Which tasks can be entrusted to artificial intelligence, and when should humans remain involved in decision-making processes? Prof. Jan vom Brocke and Dr. Thomas Haskamp from the Department of Information Systems at the University of Münster, together with Dr. Ina Sebastian and Prof. Peter Weill from the MIT Center for Information Systems Research (CISR), have developed a framework to help companies address this question. The “AI Decision Matrix” enables executives to determine, based on two dimensions, the extent to which humans and autonomous AI agents should be involved in decision-making processes.

Welche Aufgaben können der künstlichen Intelligenz anvertraut werden, und wann sollten Menschen weiterhin in die Entscheidungsprozesse eingebunden sein? Prof. Jan vom Brocke und Dr. Thomas Haskamp vom Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik der Universität Münster haben gemeinsam mit dem MIT Center for Information Systems Research (CISR) ein Framework entwickelt, das Unternehmen bei dieser Frage unterstützen soll. Die „AI Decision Matrix“ ermöglicht es Führungskräften anhand von zwei Dimensionen zu bestimmen, in welchem Umfang Menschen und autonome KI-Agenten an Entscheidungsprozessen beteiligt sein sollten.

This semester, the Chair of Information Systems and Supply Chain Management, headed by Prof. Bernd Hellingrath, is offering the project seminar “Agentic Purchase Recommendations for Inventory Management Optimization” for master’s students. In collaboration with the Münster-based company pacemaker.ai, the students are investigating how agentic AI systems can support supply chain planners in their day-to-day work, particularly with replenishment decisions and demand forecasting.

Planners face complex decisions every day: volatile demand, supply bottlenecks, and a large number of materials, suppliers, and constraints all have to be kept in view at once. Agentic AI opens up new possibilities here. Unlike traditional forecasting models, AI agents can independently gather information, detect anomalies, explain their recommendations, and interact with users in natural language. The central question of the seminar is therefore: How should such a digital “sidekick” be designed so that it genuinely relieves planners of work while keeping humans in charge of the decisions?

Working in small teams, the students will analyze existing planning processes and planners’ requirements and review the current state of research on agentic AI and human-AI collaboration. Building on this, they will develop their own concepts and prototypes, such as an agent that explains forecast deviations in an understandable way, an assistant that prepares order proposals along with their rationale, or a system that proactively flags critical shortages. The teams will be supported by experts from pacemaker.ai, who will provide insights into real-world planning processes, data, and practical requirements.

pacemaker.ai is headquartered in Münster, is part of the thyssenkrupp group, and develops AI software for industrial supply chains, with solutions for demand forecasting and replenishment.

B2B sales professionals in the Dutch-German border region meet their financial targets, but score below the European average on CRM systems, artificial intelligence, sales automation and data-driven decisions. Their willingness to pick up new technology also sits below that average. That is the outcome of a first measurement by the University of Twente and the University of Münster among 25 sales professionals on both sides of the border.

B2B-Vertriebsmitarbeitende in der deutsch-niederländischen Grenzregion erreichen ihre finanziellen Ziele, liegen bei CRM-Systemen, Künstlicher Intelligenz, Vertriebsautomatisierung und datenbasierten Entscheidungen aber unter dem europäischen Durchschnitt. Auch ihre Bereitschaft, neue Technik aufzugreifen, liegt unter diesem Durchschnitt. Das zeigt eine erste Messung der Universität Twente und der Universität Münster unter 25 Vertriebsmitarbeitenden auf beiden Seiten der Grenze.

As part of the PRISM Conference 2026 “AI as Researcher, Resource, and Rival,” more than 80 students, researchers, founders and professors from Münster, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Braunschweig, Magdeburg and Bonn gathered at the Juridicum on September 23. The panel was moderated by Dr. Matthias Kiel (REACH). The conference was organized by Prof. Dr. David Bendig and Prof. Dr. Verena Rieger.

The German Research Foundation (DFG) has approved a joint research project by Prof. Dr. Markus Dertwinkel-Kalt and Prof. Dr. Christian Wey from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU). Over the next three years, the two economists will investigate how current energy and climate policy measures affect markets, companies and consumers.

Die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) bewilligt ein gemeinsames Forschungsprojekt von Prof. Dr. Markus Dertwinkel-Kalt und Prof. Dr. Christian Wey von der HHU Düsseldorf. In den kommenden drei Jahren untersuchen die beiden Ökonomen, wie aktuelle energie- und klimapolitische Maßnahmen auf Märkte, Unternehmen und Verbraucher wirken.

Im Rahmen der PRISM Conference 2026 „AI as Researcher, Resource, and Rival“ kamen am 23. September über 80 Studierende, Forschende, Gründer:innen und Professor:innen aus Münster, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Braunschweig, Magdeburg und Bonn im Juridicum zusammen. Organisiert wurde die Konferenz von Prof. Dr. David Bendig und Prof. Dr. Verena Rieger.
 

The Legal and Administrative Informatics Conference (RVI) was held on September 24–25, 2026, at TU Dresden as part of the Informatics Festival and in conjunction with the GI Annual Conference INFORMATIK.

Michael Räckers from the Department of Information Systems at the University of Münster organized the conference together with Gunnar Auth (HSF Meißen) and Tim Pidun (HTW Dresden). The event brought together approximately 100 participants. In cooperation with the Informatics Festival, the organizing team also helped shape the overarching theme, “Digital Resilience,” and was responsible for part of the main conference program. Michael Räckers also moderated the panel “Digital Resilience and Sovereignty – Boosters for Innovative Administration and State Modernization?”

The conference also included the annual general meeting of the GI Special Interest Group on Administrative Informatics. After nine years as the group’s spokesperson, Michael Räckers handed over the role to his successor, Gunnar Auth. Tim Pidun and Vera Spitzer (University of Koblenz) were elected deputy spokespersons.

Michael Räckers will remain a member of the group’s steering committee. Michael Koddebusch from the Department of Information Systems was also newly elected to the committee. The University of Münster is therefore represented by two members on the committee.

The 2026 Legal and Administrative Informatics Conference focused on the challenges of digital transformation in public administration, which is unfolding amid pressure to innovate, rule-of-law requirements, and geopolitical and technological dependencies. The conference explored digital resilience and digital sovereignty both as concepts for protection and stability and as potential drivers or barriers to innovation in public administration. It brought together legal, technical, and organizational perspectives and provided an interdisciplinary forum for exchange between academia and practice.

from left to right: Tim Pidun, Vera Spitzer, Gunnar Auth, Michael Räckers

Was passiert mit den öffentlichen Einnahmen aus dem Pkw-Verkehr, wenn immer mehr Menschen auf Elektroautos umsteigen? Eine aktuelle Studie von Prof. Dr. Gernot Sieg, Leiter des Instituts für Verkehrswissenschaften (IVM) der Universität Münster, Maria Kennel, ebenfalls IVM, und Berthold Wigger, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, untersucht verschiedene Modelle zur künftigen Finanzierung des motorisierten Individualverkehrs. Die Ergebnisse wurden von zahlreichen Medien aufgegriffen.

The 21st International Conference on Information Systems (WI 2026) took place from September 6 to 10, 2026, at Johannes Kepler University Linz in Austria. Under the theme “Sociotechnical Systems in the Age of AI,” the conference focused on how artificial intelligence is changing the use of technology and the role of humans in business contexts. The conference brought together researchers and practitioners and provided a platform for exchanging ideas on current developments in Information Systems. In addition to academic contributions, the event also emphasized networking within the community.

Staff and students from the Department of Information Systems at the University of Münster were also represented with numerous contributions. A total of six papers were presented, covering topics including digital transformation, digital solutions for the circular economy, and digital product passports: 

• “Tool Adoption in Systematic Literature Reviews: An Empirical Investigation of the Review Process” (Näscher, Hans-Henning; Strohmann, Timo; vom Brocke, Jan) 

• “Why Overcoming Does Not Work: A Configurational Reconceptualization of the Barrier Construct in Digital Transformation Research” (Poppe, Celine; Koddebusch, Michael; Brandt, Tobias) 

• “Digital Solutions for Improving Circularity in Textile Recycling” (Reichert, Nicole; Sander, Marie; Stanlein, David) 

• “Generation Z Consumer Preferences for Digital Product Passport Attributes” (Herold, Tim Lukas; Montsch, Celine; Stanlein, David) 

• “ReuseMe: A DSR Study on Simplifying Local Donation and Reuse” (Khidirboev, Uroljon; Khudoyberdiev, Isroil; Koddebusch, Michael) 

• “The Influence of Explainable AI on Bias in Decision-Making Processes” (Vahland, Carolin Elisabeth; Burger, Mara) 

It is particularly noteworthy that three of the presented papers by Nicole Reichert, Marie Sander, Tim Lukas Herold, Celine Montsch, Uroljon Khidirboev, and Isroil Khudoyberdiev emerged from the master’s seminar “Digital Enablers of the Circular Economy” and were accepted as full papers in regular tracks. 

In addition, Michael Koddebusch co-chaired the track “Smart Cities & Digital Government” together with Bettina Distel and Tobias Guggenberger (University of Bayreuth). 

43.000 Studierende, 8.000 Beschäftigte in Lehre, Forschung und Verwaltung, die gemeinsam Zukunftsperspektiven gestalten – das ist die Universität Münster. Eingebettet in die Atmosphäre der Stadt Münster mit ihrer hohen Lebensqualität zieht sie mit ihrem vielfältigen Forschungsprofil und attraktiven Lehrangeboten Studierende und Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftler aus dem In- und Ausland an.

Mehr als 10.000 Studieninteressierte besuchen jedes Jahr den Hochschultag Münster. In diesem Jahr findet er am 12. November statt und die Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät ist natürlich dabei: In einer  interaktiven Reise erfahren Studieninteressierte alles über unsere Studiengänge. Studierende der Fachschaften beantworten Fragen in einem Q&A auf Augenhöhe. Einblicke in die Praxis bietet ein BWL-Planspiel. Auch für Eltern haben wir eine Info- und Frage-Session im Programm. Die Anmeldung ist ab sofort freigeschaltet, die Plätze sind begrenzt.

At the Falling Walls Lab Münster 2026, Dr. Lea Püchel from the Department of Information Systems placed second. On September 11, eight early-career researchers presented their research and startup ideas in three-minute pitches in English at the REACH – Euregio Start-up Center. In her research, Lea Püchel examines how digital documentation software in childcare centers affects trust between educators and parents. Building on this, she is developing software designed to provide educators with guidance and greater legal certainty when handling data.

Beim Falling Walls Lab Münster 2026 hat Dr. Lea Püchel vom Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik den zweiten Platz belegt. Am 11. September präsentierten acht Nachwuchswissenschaftler*innen im REACH – Euregio-Start-up Center in dreiminütigen englischsprachigen Pitches ihre Forschungs- und Gründungsideen. In ihrer Forschung untersucht Lea Püchel, wie digitale Dokumentationssoftware in Kindertagesstätten das Vertrauen zwischen Erzieher*innen und Eltern verändert. Darauf aufbauend entwickelt sie eine Software, die dem pädagogischen Personal Orientierung und Rechtssicherheit im Umgang mit Daten geben soll.

At the Falling Walls Lab Münster 2026, Dr. Lea Püchel from the Department of Information Systems placed second with her pitch titled “Breaking the Wall of Data Dependency.” On September 11, eight early-career researchers presented their research and startup ideas in three-minute pitches in English at the REACH – Euregio Start-up Center.

In her research, Lea Püchel examines how digital documentation software in childcare centers affects trust between educators and parents. Building on this, she is developing software designed to provide educators with guidance and greater legal certainty when handling data.

The Falling Walls Lab is an international initiative of the Berlin-based Falling Walls Foundation. In just three minutes, early-career researchers pitch ideas with the potential to create a positive impact on society. The winners of the local competitions qualify for the Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin.

© Uni MS - Nike Gais

In the ‘Let's have a slice of poppy seed cake’ column of the university newspaper wissen|leben, staff from the Communications and Public Relations Unit visit university employees for each issue to talk to them about what makes their workplace special. In an interview, Olga Lunina, Head of the International Relations Centre at the School of Business and Economics, explains why she has always wanted to work in an international context and what she particularly values about her adopted home, Münster.

In der Rubrik "Auf ein Stück Mohnkuchen" der Unizeitung wissen|leben besuchen Mitarbeiter:innen der Stabsstelle Kommunikation und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit für jede Ausgabe Universitätsbeschäftigte, um mit ihnen über Besonderheiten ihres Arbeitsplatzes zu sprechen. Olga Lunina, Leiterin des International Relations Centers der Wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Fakultät, berichtet im Interview, warum sie schon immer im internationalen Kontext arbeiten wollte und was sie an ihrer Wahl-Heimat Münster besonders schätzt.

In der aktuellen Sonderausgabe der Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik, welche sich mit "Verhaltensökonomik in der Wirtschaftspolitik" beschäftigt, sind zwei Beiträge des Lehrstuhls zu finden. Markus Dertwinkel-Kalt und Matthias Sutter beschäftigen sich in "Warum finanzielle Anreize verpuffen: Verhaltensökonomische Perspektiven auf wirtschaftspolitische Maßnahmen in der Energiekrise" mit der Frage inwiefern finanzielle Anreize in Krisensituationen verpuffen und was stattdessen wirksamer sein kann.