---
type: concept
title: Operational Supervision
tags: [governance, it-management, urz]
related: [universitatsrechenzentrum-urz, ordnung-des-universitaetsrechenzentrums]
created: 2026-07-01
updated: 2026-07-01
sources: ["output/rz_uni_greifswald_de_rechenzentrum_information_ordnungen-und-richtlinien-ordnung.md", "output/rz_uni_greifswald_de_rechenzentrum_information_ordnungen_und_richtlinien_ordnung.md"]
---

# Operational Supervision

**Operational Supervision** (*betriebsfachliche Aufsicht*) is the mandate granted to the **Universitätsrechenzentrum (URZ)** to oversee all IT systems within the **Universität Greifswald**, regardless of whether the URZ operates them directly.

## Scope of Authority
This supervision ensures that IT across the university is managed in a way that is consistent with the university's overall goals and security requirements. It includes:
- The right of the URZ Director to request information about programs and methods used in specific cases (e.g., suspected abuse or for troubleshooting).
- The authority to coordinate the procurement of IT systems to avoid fragmentation and ensure compatibility.

## Tension with Academic Freedom
The preamble of the [[ordnung-des-universitaetsrechenzentrums]] notes that the regulation must align with the mandate to preserve academic freedom. This creates an inherent tension between the URZ's need for operational control/supervision and the autonomy of researchers and academics.
