| Course: | E-Business Innovation |
|---|---|
| ID: | VU-BI |
| Authors: | dr. ing. J. Gordijn, drs. E. Schulten, prof. dr. J.M. Akkermans |
| ECTS: | 7 |
| Classification: | 1.3.4, 2.0.1, 2.0.2 |
| Description: | The aim of this course is to understand and systematically analyze the multi-disciplinary aspects (strategy, business processes, technology issues, implementation) involved in innovations with information and communication technologies (ICT) in networked businesses. We will discuss theories and practical experiences, from different disciplines and industry sectors, covering some important recent topics in electronic business: formulation of strategy ;design and evaluation of e-business models; organizational readiness; future and perspectives of electronic business. Key topics will be exercised by small classroom workshops as part of an e-business strategy and implementation project to be carried out by the students. |
| Course: | Qualitative Research Methods for the Information Sciences |
|---|---|
| ID: | VU-RM |
| Authors: | prof. dr. J.M. Akkermans (contact), dr. ing. J. Gordijn |
| ECTS: | 3 |
| Classification: | UNKNOWN |
| Description: | This course helps prepare students who want to
embark on their (Master) research. The course provides an
overview and assessment of different scientific research methods,
needed in a multi-disciplinary approach to Information Systems and
how they function in an organizational context. Major topics are:
|
| Course: | Ontology Engineering |
|---|---|
| ID: | VU-OE |
| Authors: | prof. dr. A.T. Schreiber |
| ECTS: | 3 |
| Classification: | 1.0.1, 1.0.2, 1.0.3, 1.0.5, 1.0.7, 2.3.2 |
| Description: | Ontologies are nowadays used in computer science a means to share common concepts between information systems. This course is focused on theory, methods, and tools for constructing and/or extending ontologies for this purpose. Teaching subjects typically center around engineering principles, e.g. for subtype hierarchies (backbone identification, viewpoints, dimensions, constraint specification), part-of structures (types of part-of relations, representation of part-of relations), and default knowledge. Also, the mapping and/or integration of different ontologies is discussed. The course contains examples of how ontologies are used in practice. The assignments focus on real-life examples of ontologies currently in use in web applications. |
| Course: | Intelligent Web Applications |
|---|---|
| ID: | VU-IWA |
| Authors: | prof. dr. F.A.H. van Harmelen, A. Hess, R. Siebes |
| ECTS: | 8 |
| Classification: | 1.1.1.2, 1.1.3, 1.3.2, 1.3.6, 2.0.1, 2.0.2 |
| Description: | The World-Wide Web today is a huge network of
information resources which was built in order to broadcast
information for human users. Consequently, most of the information
on the Web is designed to be suitable for human consumption: The
structuring principles are weak, many different kinds of
information co-exist, and most of the information is represented
as free text. With the increasing size of the web and the
availability of new technologies such as mobile applications or
smart devices, there is a strong need for making the information
on the World Wide Web accessible to computer programs which
search, filter, convert, interpret, and summarize the information
for the benefit of the user. The Semantic Web is a synonym for a
World Wide Web whose accessibility is similar to a deductive
database where programs can perform well-defined operations on
well-defined data or even derive new information from existing
data.
This course addresses methods to create and use such a Semantic
Web. It extends and complements the ``Web-based Knowledge
Representation'' course by:
I. deepening the understanding of the formal foundations of
knowledge representation and reasoning on the web
|
| Course: | Behaviour Dynamics |
|---|---|
| ID: | VU-BD |
| Authors: | dr. C.M. Jonker, prof. dr. J. Treur |
| ECTS: | 6 |
| Classification: | UNKNOWN |
| Description: | This course teaches analysis and modeling of the dynamics of behaviour in Artificial, Biological, Cognitive and Social systems. Behavioural dynamics occurs in different forms, contexts and complexity. During the course examples of such behaviour are studied coming from software systems (e.g., knowledge- and agent-based systems), biology (e.g., functioning of the blood circulatory system, bacteries), cognition (e.g., the dynamics of beliefs, desires and intentions, emotions and feelings, complex reasoning tasks). The dynamics of behaviour of such systems is analysed (including verification and validation), modelled, and simulated in this course using dedicated techniques and tools. |
| Course: | Organisational Dynamics |
|---|---|
| ID: | VU-OD |
| Authors: | dr. M.C. Schut |
| ECTS: | 6 |
| Classification: | UNKNOWN |
| Description: | This course is on the simulation and analysis of organizations and their dynamics. In this respect, an organization is a social or computational structure for achieving controlled performance in pursuit of collective goals. We study the dynamics within existing organizations as well as the dynamics and evolution of organizational structure itself. Computational organization models specify the dynamics of information, personnel, decision responsibilities, tasks, and resources that are distributed geographically and temporally. We consider organizations as complex, dynamic, adaptive and evolving systems. A case study example of such a system, as discussed in the course, involves the traditional economic market. The analysis of organizational structure is explained from internal (managerial) as well as external (market) perspectives. Regarding the latter, evolution is discussed as a mechanism that drives organizational change from the outside. In the course, aspects of the courses on self organizing systems and organization theory are placed in the context of organization dynamics. |
| Course: | Advanced Research Seminar |
|---|---|
| ID: | VU-AS |
| Authors: | To be announced |
| ECTS: | 6 |
| Classification: | UNKNOWN |
| Description: | This seminar of 6 per year credits discusses recent and important research topics. The seminar has a loose form (workshop, reads/discussion group, intensive seminar over a few days) and have been set up in a way that it is interesting for our PhD - students (that such a seminar also can organize and teach). It can be also organized around the stay of a foreign guest research worker. The subject circulates in principle annually. At the same time this component can be exploited as experimental test field for new subjects which find afterwards their way in courses in the regular masters, so that this seminar has also a cousin function and spin-off for our regular education renewal. |