Research offensive: Universities are developing new taxonomy systems!

Research offensive: Universities are developing new taxonomy systems!

On October 15, 2025, a new research project will be funded at the universities of Paderborn and Augsburg that deals with structured knowledge representation in business informatics. The German Research Foundation (DFG) has approved the grant of around 430,000 euros. Project leaders are Prof. Dr. Dennis Kundisch from the University of Paderborn and Prof. Dr. Jan Muntermann from the University of Augsburg. The project will run for 24 months and will begin next year.

The project entitled “Hierarchical taxonomies and taxonomy visualization: Methodological extensions for business informatics” aims to develop methodological foundations and design principles for the visualization of taxonomies. Taxonomies are classification systems that help organize information into a hierarchical structure, making larger amounts of information understandable and accessible. This structure allows objects or concepts to be efficiently classified into groups or categories, thereby improving findability and navigation within the data.

Focus on hierarchical structures

A central aspect of knowledge structuring through taxonomies is the hierarchical arrangement of information, which allows users to navigate from general to specific topics. In the digital world, these taxonomies are not only important for libraries or academic institutions, but also play an important role in the organization of online content, databases and information systems. The taxonomy significantly improves the use and discoverability of information by providing clear names and definitions for each category.

The research project is also intended to promote related disciplines such as knowledge organization and the development of digital systems. In this context, collaboration with international experts is emphasized. These include Prof. Robert C. Nickerson from San Francisco State University and Prof. Upkar Varshney from Georgia State University. Prof. Dr. Julian Roelle from the University of Münster will also work on the visualization of taxonomies, which should further deepen the application of these concepts.

The importance of knowledge organization

Knowledge organization includes basic methods and systems for developing and structuring information and knowledge. A distinction is made between formal and content-related development. Formal indexing refers to the use of rules and authority files, while content indexing includes, for example, the creation of table of contents and the use of classifications and keywords.

The ability to organize knowledge systematically is of great importance in numerous fields, including knowledge management, library science and computer science. By creating clear structures and conceptual systems, it becomes possible to effectively develop and manage existing knowledge, which significantly increases usage.

In summary, it can be said that the new research project at the universities of Paderborn and Augsburg will not only provide significant impetus for business informatics, but will also further advance the development and application of taxonomies as an important component of knowledge organization and structuring.