Name: Dr. Arjan Vreeken

Position at UvA: Lecturer

'In this Master's programme we try to challenge the students' way of thinking about information, ICT/IS and management. In my courses we examine underlying principles of traditional and alternative perspectives on information systems. For instance we try to move away from the production view of information towards a view where information use is recognized as the sole source for value. It is not about how much information a system can produce, but how it is actually used by people, for instance in their daily job, in organizational politics etc. Understanding these daily practices gives us a better understanding of important topics in the IS-field like the evaluation of information systems and strategic alignment.'

'We relate of course to current technological and organisational developments, like for instance the use of Bring Your Devices. As many BIS-students work and/or have experience in different organisations, mostly in the field of business information systems, we also try to build on these experiences, for instance to understand the changing practices and principles in our field. Overall I believe that our Master's gives the student the ability to put Business Information Systems in a broader perspective; a perspective that takes into account the dynamics of organizations, technology and society. In my view this is one of the main strengths of the BIS-master.'