COVID-19 has hit many businesses hard. Large organizations often have capital, skills, and infrastructure to adapt through digitalization relatively quickly. Many smaller businesses lack these resources or skills. As a result, their response to COVID-19 suffers from delays, resource bottlenecks, coordination challenges, or security vulnerabilities. These issues are critical now. Moreover, they may persist over time. In the current situation new norms are forming around customer behaviors, online shopping, or remote working policies, which may endure long after restrictions are eased.
COVID-19 has also has a significant impact on students. Many students had their internships or student jobs cancelled. In shrinking labour markets it is becoming more difficult to find a job. All the while, many students are keen to build practical experience and begin applying new skills to help others in society. This will allow them better access to opportunities once the economy begins to recover.
The Cologne Institute for Information Systems (CIIS) wants to help small local companies and students and bring companies and student volunteers together. Small businesses are invited to propose a technology project that will help them manage the challenges of COVID-19. These projects should be small enough that student volunteers can reasonably perform them in a timeframe of four weeks or less for no fee.
Such projects can include (but are not limited to)
- Creating or modifying a website
- Building or updating a database
- Documenting, analyzing or automating business processes
- Enabling remote operations for staff or consumers
The project is part of an international collaboration organized by the Association for Information Systems, together with other universities also helping small businesses in their regions.
How local, small business can get involved:
Short project proposals from local, small businesses can be submitted to CIIShelps(at)wiso.uni-koeln.de. Proposals will be screened by an organizing committee from CIIS. Those selected will be made available to suitable student volunteers. Some projects may be too big or may not fit the skill sets of the students available. Proposals that are too ambitious, not feasible, or not critical to business have will be rejected. Proposal submissions should include name, contact details, and a short description (100 words or fewer) of your business problem and assistance sought.
How students can get involved:
Students that wish to participate can log on to the initiative website on ILIAS to view submitted project proposals. Instructions for how to register for a project are provided on the website.