DFG sponsors joint research project between Paderborn University and University of Augsburg
In an increasingly digitalised and information-flooded world, structured representations of knowledge are becoming more and more important in almost all fields of society and science. Especially in the field of business informatics, it is essential to make complex contexts understandable and applicable. Clear, hierarchical classification systems are crucial for this. This is where the new research project by Prof. Dr. Dennis Kundisch, Chair of Information Systems, in particular Digital Markets at Paderborn University, and Prof. Dr. Jan Muntermann, Chair of Business Administration with a focus on Financial Data Analytics at the University of Augsburg, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), comes in. The project entitled "Hierarchical Taxonomies and Taxonomy Visualisation: Methodological Extensions for Information Systems" will receive funding of around 430,000 euros and will run for 24 months. It will start next year.
Hierarchical taxonomies: Potential for clear and structured knowledge representation
At the centre of the project are so-called taxonomies, i.e. systematic classifications in which objects are divided into ordered groups according to common characteristics. In this way, existing or new knowledge can be transferred to all objects that belong to a certain class. Taxonomies play a key role in business informatics in order to better understand and scientifically process new digital technologies and innovations. "They therefore form the basis for systematically classifying knowledge about new phenomena and making it usable for research and practice," explains Prof. Kundisch. To date, business informatics has primarily focussed on so-called facet taxonomies, which classify objects based on various dimensions and characteristics. There has been a lack of suitable methodological foundations for hierarchical taxonomies that can structure knowledge at different levels of abstraction - yet they harbour enormous potential for research and application.
"This is exactly where we come in: With our project, we are not only pursuing the goal of generating the methodological foundations for the development and evaluation of hierarchical taxonomies, but also want to develop clear design principles for appropriate visualisation, e.g. in the form of diagrams or maps. This will create a solid basis for a well-founded and practical organisation of knowledge," explains Prof. Muntermann. After all, in order to understand and sustainably shape digital innovations, structures are needed that map complex knowledge and make it understandable at the same time. The results of the project should not only advance business informatics, but also give new impetus to related disciplines, for example in the organisation of knowledge or the development of digital systems.
To realise the research project, the researchers are cooperating with two international experts in the field of method development in the context of taxonomies: Professor Robert C. Nickerson, Ph.D. from San Francisco State University, USA and Professor Upkar Varshney, Ph.D. from Georgia State University, USA. In addition, cognitive psychologist Prof. Dr. Julian Roelle from the University of Münster was recruited to work on the appropriate visualisation of taxonomies.
This text was translated automatically.
