Information Systems and Software Engineering Research and Education in Oulu until the 1990s

Abstract

Abstract. This paper discusses the internationalization of software business in the Oulu region. Despite its small size, the region grew rapidly and very successfully into a global information and communication technology business center. The University of Oulu, which was the northern most university in the world at the time of its establishment (1958) had a strong emphasis on engineering since its very beginning. Research on electronics was carried out since the early 1960s. Later, when the Department of Information Processing Science was founded in 1969, research on information systems and later also on software engineering was carried out. This paper discusses the role of the information systems and software engineering research for the business growth of the region. Special emphasis is put on understanding the role of system-theoretical and software development expertise for transferring research knowledge into practice.

A Classification of Methods and Contributions in the Historiography of Nordic Computing

“…Our focus on the HC conceptual apparatus illustrates to what extent HC is open to various interdisciplinary approaches and to what extent it seems to develop its own theoretical agenda in relation to the broader social scientific analysis. In sum, various concepts such as computerization [23], technology transfer [24], internationalization [25], transfer of knowledge [25], computer fiction and technoscientific democracy [21], digital heritage [26], techno-biography [19], and data policy [27], among others, have been addressed in the HC field. All these concepts obviously relate HC with the broader social scientific discussions and, as a result, help to make the field increasingly important for the further understanding of social change in contemporary societies.…”