Varun Grover

Varun Grover is Distinguished Professor and the George & Boyce Billingsley Endowed Chair in the Department of Information Systems at the Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas. He previously served as the Lee (Duke Energy) Distinguished Professor at Clemson University and has held academic and leadership roles at the University of South Carolina. He is a globally recognized scholar in Information Systems, with extensive affiliations through workshops, keynotes, and collaborations in Taiwan, India, China, Korea, Denmark, and Australia.

His educational background includes a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), an MBA from Southern Illinois University, and a PhD in Management Information Systems from the University of Pittsburgh.

Varun Grover’s research centers on the transformative role of digitalization and artificial intelligence in reshaping organizations, strategies, and individual behavior. His work spans digital strategy, IT-business alignment, platform ecosystems, digital identity, technostress, and the ethical dimensions of AI. He employs diverse methodologies including surveys, experiments, and secondary data analysis, and has made foundational contributions to introspective discourse on the IS field itself. His recent publications explore generative AI, mobile app innovation, digital hoarding, and IT governance.

The 15 most recent articles reflect a strong trend toward understanding the societal, organizational, and individual implications of digital technologies—especially AI and mobile platforms. Topics include digital agility, data breach response, free-riding in app ecosystems, and the psychological impacts of IT on users. These works appear in premier journals such as MIS Quarterly, Information Systems Research, and Journal of AIS, underscoring his sustained influence in the field.

• AIS LEO Award (2020)
• Thompson Reuters Highly Cited Researcher
• Stanford Top 6 Scholar in IS (2023)
• AIS Fellow (2011)
• Distinguished Alumni Award (IIT and University of Pittsburgh)
• Multiple teaching excellence awards including MBA Professor of the Year (4x)
• Stafford Beer Medal for Best Paper in European Journal of Information Systems (2016)

Varun Grover has chaired or co-chaired over 45 PhD dissertations and is deeply committed to doctoral education, having led PhD programs at USC, Clemson, and Arkansas. He has served as Senior Editor for MIS Quarterly (two terms), Journal of the AIS (five terms), and currently for MISQ Executive and JAIS. He has also been active in AIS leadership, including roles in ICIS and AMCIS. His research has been supported by extensive grants and recognition, and he has written over 20 advice columns for PhD student success. He leads the ISYS PhD Program at Walton College and continues to mentor the next generation of IS scholars.

He is affiliated with research centers and editorial boards globally and has organized numerous workshops and special issues. His work bridges academic rigor with real-world impact, influencing both theory and practice in digital transformation.