Business Process Management (BPM): A Pathway for IT-Professionalism in Europe?

Abstract

According to recent studies, there is a dramatic demand for IT education in Europe: EMPIRICA estimates an average of half a million IT professionals needed in Europe within the upcoming years. In December 2009 the so-called eSKILLS initiative was launched in order to stimulate measures in all member states. From an academic perspective, this development seems to call for an extension of educational programs in the field of computer science and information systems on the one side. On the other, this trend also underlines the necessity to maybe rethink such programs in light of in how far they actually meet the current business requirements in Europe. This discussion lies at the core of the EU- project TRICE. In this paper, I will highlight and give reason for the importance of Business Process Management skills. The newly founded Master Program in Business Process Management at the University of Liechtenstein (MSc BPM) serves as an example for how such a program may be designed. A fruitful discussion may arise as to in how far process thinking may be set in relation to further pathways to IT professionalism in Europe.