The Business Information Systems Cluster has expertise in the overlapping areas of:
- Accounting Information Systems
- Business Forensics
- Electronic Commerce
- Empirical Information Systems Research
- Knowledge Management
The study of business information systems embraces a wide range of teaching and research areas. These areas exhibit considerable overlap. For example, the creation of accounting information systems involves systems analysis and design activities that are implemented via database management systems. Knowledge of the controls in and weaknesses of these systems as well, as the ability to analyze the contents of these accounting systems, is required to conduct business forensic activities. Accounting information systems form the basis for almost all electronic commerce ventures. Knowledge management involves activities that seek to maximize the value of the information stored in accounting information systems and to use that information for the benefit of organizations and members of their value chain. Proposing and testing theories that improve the representation, control, and exploitation of information resources forms the basis for the empirical research conducted by members of the cluster.
Although research conducted by members of the BIS cluster can occasionally be classified as design science, the overwhelming majority of the research conducted by BIS members consists of theory-based research into some aspect of accounting information systems, business forensics, electronic commerce, or knowledge management. The proposed theories are tested and validated via empirical research typically using research methods such as action research, case studies, experiments, or surveys.
The Business Information Systems Cluster supports Australian and Asia-Pacific regional journals, as well as the leading international journals. Members of the cluster strive to publish in increasingly more prestigious journals including the premier journals in information systems and related disciplines. Recent publications by members of the cluster have appeared in the following journals: Accounting and Finance, Accounting Horizons, ACM Transactions on Database Systems, Australian Journal of Information Systems, Decision Support Systems, Information Systems, Information Systems Journal, Information Systems Research, International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Journal of Research and Practice in Information Technology, Managerial Auditing Journal, and Management Science.
