"Business administration, IT and logistics - that's what it is for me to this day"
Jörn Schwabenland, born in 1972, studied business informatics with a focus on logistics at the former Ludwigshafen University of Applied Sciences. After graduating in 1999, the newly qualified business IT specialist joined Kuffler Holding GmbH and its subsidiary SoftGroup GmbH as an IT developer and consultant before moving to Axit AG as a Senior Specialist in 2001. Since 2008, the 47-year-old has been working as an expert for ICT services at DB Systel GmbH. SPEKTRUM spoke to Jörn Schwabenland about his time as a student in Ludwigshafen, the application relevance of his studies and his current areas of activity.
Mr. Schwabenland, you studied business informatics at the former Ludwigshafen University of Applied Sciences. Did your studies provide you with crucial skills and inspiration for your current position as Product Owner for SAP operations?
Jörn Schwabenland: I was already working as a student trainee in the administration of Linux, Unix, Windows and Novell networks during my studies. Immediately after my studies, I worked in administration and software development. The technical content from computer science was very helpful here. Today, I work as a product owner in SAP operations at DB Systel GmbH. The business management elements and the introduction to SAP know-how from my studies were an advantage here.
From today's perspective, the methodical approach to building up knowledge and solving IT problems with a business perspective on customer benefits and business processes is the most important thing I took away from my studies.
What made you decide to study in Ludwigshafen back then?
Pure computer science was too technical for me and a general business studies course was too commercial. At the time, I wanted a combination with a good technical focus and a degree in business informatics.
The focus on logistics is still with me today. Since 2000, I have been working in various roles and tasks in administration, projects, sales and operations for the former Axit AG, now Siemens Digital Logistics, and DB Systel GmbH.
Business administration, IT and logistics - that's what it is for me to this day and, looking back, confirms my decision to study at what was then Ludwigshafen University of Applied Sciences.
Do you have fond memories of your time in Ludwigshafen?
Yes, the time as a student, the professors, the hectic time of cramming, the fellow students, the togetherness and the partying - I wouldn't want to miss any of it! Not even the Postbank canteen across the street and the bad coffee from the vending machines.
What interesting projects are you currently working on?
DB Systel GmbH's own data centers have been sold. We are currently migrating all applications to the cloud. Projects to migrate more than 500 applications to the Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure Cloud have been, are being and will be set up. The technical changes for the applications due to the possibilities and services of the cloud providers are currently the most exciting areas of knowledge. The cloud migrations of SAP applications are currently the most interesting projects that keep me busy.
We are also changing the organization of work within the company. The transformation of the entire company towards self-organization with agile working methods in smaller teams and the associated (co-)design opportunities for employees are unique. The changes in the world of work are an interesting "project" for every employee.
Have you ever regretted your choice of study?
No.
What advice would you give to today's WI students?
Being an expert in a specific technology, software product or programming language is good. What is more important is the ability to adapt to new challenges and to react adaptively.
Learn to adapt to new things. Thinking and working methods as well as a good network are more important than learned specialist know-how on a topic.
Did you go back to your "old" university after your degree?
In the first two years, I met up with other fellow students at Ludwigshafen University of Applied Sciences from time to time.
What would you be tempted to do today?
An explicit event for a meeting of graduates from a particular Department or year would entice me. However, I haven't actively looked at the university's Facebook or website in recent years.
Is there anything else you would like to say to the university management or your old Department?
I don't have enough insight into today's university operations for that.
Thank you very much for the interview!
