The Brazilian Symposium on Information Systems (SBSI) is an annual event promoted by SBC (Brazilian Computer Society), in cooperation with ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) and affiliated to AIS (Association for Information Systems). The SBSI focuses on the presentation of scientific papers as well as the discussion of relevant issues in the Information Systems area, bringing together students, researchers and professionals that work on the area.

Information Systems are very important to several organizations given that they automate business’ processes and provide a competitive advantage by allowing scenario analysis, decision processes support, as well as the definition and implementation of new organizational strategies. However, the incorporation of an IS by an organization demands researches related to conceptual aspects and its application in the organization contexts. IS research is a multidisciplinary issue that includes computer science, math, information science, business, management, and organizational behaviour. Technological solutions related to the application of IS in several domains is the main concern of this event.

With more than one decade of existence, SBSI had consolidated as the most important event on IS area, gathering together most of the IS Brazilian community. The event program is very attractive and includes technical sessions, talks, minicourses and workshops.

The 13th SBSI edition will held from 5-8 June 2017, in Lavras, MG. The Department of Computer Science (DCC) of the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA) is responsible for the general event organization.

Advances reached by the IS community on this theme, as well as research challenges and perspectives, will be discussed during the Symposium. This edition will focus on the role of Information Systems in the democracy of countries with the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), especially with the empowerment of society in decisions at all levels of government.

Electronic participation has highlighted the importance of direct interactions between citizens, the political system and governments. If on the one hand, there is the advance of virtual social networks and other forms of electronic communication in society; on the other hand, the initiatives of the governments providing open information systems demand advances of research in Information Systems.