Prologue

Chapter 1

Organizational culture is a unique property of an academic department to create and boost scientific value for humanity. Our department is established recently (2018) and we are willing to embed scientific best practices, and to create an efficient academic climate and culture in the Department of Management Information Systems (MIS Dept.). With the Field Manual, we are trying to create a strategic framework to support main processes of the department.

In the Field Manual, readers can find various subjects which are related to departmental strategy and viewpoints, intrinsic workflows and approaches, implicit rules and regulations, current functions and actions. For many people this document may seemed to be an effort for nothing, a mental waste, or a weird point of view which try to create an artificial social architecture. However, such opinions will also be exist in the future regardless of efforts to create a knowledge-based society.

On the other hand, this document reflects a critical thinking exercise for the system which is based on verbalization. Document-based systems are more powerful and more sustainable as the reader can recognize their effects on various world-wide practices. So, we should create a well-documented architecture for an academic department to create more value for the society.

1.1. Values

Our core values are based on the concepts declared below to get works done! They are bound to all processes related to the department.

OPEN. Open relationships between agents and parties.

FREE. Freedom of thought and speech in all processes.

PROACTIVE. Getting works done proactively.

CREATIVE. Making things as we dream.

RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE. Awareness of responsibilities of actions and obligations to report, explain, or justify processes.

1.2. Scientific Viewpoint

We are, as researchers, doing science to arrive at knowledge and seeking new ideas which can be answers for questions. In the department, our main research domain is management information systems (plural) which includes mutual scientific areas and academic disciplines. Accordingly, Department of Management Information Systems is a multidisciplinary academic unit at Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences of University of Bakırçay.

To do science is to follow a prescribed method to arrive at knowledge. As Rossiter (2013) notes that the scientific method is not a belief system or religious dogma, but rather a manner of thinking and working towards more complete knowledge of the world. It has been proven to be extremely successful in:

• explaining the world as we observe it;

• predicting what can be further observed, e.g. new observations, new locations, repeat observations, the effect of interventions;

• engineering, i.e. building things that work.

Science is not prescriptive – it cannot say what ought to be done. It can, however, point out the probable consequences of certain actions, as objectively as possible. Therefore, we encourage and support our colleagues to let them for leveraging their personal limits and improving their scientific visions in all sense.

1.3. Educational Viewpoint

Our main objective in education is to create an environment that fosters creativity while ensuring a foundational level of scientific knowledge. The department offers four programs at different levels: an undergraduate program, two master's programs (one with a thesis and another without), and a PhD program. The curricula for these programs are carefully designed to support self-actualization, strengthen professional viewpoint, and encourage knowledge-based creativity at both theoretical and practical levels.

In addition to this, there is an online evaluation form available for all MIS courses. We are actively seeking feedback to continuously improve course performance for everyone.

1.4. Administrative Viewpoint

Academic administration is a branch of a university or college where employees are responsible for the maintenance and supervision of the institution. These employees are distinct from the faculty or academics, although some individuals may have joint responsibilities. Various administrative structures exist in nearly all academic institutions. Notably, fewer schools worldwide are governed by employees who also engage in academic or scholarly work.

On the other hand, as a newly established academic unit of the university, we do not have additional personnel to assign specific administrative roles. Therefore, we must handle almost all administrative tasks ourselves. To address this, several commissions have been set up, at least as a short-term solution, to manage specific tasks. All members of the department are eager to assist the chair's office in establishing a decentralized departmental administration that aligns with the department's perspectives.

1.5. People

Faculty (sorted alphabetically)

Prof. H. Kemal İlter, Ph.D., Department Chair

Prof. Erman Coşkun, Ph.D.

Prof. Abdulkadir Hızıroğlu, Ph.D.

Assoc. Prof. Emine Uçar, Ph.D., Associate Chair

Assoc. Prof. Onur Doğan, Ph.D.

Asst. Prof. Hunaida Avvad, Ph.D.

Asst. Prof. Fares Dael, Ph.D.

Asst. Prof. Ourania Areta Hızıroğlu, Ph.D.

Asst. Prof. Serhat Peker, Ph.D.

Research Assistants (sorted alphabetically)

RA Ekin Akkol, Ph.D. Candidate

RA Ali Mert Erdoğan, Ph.D. Candidate

RA Burak Keskin