).

TABLE I
DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPETENCE FOR BUSINESS INFORMATICS CURRICULUM
Decriptors Description of the competence for Business Informatics Curriculum
(based on Dublin Descriptors)
Knowledge and understanding Have demonstrated knowledge and understanding of business and informatics extending the one typically
associated with First cycle degree.
Able to develop and apply original and creative ideas within the environment which requires knowledge in
overlapping and cross-linked areas of business and informatics.
Able to deploy interdisciplinary knowledge and demonstrate specialist competence in the field of business
informatics.
Applying knowledge and development Have demonstrated knowledge of the methods of modelling and analysing business processes.
Have been exposed to situations to identify and analyze real world, mainly business settings parameters and
scenarios and to provide argument devising and sustaining and a solution in the main fields of business with
computing support in terms of programming, databases, web programming, and networking. On the basis of
practical examples demonstrate competences in applying technical computing tools to the managerial and business
problems in general.
Can apply the interdisciplinary knowledge in real-world settings and with real world data. A variety of educational
settings (practical works, team work, projects and presentations) supports their professional approach for deploying
informatics solutions in the business context.
Able to choose the correct statistical method when compiling statistical analyses and the ability to interpret the
results.
Can apply business strategies and the newest developments in ICT.
Making judgement Able to creatively integrate and synthesize knowledge across several areas related to business processes and using
appropriate computing tools and techniques.
Able to deal with complex issues related to business processes, to address appropriate specialized instances both in
business and informatics domains, make sound judgments in situations of lack of complete information or data, and
based on personal, social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and
understanding.
Communicative and social competences Able to clearly and unambiguously communicate conclusions, results, study outcomes and knowledge to both
specialist audiences form the business and informatics fields along with the ability to appropriate the style and form
of expression to non-specialist audience.
Have competency for critically independent and creatively argued research, to evaluate methodologies and develop
critiques and where appropriate to propose and defend new hypotheses.
Follow rules of ethics in business and information systems development.
Learning skills Able to identify personal needs and directions for individual and autonomous study and to perform it in self-
directed and autonomous manner of common business and informatics areas.
Able to take responsibility for ongoing individual learning in specialized business and informatics fields within the
networked economy.

102
 Scientific Journal of Riga Technical University
Computer Science. Applied Computer Systems
2011
_________________________________________________________________________________________________ Volume 46
Jean-Hugues Chauchat received two M.S.
degrees in 1970, in Economics from University
V. SUMMARIES Paris-I and in Statistics from Paris-6; he
The analysis of the labor market has shown the need in received his PhD in Applied Mathematics in
1975, and his HDR (Doctorate) in Computer
highly qualified professionals that have multidiscipline Science in 2002, both from University of Lyon.
competences. The current Masters Programs in Ukraine are He began his career as an economist-statistician
aimed either on IT development or applied use of IT in in different companies and then worked as an
assistant professor at University of Saint-
professional activity. Participation in international project Etienne. Now, he is a full professor in
leading to joint Business Informatics studies gives an Computer Sciences at University Lyon-2. He
opportunity to develop a Master Program based on Bologna also taught at the University of Delaware USA
Process principles. Such programs allow taking into account and at the „Ecole de Management de Lyon‟.
He is the author or co-author of more than 80 scientific papers; in 2010 he
influence of different competences on graduates‟ success on published two papers:
the labor market, the role of main stakeholders in developing Stavrianou, Velcin, Chauchat. “PROG: A Complementary Model to the
educational standards and system of quality control of the Social Networks for Mining Forums”, „From Sociology to Computing in
Social Networks‟, Springer, p. 59-79
education. International cooperation shows a crucial role of Grabova, Darmont, Chauchat, Zolotaryova. “Business Intelligence for
internship while teaching a qualified professional. Small and Middle-Sized Enterprises”, SIGMOD Record, vol. 39, p. 39-50.
International mobility gives an opportunity to gain Chauchat‟s research interests include data mining, text mining, graphics
and application of statistics and informatics to social sciences; he serves as a
international experience as a factor that increases chances to consultant to industry and business.
be well employed and to obtain a competence of the future. Contact: [email protected]

VI. REFERENCES
Iryna Zolotaryova received two M.S.
1. Moore, A.H. The New Economy, Technology and Learning Outcomes degrees: in Applied Mathematics in Kharkiv
Assessment, EDUCAUSE Quarterly, Vol. 30, No. 3 2007, pp. 6-8, ISSN Institute of Radioelectronics (Computer Science
1528-5324 (2007) Faculty) and in Economics in Kharkiv State
2. Helfert, M. & Duncan, H.: Aspects on Information System Curriculum: University of Economics. She defended Ph.D
A Study Program in Business Informatics, The Transfer and Diffusion of thesis in Economics in 1999. From 2002 she is a
Information Technology for Organisational Resilience, Ed. Donnellan, professor, Head of Information Systems
B. et al., pp. 229-238, IFIP Vol. 206, Springer, ISBN 9780387344096, Department in Kharkiv National University of
Boston (2006) Economics. She is also Head of Ukrainian-
3. Higher Education in Europe 2009: Development in the Bologna Process French Master Program with University Lyon-2,
[Online]. – [Accessed 04.08.2011.]. Available: Coordinator of the Center of Innovation
http://www.ec.europa.eu/education/higher-education/doc/ Knowledge of World Bank.
eurydice09_en.pdf. She is the author or co-author of more than
4. Implementing Competence Orientation and Learning Outcomes in 120 scientific and methodological papers.
Higher Education - Processes and Practices in Five Countries. Ponomarenko, Zolotaryova, Minukhin. Business modeling and workflow
E. Cendon, K. Prager, E. Schacherbauer, E. Winkler. July, 2008. [E- management in the economic system. Monograph .- Kharkiv: KhNEU, 2010,
book] Available: http://www.he-leo-project.eu/he_leo- p. 22-52.
handbook/processes_and_practices Zolotaryova, Dorokhov. Using Computer Simulations Based on Adobe
5. Carlsson, Hedman & Steen: Model Curriculum for a Bachelor of Captivate for the Formation of Professional Competence of Students at
Science Program in Business Information Systems Design (BISD 2010). Studying Information Technology. Information technologies in economics,
In: Communication of the Association for Information Systems, 2010, management and education research institutes: Proceedings of the Ed. prof.
Vol. 26, Art. 24, p. 525-546 Trofimov .- SPb.: Univ FINEK Russia, 2010, 9-11 June 2010, p. 90-98
6. Topi, H., Valacich, J. S.; Wright, R. T.; Kaiser, K.; Nunamaker, Jr., She is a member of the Association “IT Ukraine”, member of Society of
J. F.; Sipior, J.; and de Vreede, G. J.. IS 2010: Curriculum Guidelines CIO of Ukraine, honored for contribution to educational process in Ukraine
for Undergraduate Degree Programs in Information Systems, 2009 and Excellence Higher Education by the Ministry of Education and Science of
[Online]. – [Accessed 04.08.2011.]. Available: Ukraine. Zolotaryova‟s research interests include information systems,
http://cis.bentley.edu/htopi/IS2010_11-23-2009.pdf business modeling, e-learning.
7. Industry-standard of Higher Education of Ukraine on Specialty Contact: [email protected]
6.050101 "Computer Science": Collection of documents of higher
education .- K.: Publishing Group BHV, 2011 .- 85 p.
8. Curriculum MBA, specialization: "INFORMATION MANAGEMENT"
[Online]. – [Accessed 04.08.2011.]. Available: http://it-
professional.org.ua/MBI/MBI_MAUP/index.php
9. MBA in IT Management [Online]. – [Accessed 04.08.2011.]. Available:
http://www.mim.kiev.ua/programs/MBA-IT/

103