Bio:

Mario Nadj is a full professor and holds the Chair for Information Systems and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Marketing at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. Previously, he was an assistant professor and chairholder for Business & Information Systems Engineering at the TU University Dortmund, Germany. He received his doctoral degree from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany. During his doctorate, he worked for SAP SE for three years in Business Process Management in Walldorf, Germany. He graduated with a Master’s degree in Finance and Information Management from the Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany. He also holds a Bachelor's degree in Information Systems from the University of Bamberg, Germany.

Prof. Nadj's research focuses on (1) understanding the development, use, and impact of information systems by leveraging insights and tools from AI, neuroscience, and neurophysiology, (2) investigating the explainability and comprehensibility of AI to open the black box of AI decisions, and (3) exploring effective ways of AI-user interaction to make AI processes more effective. Major German companies from the automotive and software industries support his projects. He is the author and co-author of numerous scientific publications, has won several research and teaching awards and is a renowned speaker and lecturer. His work has been published in leading journals in information systems (e.g., Management Information Systems Quarterly, Decision Support Systems) and human-computer interaction (e.g., IEEE Transactions on Affective Computing, ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, ACM Transactions on Interactive Intelligent Systems, Interacting with Computers).

Honours and Awards:

• Judges’ Award for the Accessibility Challenge of the International Web for All Conference (2024)
• Best Demo Paper Award of the International Conference on Advanced Information Systems Engineering (2021)
• Business Intelligence Systems among the eleven best rated lectures at the KIT Department of Economics and Management (WS 2020/2021)
• Teaching Award of the Hector School of Engineering & Management - 2nd Place in the Program Information Systems Engineering and Management (Intake 2019)

Publications:

• Knaeble, Merlin; Nadj, Mario; Maedche, Alexander: Paintings, Not Noise—The Role of Presentation Sequence in Labeling. In: Interacting with Computers (2024). doi:10.1093/iwc/iwae008CitationAbstractDetails

  \\\{Labeling is critical in creating training datasets for supervised machine learning, and is a common form of crowd work heteromation. It typically requires manual labor, is badly compensated and not infrequently bores the workers involved. Although task variety is known to drive human autonomy and intrinsic motivation, there is little research in this regard in the labeling context. Against this backdrop, we manipulate the presentation sequence of a labeling task in an online experiment and use the theoretical lens of self-determination theory to explain psychological work outcomes and work performance. We rely on 176 crowd workers contributing with group comparisons between three presentation sequences (by label, by image, random) and a mediation path analysis along the phenomena studied. Surprising among our key findings is that the task variety when sorting by label is perceived higher than when sorting by image and the random group. Naturally, one would assume that the random group would be perceived as most varied. We choose a visual metaphor to explain this phenomenon, whereas paintings offer a structured presentation of coloured pixels, as opposed to random noise.}

• Meza Martinez, Miguel Angel; Nadj, Mario; Langner, Moritz; Toreini, Peyman; Maedche, Alexander: Does this Explanation Help? Designing Local Model-agnostic Explanation Representations and an Experimental Evaluation Using Eye-tracking Technology. In: ACM Transactions on Interactive Intelligent Systems, Vol 13 (2023), p. 1-47. doi:10.1145/3607145CitationAbstractDetails

  In Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) research, various local model-agnostic methods have been proposed to explain individual predictions to users in order to increase the transparency of the underlying Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems. However, the user perspective has received less attention in XAI research, leading to a (1) lack of involvement of users in the design process of local model-agnostic explanations representations and (2) a limited understanding of how users visually attend them. Against this backdrop, we refined representations of local explanations from four well-established model-agnostic XAI methods in an iterative design process with users. Moreover, we evaluated the refined explanation representations in a laboratory experiment using eye-tracking technology as well as self-reports and interviews. Our results show that users do not necessarily prefer simple explanations and that their individual characteristics, such as gender and previous experience with AI systems, strongly influence their preferences. In addition, users find that some explanations are only useful in certain scenarios making the selection of an appropriate explanation highly dependent on context. With our work, we contribute to ongoing research to improve transparency in AI.

• Gunklach, Jonas; Nadj, Mario: Guidance in Business Intelligence & Analytics Systems: A Review and Research Agenda. In: Proceedings 2023 ECIS European Conference on Information Systems. Kristiansand 2023. CitationDetails
• Knaeble, Merlin; Nadj, Mario; Germann, Luisa; Maedche, Alexander: Tools of Trade of the Next Blue-Collar Job? Antecedents, Design Features, and Outcomes of Interactive Labeling Systems. In: Proceedings 2023 ECIS European Conference on Information Systems. Kristiansand 2023. CitationDetails
• Gunklach, Jonas; Michalczyk, Sven; Nadj, Mario; Maedche, Alexander: Metadata Extraction from User Queries for Self-Service Data Lake Exploration. In: Datenbank Spektrum, Vol 23 (2023), p. 97-105. CitationDetails
• Rissler, Raphael; Nadj, Mario; Li, Maximilian X.; Loewe, Nico; Knierim, Michael T.; Maedche, Alexander: To Be or Not to Be in Flow at Work: Physiological Classification of Flow Using Machine Learning. In: IEEE Transactions on Affective Computing, Vol 14 (2023), p. 463-474. doi:10.1109/TAFFC.2020.3045269CitationDetails
• Nadj, Mario; Rissler, Raphael; Adam, Marc Thomas Philipp; Knierim, Michael Thomas; Li, Maximilian Xiling; Maedche, Alexander; Riedl, Rene: What Disrupts Flow in Office Work? The Impact of Frequency and Relevance of IT-Mediated Interruptions. In: MIS Quarterly, Vol 47 (2023), p. 1615-1646. Full textCitationDetails
• Knaeble, Merlin; Sailer, Gabriel; Chen, Zihan; Schwarz, Thorsten; Yang, Kailun; Nadj, Mario; Stiefelhagen, Rainer; Maedche, Alexander: AutoChemplete - Making Chemical Structural Formulas Accessible. In: Prototype 2023 W4A International Web for All Conference. Austin 2023, p. 173-174. doi:10.1145/3587281.3588145CitationDetails
• Knaeble, Merlin; Sailer, Gabriel; Chen, Zihan; Schwarz, Thorsten; Yang, Kailun; Nadj, Mario; Stiefelhagen, Rainer; Maedche, Alexander: AutoChemplete - Making Chemical Structural Formulas Accessible. In: Proceedings 2023 W4A Web for All Conference. Austin 2023, p. 104-115. doi:10.1145/3587281.3587293CitationDetails
• Knaeble, Merlin; Nadj, Mario; Maedche, Alexander; Loewe, Nico: Toward User-adaptive Interactive Labeling on Crowdsourcing Platforms. In: Workshop - REGROW: Reimagining Global Crowdsourcing for Better Human-AI Collaboration. 2022 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. New Orleans 2022. CitationDetails
• Knaeble, Merlin; Nadj, Mario; Maedche, Alexander: Paintings, not Noise - The Role of Variety and Self-Determination in Labeling Work and its Effects on Psychological and Performance Outcomes. In: Workshop - Self-Determination Theory in HCI: Shaping a Research Agenda. 2022 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. New Orleans 2022. CitationDetails
• Li, Maximilian Xiling; Nadj, Mario; Maedche, Alexander; Ifenthaler, Dirk; Woehler, Johannes: Towards a Physiological Computing Infrastructure for researching Students' Flow in Remote Learning: Preliminary Results from a Field Study. In: Technology, Knowledge and Learning, Vol 27 (2022), p. 365-384. doi:10.1007/s10758-021-09569-4Full textCitationDetails
• Foerste, Markus; Nadj, Mario; Knaeble, Merlin; Maedche, Alexander; Gehrmann, Leonie; Stahl, Florian: An Interactive Machine Learning System for Image Advertisements. In: Demos: Interactive Systems or Demonstrators 2021 MuC Mensch und Computer. Ingolstadt 2021, p. 574-577. doi:10.1145/3473856.3474027CitationDetails
• Michalczyk, Sven; Nadj, Mario; Beier, Harald; Maedche, Alexander: Designing a Self-service Analytics System for Supply Base Optimization. In: Intelligent Information Systems. 2021 CAiSE Conference on Advanced Information Systems Engineering. Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing. Melbourne 2021, p. 154-161. CitationDetails
• Michalczyk, Sven; Nadj, Mario; Maedche, Alexander; Gröger, Christoph: Demystifying Job Roles in Data Science: A Text Mining Approach. In: Proceedings 2021 ECIS European Conference on Information Systems. Marrakech 2021. Full textCitationDetails
• Loewe, Nico; Nadj, Mario: Physio-Adaptive Systems- A State-of-the-Art Review and Future Research Directions. In: Proceedings 2020 ECIS European Conference on Information Systems. An Online AIS Conference 2020. CitationDetails
• Michalczyk, Sven; Nadj, Mario; Azarfar, Darius; Maedche, Alexander; Gröger, Christoph: A State-of-the-Art Overview and Future Research Avenues of Self-Service Business Intelligence and Analytics. In: Proceedings 2020 ECIS European Conference on Information Systems. An Online AIS Conference 2020. Full textCitationDetails
• Knaeble, Merlin; Nadj, Mario; Maedche, Alexander: Oracle or Teacher? A Systematic Overview of Research on Interactive Labeling for Machine Learning. In: Proceedings 2020 WI Wirtschaftsinformatik. Potsdam 2020. Full textCitationDetails
• Nadj, Mario; Knaeble, Merlin; Li, Maximilian Xiling; Maedche, Alexander: Power to the Oracle? Design Principles for Interactive Labeling Systems in Machine Learning. In: KI - Künstliche Intelligenz, Vol 34 (2020), p. 131-142. doi:10.1007/s13218-020-00634-1CitationDetails
• Nadj, Mario; Maedche, Alexander; Schieder, Christian: The Effect of Interactive Analytical Dashboard Features on Situation Awareness and Task Performance. In: Decision Support Systems, Vol 135 (2020), p. 113322. doi:10.1016/j.dss.2020.113322Full textCitationAbstractDetails

  In recent years, new types of interactive analytical dashboard features have emerged for operational decision support systems (DSS). Analytical components of such features solve optimization problems hidden from the human eye, whereas interactive components involve the individual in the optimization process via graphical user interfaces (GUIs). Despite their expected value for organizations, little is known about the effectiveness of interactive analytical dashboards in operational DSS or their influences on human cognitive abilities. This paper contributes to the closing of this gap by exploring and empirically testing the effects of interactive analytical dashboard features on situation awareness (SA) and task performance in operational DSS. Using the theoretical lens of SA, we develop hypotheses about the effects of a what-if analysis as an interactive analytical dashboard feature on operational decision-makers' SA and task performance. The resulting research model is studied with a laboratory experiment, including eye-tracking data of 83 participants. Our findings show that although a what-if analysis leads to higher task performance, it may also reduce SA, nourishing a potential out-of-the-loop problem. Thus, designers and users of interactive analytical dashboards have to carefully mitigate these effects in the implementation and application of operational DSS. In this article, we translate our findings into implications for designing dashboards within operational DSS to help practitioners in their efforts to address the danger of the out-of-the-loop syndrome.

• Knierim, Michael; Nadj, Mario; Li, Maximilian; Weinhardt, Christof: Flow in Knowledge Work Groups – Autonomy as a Driver or Digitally Mediated Communication as a Limiting Factor?. In: Proceedings 2019 ICIS International Conference on Information Systems. Munich 2019. CitationDetails
• Meza Martínez, Miguel Angel; Nadj, Mario; Maedche, Alexander: Towards an Integrative Theoretical Framework of Interactive Machine Learning Systems. In: Proceedings 2019 ECIS European Conference on Information Systems. Stockholm & Uppsala 2019. CitationDetails
• Nadj, Mario; Maedche, Alexander: Situation Awareness in Aircraft Ground Handling: The Impact of Auditory and Visual Notification Cues. In: Journal of Cognitive Engineering and Decision Making, Vol 13 (2019), p. 102-122. doi:10.1177/1555343419830183CitationAbstractDetails

  In aircraft ground handling, ramp agents manage the teams on the airport apron who prepare aircraft for the next takeoff. We examined the impact of using auditory and visual notification cues (NC) in an information system for supporting ramp agents, measuring the users’ situation awareness (SA), task performance, and perceived ease of use. Eighty-eight participants took part in a laboratory experiment and performed a realistic dispatching task of a ramp agent. Results showed that auditory cues facilitate superior SA compared with the application of visual cues or their absence. Our findings may serve as a foundation for future work aiming to design more effective notification systems to support SA.

• Knierim, Michael; Nadj, Mario; Weinhardt, Christof: Flow and Optimal Difficulty in the Portable EEG: On the Potentiality of using Personalized Frequency Ranges for State Detection. In: Proceedings 2019 CHIRA International Conference on Computer-Human Interaction Research and Applications. Vienna 2019, p. 183-190. doi:10.5220/0008362601830190CitationDetails
• Knierim, Michael T.; Nadj, Mario; Hariharan, Anuja; Weinhardt, Christof: Flow Neurophysiology in Knowledge Work: Electroencephalographic Observations from Two Cognitive Tasks. In: Proceedings 2018 PhyCS International Conference on Physiological Computing Systems. Seville 2018, p. 42-53. CitationDetails
• Knaeble, Merlin; Nadj, Mario; Maedche, Alexander: Designing Uncertainty-Aware Dashboards for Software Development Projects. In: Research-in-Progress Papers and Poster Presentations from the 2018 DESRIST International Conference on Design Science Research in Information Systems and Technology. Chennai 2018. CitationDetails
• Michalczyk, Sven; Jung, Dominik; Nadj, Mario; Knierim, Michael T.; Rissler, Raphael: brownieR: The R-Package for Neuro Information Systems Research. In: Information Systems and Neuroscience. Lecture Notes in Information Systems and Organisation. Vienna 2018, p. 101-109. CitationDetails
• Knierim, Michael T.; Rissler, Raphael; Hariharan, Anuja; Nadj, Mario; Weinhardt, Christof: Exploring Flow Psychophysiology in Knowledge Work. In: Information Systems and Neuroscience. Lecture Notes in Information Systems and Organisation. Vienna 2018, p. 239-249. CitationDetails
• Rissler, Raphael; Nadj, Mario; Li, Maximilian Xiling; Knierim, Michael Thomas; Maedche, Alexander: Got Flow? Using Machine Learning on Physiological Data to Classify Flow. In: Extended Abstracts of the 2018 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Association for Computing Machinery, Montréal 2018, p. 1-6. doi:10.1145/3170427.3188480CitationDetails
• Rissler, Raphael; Nadj, Mario; Mädche, Alexander; Koppenhagen, Norbert: Flow-Erfassung am Arbeitsplatz: Aktueller Stand der Forschung und innovative Anwendungsszenarien. In: Wirtschaftsinformatik & Management, Vol 9 (2017), p. 12-21. CitationDetails
• Nadj, Mario; Schieder, Christian: Towards a Taxonomy of Real-Time Business Intelligence Systems. In: Proceedings 2017 ECIS European Conference on Information Systems. Guimarães 2017. CitationDetails
• Rissler, Raphael; Nadj, Mario; Adam, Marc Thomas Philipp; Maedche, Alexander: Towards an integrative Theoretical Framework of IT-Mediated interruptions. In: Proceedings 2017 ECIS European Conference on Information Systems. Guimarães 2017. Full textCitationDetails
• Rissler, Raphael; Nadj, Mario; Adam, Marc: Flow in Information Systems Research: Review, Integrative Theoretical Framework, and Future Directions. In: Proceedings 2017 WI Wirtschaftsinformatik. St. Gallen 2017, p. 1051-1065. CitationDetails
• Volmering, Thomas; Nadj, Mario; Trump, Ronald; Maedche, Alexander: Process Intelligence for the Digital Age – Process Visibility Meets Process Mining. In: Demos 2016 BPM International Conference on Business Process Management. Rio de Janeiro 2016, p. 1-13. CitationDetails
• Nadj, Mario; Schieder, Christian: Quo vadis Real-Time Business Intelligence? A Descriptive literature Review and Future Directions. In: Proceedings 2016 ECIS European Conference on Information Systems. Istanbul 2016. CitationDetails
• Nadj, Mario; Jegadeesan, Harshavardhan; Maedche, Alexander; Hoffmann, Dirk; Erdmann, Philipp: A Situation Awareness Driven Design for Predictive Maintenance Systems: The Case of Oil and Gas Pipeline Operations. In: Prototypes 2016 ECIS European Conference on Information Systems. Istanbul 2016. CitationDetails
• Blaser, Fabian; Nadj, Mario; Schieder, Christian: Real-Time Business Intelligence: Eine systematische Identifikation aktueller Forschungsbedarfe. In: Nissen, V. (Ed.): Research-in-Progress- und Poster-Beiträge 2016 MKWI Multikonferenz Wirtschaftsinformatik. Ilmenau 2016, p. 1367-1378. CitationDetails
• Nadj, Mario; Häussler, Felix; Wenzel, Stefan; Maedche, Alexander: The Smart Mobile Application Framework (SMAF) - Exploratory Evaluation in the Smart City Context. In: Proceedings 2016 MKWI Multikonferenz Wirtschaftsinformatik. Ilmenau 2016, p. 1367-1378. Full textCitationDetails
• Nadj, Mario; Morana, Stefan; Maedche, Alexander: Towards a Situation-Awareness-driven Design of Operational Business Intelligence \\& Analytics Systems. In: Research-in-Progress Papers and Poster Presentations from the 2015 DESRIST International Conference on Design Science Research in Information Systems and Technology. Dublin 2015, p. 33-40. Full textCitationDetails
• Kretzer, Martin; Nadj, Mario; Maedche, Alexander: The Effect of Recommender Systems on Users' Situation Awareness and Actions. In: Proceedings 2015 ICIS International Conference on Information Systems. Fort Worth 2015, p. 1-12. Full textCitationDetails