May 18, 2026 · 40 years of HWZ

The Department of Digital Business Management: driving force for data and digital technologies

The departments are a central driving force at HWZ. They develop programmes, promote innovation, and ensure that study, continuing education and professional practice remain closely interconnected. The Department of Digital Business Management shapes key areas of expertise relating to business informatics, data and digital technologies. Its aim is to enable people to understand technological developments and apply them effectively within organisations.

This article is part of the content series marking the 40th anniversary of HWZ. Through this series, we aim to showcase the diversity of stories from our university and highlight the topics and individuals that have shaped, and continue to shape, HWZ.

More about the anniversary

Data and digital technologies as core competencies

The Department of Digital Business Management represents a modern approach to business informatics, data management, and digital technologies. These are topics that are becoming increasingly important across all sectors and are evolving at a rapid pace.

Within HWZ, we play an important role in translation and coaching: we present technological developments in an accessible way, support other departments with digital matters, and help to integrate relevant future skills into degree programmes. Our aim is not only to provide students with theoretical knowledge, but also to prepare them specifically for the practical application of technological skills.

Conveying technological knowledge in a practical manner

The department provides practical and interdisciplinary teaching in business informatics and data-related skills. In doing so, we combine technical understanding with topics such as leadership, organisational development, and the interaction between people and technology.

We also support the other departments at HWZ in designing technical modules for continuing education, or we assess digital business models to determine whether they are technically and technologically feasible. Our role is to contextualise developments, highlight potential, and introduce new ideas into both degree programmes and continuing education.

It remains particularly important to develop technical and digital skills. Even in an era of AI and automation, there is still a need for people who understand technologies and can apply them effectively.

The team behind the Department of Digital Business Management

Behind the department is a team that takes on a variety of roles simultaneously: coach, supporter, enabler, and driver of innovation. This versatility shapes our daily collaboration.

We are united by the motivation to make technological developments understandable and applicable. In doing so, we are constantly learning, testing new approaches, and continuously developing our skills. Not every idea works straight away. What matters to us is the willingness to try new things and to improve together.

Considering technology, organisation and people together

The Department of Digital Business Management combines technological expertise with an understanding of organisations and people. Sustainable digitalisation can only succeed when technology is meaningfully integrated into processes, collaboration, and business models.

Our approach is characterised by speed, openness and interdisciplinary collaboration. Traditional departmental boundaries are increasingly dissolving in favour of shared ecosystems and new forms of cooperation. This is where the entrepreneurial DNA of HWZ is particularly evident.

Future Skills for the Digital Economy

Technological and technical skills will continue to grow in importance over the coming years, both at an individual level and within organisations. Topics such as data management, cyber security, DevOps, cloud technologies and AI are bringing about lasting change in companies and presenting many organisations with new challenges.

Our aim is to integrate these developments into our teaching in a way that is clear, practical and forward-looking. In doing so, we seek to connect technological content more closely with insights from organisational psychology, neuroscience and change management. After all, technology is not an end in itself, but should serve to support people and organisations.

In future, we aim to further strengthen our role as coach and source of inspiration within HWZ, and to promote new forms of collaboration.

The contribution of the Department of Digital Business Management to the HWZ of tomorrow

The Department of Digital Business Management strengthens HWZ, particularly in the interplay between people, organisations and technology. In doing so, we make an important contribution to the strategic development of the university.

With an eye on «40 years of HWZ», we are united by a clear ambition: the Department of Digital Business Management is to be recognised far beyond HWZ as a centre of excellence for business informatics, applied data science and digital technologies.

Contact

Portrait Silvana Cucu HWZ

Silvana Cucu

Head of Department Digital Business Management | Programme Director
Telephone EMail
Hwz Portrait Robine Gehrig Web

Robine Gehrig

Project Manager Corporate Communications
Telephone EMail