Mark Thompson

Mark Thompson is a Professor of Digital Economy in INDEX (Initiative for the Digital Economy). He holds a BA in Human Sciences from University of Oxford, an MSc in Development Studies from SOAS, and a PhD in Information Systems from University of Cambridge. Mark’s research draws on practice-based theories to investigate the intersection between emerging digital business models, and organisational innovation and transformation.

Mark has published articles in a broad range of journals including Information and Organization, Academy of Management Review, Organization Science, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, Government Information Quarterly, Public Administration, Human Relations, Journal of International Development, and Journal of the Association of Information Systems.

He is acknowledged in the public domain as one of the architects of Digital service redesign within the UK public sector, and blends the roles of academic, practitioner, and policy commentator. He has chaired several of the large annual conferences on Digital in the UK public sector including the annual National Digital Conference, and contributes to Computer Weekly and a range of other practitioner publications.

Mark combines his University role with other roles as Board Member of TechUK, and Strategy Director for Methods, Methods Analytics, and Core Azure. He has held previous roles as Senior Lecturer in Information Systems at Cambridge Judge Business School, and Change Management Consultant at Accenture.

Nationality:

• British

Qualifications

• Bsc, Msc, PhD

Research interests

• Digital transformation of government and public services
• Applying practice-based theories to understand technology and organisational innovation and transformation

Mark’s current research centres on how organisations respond to the challenges presented by the complexity and velocity of the Digital economy. Current topics include platforms and modular organisational design; ‘government as a platform’ public services; use of mapping techniques in Digital service design; and the role of affect in technology adoption and institutional translation.

Previously, Mark has published research on a range of Information Systems topics including the internet and the technology industry, communities of practice, knowledge management, practice theory and affect, and ICT4D.

Research projects

Current research activity includes:

• Organisations’ discursive configuration work in shaping heterogenous Digital capabilities (internet-based software, architecture, etc) together with organising visions to ensure successful platform-based organisational deployment
• Researching the concept of ‘situational awareness’, and associated methodologies, for designing new services and enabling value chains in the digital economy
• Investigating the role of affect in technology adoption and translation of best practices from one institution to another

Awards and Honours

• Teaching award, Cambridge Judge Business School, 2014
• Research Impact award 2016, Cambridge Judge Business School
• Runner-up, Cambridge University Research Impact Awards, 2017