Professor of Information Systems and Innovation Studies
Vice Dean for Strategy and University Engagement
Fellow of Hughes Hall
BSc (University of the West Indies), MSc (University of Ottawa), MBA (McMaster University), PhD (University of Cambridge)
My research interests include digital innovation and transformation, service innovation, ecosystem leadership, digital platforms and global business, AI and digital twins for healthcare innovation, digital entrepreneurship for medtech and fintech, mobile payments (M-PESA) for development and in promoting carbon removal. I draw on practice-based theories for understanding digital innovation and transformation.
I’m a member of the Organisational Theory and Information Systems subject group at Cambridge Judge Business School, which is engaged with cross-disciplinary themes including health management and international development.
Professional experience
Michael is Academic Director of Cambridge Digital Innovation and Distinguished Visiting Professor of Innovation at the Stockholm School of Economics. He has served as Director (Associate Dean) of Research, REF2021 Chair for Business and Management, Director (Associate Dean) of Programmes, Head of the Organisation Theory and Information Systems group, and Director of the MPhil in Innovation, Strategy and Organisation (ISO) programme at Cambridge Judge Business School. He has published in many top-tier IS (Information Systems) and Organisation journals, and has won several best paper awards at EGOS and the Academy of Management (AOM). In 2016, Michael was awarded the Distinguished Scholar award by the OCIS division of the AOM. He is currently Chair of the CTO Division, and is on the Executive Committee of the OCIS Division.
Professor Barrett is Editor-in-Chief of the Information & Organization journal, and is on the Advisory Board of the Journal of the Association of Information Systems. He has held several editorial responsibilities including: Senior Editor of MIS Quarterly, Associate Editor of Information Systems Research; Senior Editor of Information & Organization; and Senior Editor of the Journal of the Association of Information Systems. Michael has also served as a member of the Editorial Board of Organization Science. He has contributed to articles in The Economist, The Times and The Financial Post, and has served as an external examiner at Oxford University, the University of Edinburgh and the London School of Economics.
Professor Barrett has served as a stream research lead for the Cambridge Digital Built Britain, on the Steering Board of the Cambridge Service Alliance and as a member of the Management Executive Group of the knowledge translation research group Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC). He was co-lead for implementation of this £9.6m multidisciplinary grant between 2008-2013. As part of the ESRC’s Expert Advisory Group, he currently helps inform their strategic engagement of the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF); a £1.5b fund distributed across multiple delivery partners to be spent on international development research over 5 years.
Michael has worked as an industrial engineer for Colgate Palmolive and won the Most Valuable Employee award for consulting and business development at Oracle Canada. He continues to work closely in research and executive education for a number of organisations, including Pfizer Vaccines, Thomson Reuters, Statoil, Bank of China, China Mobile, BT, IBM, HP, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Coventry Building Society, Shell Exploration, and the World Health Organization.
Previous appointments
Michael has held visiting appointments at MIT, the London School of Economics, Stockholm School of Economics, McGill University, Queen’s University, and the University of Hawaii. Prior to joining Cambridge Judge Business School, he was an Assistant Professor in information systems at the University of Alberta, and an Adjunct Professor at the International Institute of Qualitative Methodology, also at the University of Alberta.
Publications
- Selected publications
- Journal articles
- Books, monographs, reports and case studies
- Book chapters
- Conference papers
- Working papers
Selected publications
- Barrett, M. and Orlikowski, W.J. (2021) “Scale matters: doing practice-based studies of contemporary digital phenomena.” MIS Quarterly, 45(1): 467-472 (DOI: 10.25300/MISQ/2021/15434.1)
- Faik, I., Barrett, M. and Oborn, E. (2020) “How information technology matters in societal change: an affordance-based institutional logics perspective.” MIS Quarterly, 44(3): 1359-1390 (DOI: 10.25300/MISQ/2020/14193)
- Oborn, E., Barrett, M., Orlikowski, W. and Kim, A. (2019) “Trajectory dynamics in innovation: developing and transforming a mobile money service across time and place.” Organization Science, 30(5): 1097 (DOI: 10.1287/orsc.2018.1281)
- Barrett, M., Oborn, E. and Orlikowski, W. (2016) “Creating value in online communities: the sociomaterial configuring of strategy, platform, and stakeholder engagement.” Information Systems Research, 27(4):704-723 (DOI: 10.1287/isre.2016.0648)
- Barrett, M., Oborn, E., Orlikowski, W. and Yates, J. (2012) “Reconfiguring boundary relations: robotic innovations in pharmacy work.” Organization Science, 23(5): 1448-1466 (DOI: 10.1287/orsc.1100.0639)
- Heracleous, L. and Barrett, M. (2001) “Organizational change as discourse: communicative actions and deep structures in the context of information technology implementation.” Academy of Management Journal, 44(4): 755-778
Journal articles
- Barrett, M., Liyala, S., Oborn, E. and Prince, K. (2024) “Building hope for the poor with digital services: providing prosperity, justice, and dignity for ALL.” Africa Journal of Management, 10(1): 75-88 (DOI: 10.1080/23322373.2024.2316508)
- Pilosof, N.P., Barrett, M., Oborn, E., Barkai, G., Zimlichman, E. and Segal, G. (2024) “Designing for flexibility in hybrid care services: lessons learned from a pilot in an internal medicine unit.” Frontiers in Medical Technology, 5: 1223002 (DOI: 10.3389/fmedt.2023.1223002)
- Arora, A., Barrett, M., Lee, E., Oborn, E. and Prince, K. (2023) “Risk and the future of AI: algorithmic bias, data colonialism, and marginalization.” Information and Organization, 33(3): (DOI: 10.1016/j.infoandorg.2023.100478)
- Salge, T.O., Antons, D., Barrett, M., Kohli, R., Oborn, E. and Polykarpou, S. (2022) “How IT investments help hospitals gain and sustain reputation in the media: the role of signaling and framing.” Information Systems Research, 33(1): 110-130 (DOI: 10.1287/isre.2021.1021)
- Barrett, M. and Orlikowski, W.J. (2021) “Scale matters: doing practice-based studies of contemporary digital phenomena.” MIS Quarterly, 45(1): 467-472 (DOI: 10.25300/MISQ/2021/15434.1)
- Frey-Heger, C. and Barrett, M. (2021) “Possibilities and limits of social accountability: the consequences of visibility as recognition and exposure in refugee crises.” Accounting, Organizations and Society, 89: 101197 (DOI: 10.1016/j.aos.2020.101197)
- Gkeredakis, M., Lifshitz-Assaf, H. and Barrett, M. (2021) “Crisis as opportunity, disruption and exposure: exploring emergent responses to crisis through digital technology.” Information and Organization, 31(1): 100344 (DOI: 10.1016/j.infoandorg.2021.100344)
- Oborn, E. and Barrett, M. (2021) “Marching to different drum beats: a temporal perspective on coordinating occupational work.” Organization Science, 32(2):376-406 (DOI: 10.1287/orsc.2020.1394)
- Oborn, E.M., Barrett, M.I. and Barrett, D.A.S. (2021) “Beware of the pendulum swing: how leaders can sustain rapid technology innovation beyond the COVID-19 crisis.” BMJ Leader, 5(1): 36-38 (DOI: 10.1136/leader-2020-000304)
- Pilosof, N.P., Barrett, M., Oborn, E., Barkai, G., Pessach, I.M. and Zimlichman, E. (2021) “Inpatient telemedicine and new models of care during COVID-19: hospital design strategies to enhance patient and staff safety.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(16): 8391 (DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18168391)
- Pilosof, N., Barrett, M., Oborn, E., Barkai, G., Pessach, I. and Zimlichman, E. (2021) “Telemedicine implementation in COVID-19 ICU: balancing physical and virtual forms of visibility.” Health Environments Research and Design Journal (HERD), 14(3): 34-48 (DOI: 10.1177/19375867211009225)
- Faik, I., Barrett, M. and Oborn, E. (2020) “How information technology matters in societal change: an affordance-based institutional logics perspective.” MIS Quarterly, 44(3): 1359-1390 (DOI: 10.25300/MISQ/2020/14193)
- Aristidou, A. and Barrett, M. (2019) “Coordinating service provision in dynamic service settings: a position practice relations perspective.” Academy of Management Journal, 61(2): 685-714 (DOI: 10.5465/amj.2015.0310)
- Oborn, E., Barrett, M., Gibson, S. and Gillard, S. (2019) “Knowledge and expertise in care practices: the role of the peer worker in mental health teams.” Sociology of Health and Illness, 41(7): 1305-1322 (DOI: 10.1111/1467-9566.12944)
- Racko, G., Oborn, E. and Barrett, M. (2019) “Developing collaborative professionalism: an investigation of status differentiation in academic organizations in knowledge transfer partnerships.” International Journal of Human Resource Management, 30(3): 457-478 (DOI: 10.1080/09585192.2017.1281830)
- Barrett, M. and Oborn, E. (2018) “Bridging the research-practice divide: harnessing expertise collaboration in making a wider set of contributions.” Information and Organization, 28(1): 44-51 (DOI: 10.1016/j.infoandorg.2018.02.006)
- Polykarpou, S., Barrett, M., Oborn, E., Salge, T.O., Antons, D. and Kohli, R. (2018) “Justifying health IT investments: a process model of framing practices and reputational value.” Information and Organization, 28(4): 153-169 (DOI: 10.1016/j.infoandorg.2018.10.003)
- Holeman, I. and Barrett, M. (2017) “Insights from an ICT4D Initiative in Kenya’’s immunization program: designing for the emergence of sociomaterial practices.” Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 18(12): 900-930 (DOI: 10.17705/1jais.00476)
- Wiedner, R., Barrett, M. and Oborn, E. (2017) “The emergence of change in unexpected places: resourcing across organizational practices in strategic change.” Academy of Management Journal, 60(3): 823-854 (DOI: 10.5465/amj.2014.0474)
- Barrett, M., Oborn, E. and Orlikowski, W. (2016) “Creating value in online communities: the sociomaterial configuring of strategy, platform, and stakeholder engagement.” Information Systems Research, 27(4):704-723 (DOI: 10.1287/isre.2016.0648)
- Barrett, M., Davidson, E., Prabhu, J. and Vargo, S. (2015) “Service innovation in the digital age: key contributions and future directions.” MIS Quarterly, 39(1): 135-154
- Constantinides, P. and Barrett, M. (2015) “Information infrastructure development and governance as collective action.” Information Systems Research, 26(1): 40-56 (DOI: 10.1287/isre.2014.0542)
- Farrington, C., Clare, I.C.H., Holland, A.J., Barrett, M. and Oborn, E. (2015) “Knowledge exchange and integrated services: experiences from an integrated community intellectual (learning) disability service for adults.” Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 59(3): 238–247 (DOI: 10.1111/jir.12131)
- Salge, T.O., Kohli, R. and Barrett, M. (2015) “Investing in information systems: on the behavioral and institutional search mechanisms underpinning hospitals’ IS investment decisions.” MIS Quarterly, 39(1): 61-90
- Prince, K., Barrett, M. and Oborn, E. (2014) “Dialogical strategies for orchestrating strategic innovation networks: the case of the Internet of Things.” Information and Organization, 24(2): 106-127 (DOI: 10.1016/j.infoandorg.2014.05.001)
- Venters, W., Oborn, E. and Barrett, M. (2014) “A trichordal temporal approach to digital coordination: the sociomaterial mangling of the CERN grid.” MIS Quarterly, 38(3): 927-949
- Oborn, E., Barrett, M., Prince, K. and Racko, G. (2013) “Balancing exploration and exploitation in transferring research into practice: a comparison of five knowledge translation entity archetypes.” Implementation Science, 8: 104 (DOI: 10.1186/1748-5908-8-104)
- Oborn, E., Barrett, M. and Racko, G. (2013) “Knowledge translation in healthcare: incorporating theories of learning and knowledge from the management literature.” Journal of Health Organization and Management, 27(4): 412-231 (DOI: 10.1108/JHOM-01-2012-0004)
- Salge, T.O., Farchi, T., Barrett, M.I. and Dopson, S. (2013) “When does search openness really matter? A contingency study of health-care innovation projects.” Journal of Product Innovation Management, 30(4): 659-676 (DOI: 10.1111/jpim.12015)
- Barrett, M. and Oborn, E. (2013) “Envisioning E-HRM and strategic HR: taking seriously identity, innovative practice, and service.” Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 22(3): 252–256 (DOI: 10.1016/j.jsis.2013.07.002)
- Barrett, M., Heracleous, L. and Walsham, G. (2013) “A rhetorical approach to IT diffusion: reconceptualizing the ideology-framing relationship in computerization movements.” MIS Quarterly, 37(1): 201-220
- Zachariadis, M., Oborn, E., Barrett, M. and Zollinger-Read, P. (2013) “Leadership of healthcare commissioning networks in England: a mixed-methods study on clinical commissioning groups.” BMJ Open, 3(2): e002112 (DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2012-002112)
- Zachariadis, M., Scott, S. and Barrett, M. (2013) “Methodological implications of critical realism for mixed-methods research.” MIS Quarterly, 37(3): 855-879
- Oborn, E., Barrett, M. and Dawson, S. (2013) “Distributed leadership in policy formulation: a sociomaterial perspective.” Organization Studies, 34(2): 253-276 (DOI: 10.1177/0170840612473552)
- Barrett, M., Oborn, E., Orlikowski, W. and Yates, J. (2012) “Reconfiguring boundary relations: robotic innovations in pharmacy work.” Organization Science, 23(5): 1448-1466 (DOI: 10.1287/orsc.1100.0639)
- Constantinides, P. and Barrett, M. (2012) “A narrative networks approach to understanding coordination practices in emergency response.” Information and Organization, 22(4): 273-294 (DOI: 10.1016/j.infoandorg.2012.07.001)
- Komporozos-Athanasiou, A., Oborn, E., Barrett, M. and Chan Y.E. (2011) “Policy as a struggle for meaning: disentangling knowledge translation across international health contexts.” Knowledge Management Research and Practice, 9(3): 215–227 (DOI: 10.1057/kmrp.2011.20)
- Oborn, E., Barrett, M. and Darzi, A. (2011) “Robots and service innovation in healthcare.” Journal of Health Services Research and Policy, 16(1): 46-50 (DOI: 10.1258/jhsrp.2010.010001)
- Oborn, E., Barrett, M. and Davidson, E. (2011) “Unity in diversity: electronic patient record use in multidisciplinary practice.” Information Systems Research, 22(3): 547-564 (DOI: 10.1287/isre.1110.0372)
- Oborn, E., Barrett, M. and Exworthy, M. (2011) “Policy entrepreneurship in the development of public sector strategy: the case of London health reform.” Public Administration, 89(2): 325-344 (DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9299.2010.01889.x)
- Oborn, E. and Barrett, M. (2010) “Boundary object use in cross-cultural software development teams.” Human Relations, 63(8): 1199-1221 (DOI: 10.1177/0018726709355657)
- Vogl, P. and Barrett, M. (2010) “Regulating the information gatekeepers.” Communications of the ACM, 53(11): 67-72 (DOI: 10.1145/1839676.1839695)
- Oborn, E. and Barrett, M. (2008) “The adoption of dispensing technology: an occasion for restructuring hospital pharmacy work.” International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 16(2): 109-114 (DOI: 10.1211/ijpp.16.2.0008)
- Joshi, S., Barrett, M., Walsham, G. and Cappleman, S. (2007) “Balancing local knowledge within global organisations through computer-based systems: an activity theory approach.” Journal of Global Information Management, 15(3): 1-19
- Barrett, M. and Gendron, Y. (2006) “WebTrust and the ‘commercialistic auditor’: the unrealized vision of developing auditor trustworthiness in cyberspace.” Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal, 19(5): 631-662 (DOI: 10.1108/09513570610689640)
- Barrett, M., Grant, D. and Wailes, N. (2006) “ICT and organizational change: introduction to the special issue.” Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 42(1): 6-22
- Constantinides, P. and Barrett, M. (2006) “Large-scale ICT innovation, power, and organizational change: the case of a regional health information network.” Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 42(1): 76-90
- Constantinides, P. and Barrett, M. (2006) “Negotiating ICT development and use: the case of a regional telemedicine system in the healthcare region of Crete.” Information and Organization, 16(1): 27-55
- Barrett, M., Cooper, D.J. and Jamal, K. (2005) “Globalization and the coordinating of work in multinational audits.” Accounting, Organizations and Society, 30(1): 1-24
- Barrett, M., Fryatt, B., Walsham, G. and Joshi, S. (2005) “Building bridges between local and global knowledge: new ways of working at the World Health Organisation.” Knowledge Management for Development Journal (KM4D), 1(2): 31-46
- Scott, S.V. and Barrett, M.I. (2005) “Strategic risk positioning as sensemaking in crisis: the adoption of electronic trading at the London international financial futures and options exchange.” Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 14(1): 45-68
- Barrett, M., Cappleman, S., Shoib, G. and Walsham, G. (2004) “Learning in knowledge communities: managing technology and context.” European Management Journal, 22(1): 1-11
- Barrett, M. and Scott, S. (2004) “Electronic trading and the process of globalization in traditional futures exchanges: a temporal perspective.” European Journal of Information Systems, 13(1): 65-79
- Gendron, Y. and Barrett, M. (2004) “Professionalization in action: accountants’ attempt at building a network of support for the Webtrust Seal of Assurance.” Contemporary Accounting Research, 21(3): 563-602
- Barrett, M., Jarvenpaa, S., Silva, L. and Walsham, G. (2003) “ICTs, globalization and local diversity.” Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 11: 486-497
- Morse, J.M., Barrett, M., Mayan, M., Olson, K. and Spiers, J. (2002) “Verification strategies for establishing reliability and validity in qualitative research.” International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 1(2): 1-19
- Barrett, M. (2001) “Expert commentaries: the urge to merge.” European Management Journal, 19(4): 438-442
- Barrett, M., Sahay, S. and Walsham, G. (2001) “Information technology and social transformation: GIS for forestry management in India.” Information Society, 17(1): 5-20
- Heracleous, L. and Barrett, M. (2001) “Organizational change as discourse: communicative actions and deep structures in the context of information technology implementation.” Academy of Management Journal, 44(4): 755-778
- Barrett, M. (1999) “Challenges of EDI adoption for electronic trading in the London Insurance Market.” European Journal of Information Systems, 8(1): 1-15
- Barrett, M. and Walsham, G. (1999) “Electronic trading and work transformation in the London Insurance Market.” Information Systems Research, 10(1): 1-22
- Barrett, M., Sahay, S. and Drummond, A. (1996) “Cross-cultural issues in international software projects: the use of information systems personnel as expatriates.” SEAMAIL, 10(8)
- Barrett, M. and Walsham, G. (1995) “Managing IT for business innovation: issues of culture, learning, and leadership in a Jamaican insurance company.” Journal of Global Information Management, 3(3): 25-33
- Barrett, M. and Walsham, G. (1995) “Using IT to support business innovation: a case study of the London Insurance Market.” Scandinavian Journal of Information Systems, 7(2): 3-21
Books, monographs, reports and case studies
- Lamb, K., Fenby-Taylor, H., Lee, E.L.S., Barrett, M. and Prince, K. (2022) Digital twin journeys: ecosystems of services enabled by connected digital twins. Cambridge: Centre for Digital Built Britain. (published online Jan 2022)
- Lee, E.L.S., Barrett, M., Prince, K. and Oborn, E. (2022) Developing your digital maturity for competitive advantage: from models to practices in enabling digital transformation. Cambridge: Centre for Digital Built Britain.
- Lee, E.L.S., Barrett, M., Prince, K., Oborn, E., Li, O. and Thomas, P. (2022) Digital twins and service innovation in designing the hospital of the future. Cambridge: Centre for Digital Built Britain.
- Kouroubali, A., Constantinides, P. and Barrett, M. (2009) “ICT and service innovation in the emergency care sector of Crete.” European Case Clearing House (ECCH).
- Barrett, M. (2008) “Offshoring and innovation at Globalco: negotiating a win-win strategy for the outsourcing relationship.” European Case Clearing House.
- Barrett, M., Davidson, E., Middleton, C., and DeGross, J.I. (eds.) (2008) Information technology in the service economy: challenges and possibilities for the 21st century. Boston, MA: Springer.
- Barrett, M. and Prince, K. (2006) “The EPC Network (I): putting RFID into action in the retail supply chain.” European Case Clearing House.
- Constantinides, P. and Barrett, M. (2006) “Healthnet: scaling-up innovation in the healthcare region of Crete.” European Case Clearing House.
- Barrett, M. (2004) “London insurance market (B).” European Case Clearing House.
- Barrett, M. (2004) “London insurance market (C).” European Case Clearing House.
- Barrett, M. (2002) “London insurance market.” European Case Clearing House (ECCH): 904-047-1.
Book chapters
- Oborn, E., Barrett, M. and Staples, B. (2014) “Multi-disciplinary collaboration: bridging professional differences for service improvement in adolescent mental health care.” In: Borkowski, N. and Deckard, G. (eds.) Case studies in organizational behavior and theory for health care. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning, pp.9-25
- Miani, C., Zachariadis, M., Oborn, E. and Barrett, M. (2012) “Knowledge and collaboration in multi-hub networks: orchestration processes among clinical commissioning groups in the UK.” In: Liebowitz, J. (ed.) Knowledge management handbook: collaboration and social networking. Boca Raton, FL: Taylor and Francis, 2nd edition, pp.11-28
- Oborn, E., Barrett, M., Komporozos-Athanasiou, A. and Chan, Y.E. (2012) “Discourse in health care policy: comparing UK and Canada.” In: Dickinson, H. and Mannion, R. (eds.) The reform of health care: shaping, adapting and resisting policy developments. Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan, pp.109-121
- Barrett, M. and Oborn, E. (2010) “Challenges of using IT to support multi-disciplinary team decision making.” In: Nutt, P.C. and Wilson, D.C. (eds.) Blackwell handbook of decision making. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell, pp.403-430
- Barrett, M. and Davidson, E. (2008) “Exploring the diversity of service worlds in the service economy.” In Barrett, M., Davidson, E., Middleton, C., and DeGross, J.I. (eds.): Information technology in the service economy: challenges and possibilities for the 21st century. Boston, MA: Springer, pp.1-10
- Barrett, M., Hinings, C.R. and Oborn, E. (2008) “Legitimacy management and trust in offshoring IT services.” In Barrett, M., Davidson, E., Middleton, C., and DeGross, J.I. (eds.): Information technology in the service economy: challenges and possibilities for the 21st century. Boston, MA: Springer, pp.283-300
- Barrett M. and Oborn E. (2008) “Global sourcing in a developing country context: organizing IS resources to develop local knowledge.” In Heinzl, A., Hirschheim, R., Winkler, J. and Dibbern, J. (eds.): Information systems outsourcing: enduring themes, new perspectives and global challenges. Springer, 3rd edition. (DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-88851-2)
- Barrett, M. (2006) “ICTs, organizational change and new modes of organizing.” In Salazar, A.J. and Sawyer, S. (eds.): Handbook of information technology in organizations and electronic markets. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing, pp.39-55
- Constantinides, P. and Barrett, M. (2005) “Approaching information infrastructure as an ecology of ubiquitous sociotechnical relations.” In: Sorensen, C., Yoo, Y., Lyytinen, K. and DeGross, J.I. (eds.) Designing ubiquitous information environments: sociotechnical issues and challenges. New York: Springer Science and Business Media Inc., pp.249-260
- Barrett, M. and Walsham, G. (2004) “Making contributions from interpretive case studies: examining processes of construction and use.” In: Kaplan, B., Truex III, D.P., Wastell, D., Wood-Harper, A.T. and DeGross, J.I. (eds.) Information systems research: relevant theory and informed practice. Boston, MA: Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp.293-314
- Krishna, S., Ojha, A.K. and Barrett, M. (2000) “Competitive advantage in the software industry: an analysis of the Indian experience.” In Avgerou, C. and Walsham, G. (eds.): Information technology in context: studies from the perspective of developing countries. Aldershot: Ashgate, pp.182-197
Conference papers
- Barrett, M. (2020) “Riskscapes and the scaling of digital innovation: trajectory dynamics of mobile payments in times of crisis.” In: Bandi, R.K., C.R., R., Klein, S., Madon, S. and Monteiro, E. (eds.) The future of digital work: the challenge of inequality: Proceedings of the IFIPJWC 2020, IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, 10-11 December 2020, Virtual Conference. New York: Springer, pp.17-20 (DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-64697-4_3)
- Prince, K. and Barrett, M. (2005) “Privacy implications of technology innovation processes.” In: Forever new frontiers: International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS), 11-14 December 2005, Las Vegas, NV.
- Barrett, M. and Walsham, G. (2004) “Making contributions from interpretive case studies: examining processes of construction and use.” In: Kaplan, B., Truex III, D.P., Wastell, D., and DeGross, J.I. (eds.) Relevant theory and informed practice: looking forward from a 20-year perspective on IS research: IFIP TC8 WG8.2 20th Year Retrospective, 15-17 July 2004, Manchester, England. Dordrecht: Kluwer, pp.293-314
- Barrett, M., Heracleous, L., Orlikowski, W., Panteli, N. (2003) “Discourse and organizational transformation in information systems research.” In: Wynn, E.H., Whitley, E.A., Myers, M.D., De Gross, J.I.: IFIP WG8 Working Conference on Global and Organizational Discourse about Information Technology, 12-14 Dec 2002, Barcelona, Spain. Norwell, Mass.: Kluwer, pp.533-538
- Scott, S.V. and Barrett, M.I. (2002) “The development of electronic trading in the futures industry: strategic risk positioning in a globalising age.” In: Social Studies of Finance Conference, 3-4 May 2002, Columbia University, New York.
- Barrett, M., Cooper, D.J. and Jamal, K. (2001) “Managing across the ‘friction of space’ in auditing.” In: Quattrone, P. (ed.) Rethinking globalization and standardization: Proceedings of the International Conference on Spacing and Timing, 1-3 November 2001, Palermo, Italy.
- Barrett, M. and Scott, S. (2001) “Electronic trading and the transformation of futures exchanges in global work times.” In: Quattrone, P. (ed.) Rethinking globalization and standardization: Proceedings of the International Conference on Spacing and Timing, 1-3 November 2001, Palermo, Italy.
- Barrett, M. and Scott, S. (2000) “The emergence of electronic trading in global financial markets: envisioning the role of futures exchanges in the next millenium.” In: Hansen, H., Bichler, M. and Mahrer, H. (eds.) ECIS 2000: a cyberspace odyssey: Proceedings of the European Conference on Information Systems (8th), 3-5 July 2000, Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration, Vienna, Austria. Vienna: Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration, pp.717-722
- Barrett, M. and Heracleous, L. (1999) “Understanding globalization as a structurational process in the context of the London Insurance Market.” In: Havlovic, S.J. (ed.) Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management: Best Papers (59th), 6-11 August 1999, Chicago, Illinois, USA. New York: Academy of Management, pp.A1-A6
- Barrett, M., Sahay, S. and Walsham, G. (1996) “Understanding IT and social transformation: development and illustration of a conceptual scheme.” In: DeGross, J.I., Jarvenpaa, S. and Srinivasan, A. (eds.) Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems (17th), 16-18 December 1998, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. New York: ACM Press, pp.42-50
Working papers
- Orlikowski, W. and Barrett, M. (2014) “Digital innovation in emerging markets: a case study of mobile money.” MIT Sloan Management Center for Information Systems Research Briefings. Cambridge, MA: MIT Sloan.
- Oborn, E., Barrett, M. and Racko, G. (2010) “Knowledge translation in healthcare: a review of the literature.” Judge Business School Working Papers, No.05/2010. Cambridge: University of Cambridge.
- Velu, C., Barrett, M., Kohli, R. and Salge, T.O. (2010) “Thriving in open innovation ecosystems: toward a collaborative market orientation.” Judge Business School Working Papers, No.04/2010. Cambridge: University of Cambridge.
- Zachariadis, M., Scott, S. and Barrett, M. (2010) “Exploring critical realism as the theoretical foundation of mixed-method research: evidence from the economics of IS innovations.” Judge Business School Working Papers, No.03/2010. Cambridge: University of Cambridge.
- Barrett, M., Constantinides, P. and Oborn, E. (2007) “Accomplishing institutional work: the role of visibility in multidisciplinary service innovation.” Cambridge Judge Business School Working Papers, No.17/2007. Cambridge: University of Cambridge.
- Barrett, M., Joshi, S. and Walsham, G. (2007) “Institutional entrepreneurship in the Linux certification field: the role of discursive strategies and social positioning.” Cambridge Judge Business School Working Papers, No.21/2007. Cambridge: University of Cambridge.
- Barrett, M. and Oborn, E. (2007) “Knowledge sharing in cross-cultural software teams.” Cambridge Judge Business School Working Papers, No.18/2007. Cambridge: University of Cambridge.
- Barrett, M., Oborn, E., Orlikowski, W. and Yates, J. (2007) “Boundary relations: technological objects and the restructuring of workplace boundaries.” Cambridge Judge Business School Working Papers, No.16/2007. Cambridge: University of Cambridge.
- Joshi, S., Barrett, M., Walsham, G. and Cappleman, S. (2006) “In search of balance: local knowledge within global organisations.” Cambridge Judge Business School Working Papers, No.09/2006. Cambridge: University of Cambridge.
- Walsham, G. and Barrett, M. (2005) “ICTs and changing processes of knowing in a global development agency.” Judge Institute of Management Working Papers, No.02/2005
- Barrett, M. and Scott, S. (1999) “The emergence of electronic trading in global financial markets: envisioning the role of futures exchanges in the next millenium.” Information Systems Department, London School of Economics and Political Science, Working Paper No.73
Awards and honours
- Best Conference Paper and Runner-up, Best Published Paper, Academy of Management, OCIS Division, 2020
- Distinguished Scholar Award, OCIS Division, Academy of Management, 2016
- Runner-up, Best Published Paper, Academy of Management, OCIS Division (co-authored by Oborn, E., Orlikowski, W. and Yates, J.), 2013
- European Case Award in the category ‘Knowledge, Information and Communication Systems Management’, 2012
- Best Interactive Paper Award, OCIS Division, Academy of Management, 2011
- European Case Award in the category ‘Knowledge, Information and Communication Systems Management’, 2008
- IBM Faculty Award, 2003
- IBM Faculty Fellowship
- Best Paper Award, OCIS Division, Academy of Management, 1999
- Mackenzie Undergraduate Teaching Award, University of Alberta, 1998
- JD Muir Fellowship, University of Alberta, 1998
- Centre for International Business Research Fellowship, University of Alberta, 1998
- Xerox Research Fellowship, University of Alberta, 1996
- Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholar, 1992-1995
- Most Valuable Employee, Oracle Canada, 1991
- CIDA McMaster Scholarship, 1988-1989
- Canadian Information Processing Society Scholarship, 1989-1990
- Commonwealth Scholarship, 1985-1988
News and insights
The Association of Information Systems (AIS) names Professor Michael Barrett an AIS Fellow for outstanding contributions to research, teaching and service.
AI and technology
The dark side of AI: algorithmic bias and global inequality
Professor Michael Barrett of Cambridge Judge Business School looks at the consequences of algorithmic bias from AI on global inequality and marginalisation.
World Case Teaching Day 2023 provides an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the ways in which Cambridge Judge Business School engages with the case teaching method.
Media coverage
Executive Courses | 11 January 2021
Executive courses help students plot a path to digital transformation
Michael Barrett, Professor of Information Systems & Innovation Studies at Cambridge Judge Business School, comments on technology adoption in business during COVID-19 and Executive Education courses offering in Cambridge.
European Pharmaceutical Review | 19 June 2017
Collaboration is ‘game changer’ in delivering cell and gene therapies
Michael Barrett, Professor of Information Systems & Innovation Studies at Cambridge Judge, is recognised as one of the reviewers of a new paper “Adaptation through Collaboration: Developing Novel Platforms to Advance the Delivery of Advanced Therapies to Patients,” written by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry’s Head of Manufacturing Innovation, Dr Magda Papadaki.
Cambridge Business Magazine | 1 January 2017
Sometimes it works better to make changes quietly
Change initiated by middle managers rather than top managers wins greater employee support, says study co-authored by Shahzad Ansari, Professor of Strategy and Innovation at Cambridge Judge Business School.
Finextra, 29 February 2016
Reimagining financial inclusion through mobile
Eagle Eye, 15 May 2014
Srivastava organises international conference