Got into Aberystwyth at about 1.30 PM and headed to the Gwesty Cymru (see http://www.gwestycymru.com/). The hotel is lovely and the room is even better. My room has a spectacular view and overlooks the Irish Sea. Upon arrival, I was greeted by Prof. Sajjad M Jasimuddin (see LINK). I spent an hour chatting with Sajjad and then roamed around this beautiful town.
See below for pictures…(the first two pictures are views from my room window…)
On Wednesday the 20th, I will be delivering a talk at the Aberystwyth School of Management and Business (http://www.aber.ac.uk/smba/en/). So this morning, I boarded a train from London Euston to Aberystwyth, Wales. The train ride involved a short transit in Birmingham New Street. See below for pictures from the train ride and the transit stop…I was busy preparing for my talk during the train ride, but it was hard to focus once the train entered Wales as the scenery was spectacular.
I have been enjoying London. I have gotten settled in my flat and am now getting into the groove of research. I spent most of the day reading through old papers and thinking of new ideas. I also went and saw my office at LSE yesterday. It is lovely and the staff there are also excellent. Here are some pictures taken during my free time…
(P.S. The most interesting ideas and research conversations occur over a few pints…)
I got to London yesterday morning...Spent the whole day roaming around the city and getting through the jetlag. Today, will be spending the day at the Royal Society of the Arts (http://www.rsa.org.uk) and then at the London School of Economics and Political Science (www.lse.ac.uk/).
I am on the program committee for the 2008 European Conference on Intelligence and Security Informatics. The conference will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark on December 3-5th, 2008. Please see www.euroisi.org for details. I encourage all of you to submit your work to the conference.
I will be spending the next few months based out of London, England. I will be flying back and forth between the UK and the US for conferences and meetings. I will be based at the London School of Economics and Political Science during my time in London. While in the UK, I will be visiting Wales, Nottingham, the Greater Manchester Area, and many more places. Most of my time will be spent connecting with colleagues, doing some writing, and gathering data for my ongoing research projects. For entertainment there will be plenty of friends, rugby, and football to distract me.
Press Release from the Institute for National Security Education and Research at the University of Washington (http://www.inser.washington.edu)
The UW Institute for National Security Education and Research (INSER) is pleased to announce that, effective February 14, 2008, Dr. Jeffrey Y. Kim, faculty in the Information School, is the new Director of INSER. Jeff Kim has been an instrumental part of INSER since its inception. He was previously Deputy Director of INSER and worked directly under the guidance of Kevin Desouza, the founding director of INSER. During his tenure as Director, Dr. Kevin C. Desouza laid a solid foundation for INSER. Some highlights of his tenure include:
Kevin Desouza will continue in his role as a faculty member at the Information School and as Director of the Institute for Innovation in Information Management at the University of Washington.
I am headed to the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California to attend the 6th Edge Project Research Workshop. I am looking forward to exchanging ideas during this meeting. I will be presenting two papers. The first one is funded sponsored in part by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration (OASD-NII) through its Command & Control Research Program and the Center for Edge Power at the Naval Postgraduate School. While the second one received partial support from the Centers for Academic Excellence Program at the Office o the Director of National Intelligence via the Institute for National Security Education and Research at the University of Washington.I was interviewed for an article on artificial neural networks in the healthcare industry. The article, “Crunch time for neural nets” by David Perera can be found at http://www.govhealthit.com/print/4_14/technology/350187-1.html
I will give a talk at the London School of Economics and Political Science on The Future of Terrorist Entities: An Evolutionary Analysis. This talk will be based on the research work that I will be conducting as part of my visiting fellowship at LSE’s Center for International Studies
I have just finalized another speaking event in the UK. On March 12, I will visit the University of Nottingham. Dr. George Kuk of the Information Systems Division at Nottingham University Business School will be my host. My talk is titled, "Complexities of Large-Scale Technology Project Failure: A Forensic Analysis of the Seattle Popular Monorail Authority".
I am going to be leaving Mumbai (Bombay) soon. I just wanted to say thanks to all those who made my stay pleasant and enjoyable. I enjoyed meeting all of you and the conversations we engaged in. I look forward to my trip back to India.
A colleague emailed me asking me about my open times to meet with him…After checking my calendar, I realized that I have a fairly hectic travel schedule coming up…Here are a few destinations coming up… After April 12, I will be in Seattle for a bit…before heading out again…
Jan 11-30 | Mumbai, India | Family, Friends, Meetings with Executives and Professors, and talk at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research |
Feb 13-15 | Monterey, California, USA | Workshop at the Naval Postgraduate School |
Feb 16-April 5 | London, England (will be living in London but traveling as needed to destinations that are noted below) | Visiting Fellow at the Center for International Studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science |
Feb 19-20 | Wales, United Kingdom | Talk at Aberystwyth University |
Feb 27-March 2 | Los Angeles, California, USA | iConference |
March 15-24 | Manchester, England (and several other places…around England) | Friends and Rugby |
March 25-28 | San Francisco, California, USA | ISA Conference |
April 3-5 | Monterey, Mexico | Technology, Design and Management:Creating New Models of Possibility for All |
April 5-12 | Chicago and Minneapolis, USA | Friends and Wedding |
I will be giving a talk on building sustainable innovation programs at Aberystwyth University (http://www.aber.ac.uk) on February 20th. My talk will take place at the School of Management & Business (see http://www.aber.ac.uk/smba/en/) and my host is Dr. Sajjad M. Jasimuddin.
I am getting ready for the next destination: London, England (actually, after India, will be back in Seattle for a bit, then will head down to Monterey, California for a meeting at the Naval Postgraduate School…then will fly off to London). While in London, I will be staying close to the South Bank of the Thames near to the Globe Theatre and behind the Tate Modern. I will be living in England from mid-Feb through mid-April. During this time, I will make several trips back and forth to the US for work-related meetings and conferences.
I look forward to meeting my new colleagues at the Center for International Studies (see http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/CIS/)
I am continuing to enjoy my stay in Mumbai, India. So far, I have had a chance to meet with several executives, professors, and even students. Here are five quick thoughts:
(1) the innovative forces in India are being mobilized at an ever-increasing speed…
(2) India, may be its own worst enemy, if it does not come up with plans to deal with the influx of population, the large disparities in income, and also improvements to the public infrastructure…
(3) the Universities and Colleges here are second to none…what is even more interesting, is the fact that most students want to stay and work in India (rather than the historic trend of going abroad…see…LINK)
(4) there is increasing hope that the relationship between New Delhi (India) and Beijing (China) will improve…leading to greater economic cooperation between the two fastest growing economies…
(5) the food is excellent, the people are nice, and weather during the month of January is excellent…
The date for my talk at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research has been re-scheduled for January 25. The talk will take place from 4 PM – 5.30 PM.
Day 3 in Mumbai: So far, my trip has been excellent. I have had time to catch up with 7 cousins, 2 uncles, 3 aunts…In addition, yesterday I did head out and roam around Bandra and also managed to catch a movie…Today, I am at my cousin’s place resting and relaxing…
Mumbai has certainly gotten a lot more congested and crowded…Traffic is a real pain...While there have been large-scale revitalization efforts all around the city, many of the inside roads and small shops are still around…I was able to find my way to my grandparents house, without a map or directions, even though I have not been here for 14 years…was even able to find my way to my aunt’s place in Kalina on my own…
After taking a week of rest to recoup from my 2007 travels, I am now getting ready to head off to Mumbai (Bombay) India…This will be my first trip back to my birthplace since 1995 (or 1994, I am a bit fuzzy on the year of my last visit). For those interested in learning more about Mumbai, please see - [LINK]. Besides catching with family and friends, I will be meeting executives from several high-technology firms and am planning several university visits.
I am making my way through this book…I will post a review shortly…Thanks to my colleagues at Harvard Business School Press for sending me a complimentary copy for review and commentary…The review will be posted on Ideas4Innovation - http://ideas4innovation.blogspot.com
I closed out 2007 driving through California. During the trip, I spent time at San Francisco, Berkley (at the University of California), Palo Alto (at Stanford University), Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Jose…Here are some pictures…(The first two pictures were taken from myhotel room…I stayed at the Hilton on Kearny Street…26th floor view…) 
I will be a visiting fellow at the Center for International Studies (http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/CIS/) at the London School of Economics (http://www.lse.ac.uk/) during February-April of 2008. I look forward to interesting conversations with new colleagues, students, and visitors at LSE. During my time at LSE, I will continue to work on my ongoing research projects in the areas of national security and government intelligence programs. Specifically, I will focus on two distinct, albeit related, questions. The first question seeks to examine the organizational structures of terrorist entities. The second question examines how these structures evolve in order to deal with pressures in the internal and external environments in which these entities operate in.
I have two quarters off from my teaching responsibilities. I have hence organized a hectic, yet enjoyable, travel schedule. My first stop was Montreal, Canada...
I enjoyed my recent visit to Montreal for the International Conference on Information Systems (see http://business.queensu.ca/icis). I had good conversations with several colleagues of mine and made new friends. Thanks to all who organized the event. The ICIS social was one of the best gatherings of ICIS scholars I have seen in recent times...Next stop, Toronto...
Bryce Smart (an MSIM student at the Information School, University of Washington) and I have an article published in the current issue of Business Strategy Review.
Most organizations face dire challenges in adopting new technologies. New technologies are often met with resistance. Resistance is followed by the under-utilization of the technology. This leaves the organization both vulnerable to critical disruptions in business processes and in a poor competitive position. While most organizations face challenges in technology adoption, the challenge for small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is even more dire.
SMEs often do not possess the necessary slack resources to give attention to new technologies as they are too busy making ends meet. They may also lack the necessary know-how to decide on new technologies or decipher the value to their organizations. Perhaps the biggest problem they face is resistance from employees tied to the status quo. Based on our experience, we offer 10 lessons for the SME manager to address “technology resisters”, those who oppose new technology for whatever reason, to get them on board.
Reference: Smart, B.A., and Desouza, K.C. “Overcoming Technology Resistance,” Business Strategy Review, 18(4), 2007, 25-28.
I have a new paper accepted for publication. The paper, “Complexities of Large-Scale Technology Project Failure: A Forensic Analysis of the Seattle Popular Monorail Authority”, will appear in Public Performance & Management Review (http://mesharpe.com/mall/results1.asp?ACR=PMR). I co-authored the paper with one of my former graduate students of the Information School (University of Washington), Nina Yuttapongsontorn, and Ashley Braganza (Cranfield School of Management, UK).
Complexities of Large-Scale Technology Project Failure: A Forensic Analysis of the Seattle Popular Monorail Authority
Abstract:
“Being stuck in traffic doesn’t have to be a way of life.” This beautiful prologue came from the Elevated Transportation Company (ETC) board’s letter in the ETC Seattle Popular Monorail Plan, one of the largest public works projects ever proposed in the city of Seattle. Three years after this proposal, the Seattle Monorail Project (SMP) was shut down by voters on November 8, 2005. This paper critically analyzes the SMP through the lens of stakeholder theory. This perspective provides valuable insights into the failure of the SMP. We theorize that SMP’s failure might have been avoided had its leadership recognized the many stakeholders that had power over the plan and, more importantly, the dynamic changes in relationships between the stakeholders. Failure might also have been avoided by managing conflicts in stakeholders’ expectations. Specifically, we use stakeholder theory to develop four propositions that are relevant in the context of large-scale technology projects. One, organizations are more likely to succeed when have effective mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating interactions between stakeholders and changes in their positions in relation to their strategic innovation projects. Two, organizations are more likely to succeed when they tradeoff the conflicts in expectations and interests that stakeholders hold. Three, organizations are more likely to implement complex technology projects by understanding stakeholders’ expectations and the interplay between stakeholders. Four, organizations are more likely to achieve their innovative projects when they define stakeholders in terms of their power over their strategic objectives. The paper makes a contribution both to the research and practice of major technological infrastructure projects, strategic innovations, and government technology management.
Once again, good old Jonny's boot comes up big for England...England is back in the Rugby World Cup Finals...I am still recovering from watching the match...Today, South Africa takes on Argentina...
Please see the current issue of Manager (http://www.finance.si/manager) for an interview that I gave when I was in Slovenia. The interview was conducted at a local café in Ljubljana by Bojana Humar. She interviewed me on various issues ranging from ideas for entrepreneurship to my views on foreign policy and my work at the University of Washington. During the interview we also touched on issues such as how did I get involved in entrepreneurship and key events/experiences that have informed my current professional (and personal) trajectory.
Reference: Humar, B. “LJUDJE & IDEJE – MLADI: Indijčeve ameriške sanje,” Manager (Slovenian), October 10, 2007, 38-40
Picture Credit: Andrej Kriz
Just got back from the Kangaroo and the Kiwi (http://www.kangarooandkiwipub.com/), a pub in Seattle, after watching the England vs. Australia rugby match….England 12 – Australia 10…the difference in the game…good old Wilko (Wilkinson)…The forwards played excellent as well...For those interested in catching some rugby, I will see you at the Pub…next game, New Zealand vs. France…my money is on the All Blacks…
I will be giving a talk at the 49th Annual Convention of the International Studies Association (ISA) in San Francisco, CA (March 26-29, 2008). The title of my talk is "Information Disconnects and Organizational Fragmentation: Lessons for Global Intelligence Failure" and is based on a manuscript that I am currently working on.
