Sebastian Boell

Dr. Sebastian Boell is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Business Information Systems at the University of Sydney Business School, where he has been a faculty member since 2014. His academic journey includes a PhD in Information Systems from the University of New South Wales and an MA in Information Science from Saarland University, Germany.

His research investigates how information and communication technologies (ICT) shape how organizations create understanding about themselves and their environment. Seeing organizations as complex, continuously changing social systems, Dr. Boell explores foundational questions about information systems, including how ICT shape organizational information and how organizations change and adapt with and through information over time. His work draws from histography, qualitative research methods, practice theory, process philosophy, sociomateriality, Wittgenstein's philosophy of language, social systems theory, interpretive work, virtual ethnography, and scientometric/bibliometric approaches.

Dr. Boell's recent publications reveal a strong focus on the intersection of AI ethics, organizational change, and historical perspectives on computing. His work increasingly examines algorithmic fairness, responsible AI management, and the long-term impacts of technology innovation in Australia, with numerous publications in top-tier journals including Journal of Information Technology, Information and Organisation, and IEEE Annals of the History of Computing.

His research achievements have been recognized with several prestigious awards:

• ASIST ProQuest Doctoral Dissertation Award 2013
• Professor Weinstock Memorial Price
• VFI Award 2008
• Best conference theme paper at the International Conference on Information Systems

Dr. Boell currently supervises four PhD students working on cutting-edge topics including algorithmic fairness in employment, responsible AI management, contextualized translation of information systems for human development, and cognitive style impacts on business intelligence. He has secured significant research funding, including a project on MaaS business models with iMOVE Australia. As director of the Business and Labour History Group (BLHG) and an active member of the Digital Disruption Research Group (DDRG), he plays a key role in shaping research directions in his field.