Research at the School of Information Management

Research at SIM

The School of Information Management has a strong, vibrant research culture. We aim to produce research of the highest standard that is cutting edge and of value to both fellow researchers and practitioners.

Our stakeholders include both private and public sector organisations, along with individuals and communities involved in information management practices and pursuits.

 

Areas of Strategic Distinctiveness (ASDs)

The high quality research generated at SIM has achieved acclaim both locally and internationally. Because information systems and technology underpin so many aspects of daily life, we established four Areas of Strategic Distinctiveness as the cornerstone of research activities in the School. The four multi-disciplinary research clusters are the following:

• Area 1 - IT, Strategy, and Organizations

The study of the nexus of information technology, strategy, and organizations is a distinct research area at the School of Information Management. Specific topics that are actively researched include (1) how to develop and nurture capabilities facilitating the dynamic alignment of information systems to the strategic aims of the organization over time, (2) how to design and implement appropriate governance structures concerning an organisation’s information systems resources and assets, and (3) how to adopt, implement, and evaluate IT innovations to further the strategic aims of the organization, as well as how to use IT innovations to create and sustain disruptive business models. The empirical contexts in which these topics are investigated include small and large private organizations as well as government and public sector organizations. 

ASD 1 Convenor: Dr Jean-Gregoire Bernard

• Area 2 - Behaviour and Information Technology

The Behaviour and IT (BIT) ASD deals with human behaviour in the context of Information Technology and organisations. While BIT covers a wide range of theoretical and applied challenges, the group is mainly focussed on the following themes: Communities and Online Behaviour, studying the cognitive, motivational and behavioural factors that shape online communities; Information, Behaviour and Risk Factors, scrutinizing how online environments affect information behaviour; Behaviour and Organisation Design, shaping future organisations and business; and Social behaviour and IT, measuring the broader impacts of BIT in society. Currently, the BIT group has 24 researchers, including 8 faculty members and 16 PhD students, and produces around twenty scientific papers per year, including nine articles in journals.

ASD 2 Convenor: Associate Profeesor Pedro Antunes

• Area 3 - Knowledge Organisation and Knowledge Management

As data, information and knowledge are increasing in quantity, the management and analysis of these resources are becoming critical for informing organisational, community and societal decisions and performance. Our research in this area addresses diverse issues to do with gathering, storing, accessing, managing and analysing the knowledge resource. We consider human-centred issues, processes and roles linked with sharing and transferring knowledge, the dynamic use of information in applications such as design, planning and project management, the extraction of knowledge from structured and unstructured resources such as large datasets, and the development and use of tools, such as service-oriented repositories, for managing information and supporting service delivery and users. Our research includes studies in the context of business, government and the not-for profit sector; at the level of organisations, groups and inter-organisational networks and communities. 

ASD 3 Convenor: Dr Jocelyn Cranefield

• Area 4 - Information Institutions, Behaviour and Resources

This core research area centres on the study of:

information resources - their creation, collection, storage, organisation, and preservation and the legal, ethical and social implications of these activities;

the management of organisations that typically collect and disseminate information resources, such as libraries and archives;

the behaviours of individuals when seeking information, and their ability to find and use such information;

the development of alternatives to traditional organisational forms for the management, storage and dissemination of information in digital/analogue formats.

 Related Groups: Cultural heritage Information Management

ASD 4 Convenor: Professor Anne Goulding  

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Research News and Headlines

Research at SIM covers the complementary and interlocking areas of information systems, e-commerce, library and information science, archives and records management, communications, and knowledge and information management.

There is more information about the current activities of our staff and students on the Research Projects page, but you can also read about our latest research news here.

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Our Research Students

Our MA, MCA and PhD students are a multi-cultural group contributing to the diversity of interests and work carried out within the School. Check out the profiles for each student carrying out a research-based degree, with a brief biography, an outline of their thesis/dissertation topic, and related information on their interests, teaching, and other work.

Note: The Faculty of Graduate Research (FGR) provides the first port of call for all students interested in enrolling in a PhD at Victoria.

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Research Seminars and Workshops

The SIM Research Seminars are an opportunity for staff and visitors to share current research, ideas, projects, and papers in the making, as well as special one-off lectures and presentations open to the public; upcoming and recent presentations here.

HEC Applications

In order to streamline the process of reviewing human ethics applications for researchers, the School has established its own Human Ethics Committee (HEC).

All applications should be sent to the HEC Administrator Wendy Chen, who can be contacted by:

Email: address
Phone: 04 463 5384

Important: if you are a research student (MIM, MIS, MCA, or PhD), you are required to discuss your application with your supervisor first, and then your supervisor must submit the application on your behalf. HEC applications will not be accepted from research students directly.

Further details and documentation are available here.

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