Information technology (IT) has revolutionized the way consumers and businesses relate and interact. For consumers, online retailing has become the dominant distribution channel for a wide variety of products and services, with massive shifts underway from brick and mortar to e-commerce and the Web, and now into social media. Not only has technology changed consumer habits, it has also dramatically changed the workplace.
Technological innovations enable new strategies, products, and distribution channels while increasing efficiency and productivity in all industries. Success in the 21st century requires that business managers and analysts understand what technologies are available in the marketplace and how these technologies can lead to competitive advantage, staying competitive, and to new business products, services, and models. Therefore, it is necessary that managers understand how IT interacts with business strategies, organizations, and customers, and it is essential that businesses manage their portfolios of IT investments accordingly.
Through the Pitt Business Information Systems (BIS) major, students will develop the abilities to partner with, or contribute to, IT-enabled business strategy, operations and projects in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to:

Evaluating new information technologies, business models, and their implications
Understanding the relationships between competitive advantage and information technologies
Assessing a business or business area to recognize where process improvements can be made
Eliciting and identifying requirements
Communicating effectively with consumers, managers, analysts, business partners, and IT professionals
Modeling needs, processes, and data
Managing data as an asset
Managing processes

Careers:
Skills Needed

Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Types of Jobs

Business Technology Analysis
Consulting
IT Management
Operations
Customer Service/Sales

Types of Industries

Medium to Large Corporations
Government
Start-up Organizations
Retail
Consulting Firms