Dr Stavros Polykarpou is a Lecturer of Digital Innovation and Information Systems. Before joining RHUL, he held a Lectureship at the University of Exeter Business School (UEBS) and the London-based Initiative for the Digital Economy at Exeter (INDEX) research centre, where he currently serves as an Adjunct Faculty member. He holds an M.Phil. and PhD from the University of Cambridge, Judge Business School (CJBS), which he completed through a competitive 1+3 ESRC Studentship Award. He is a Fellow (FHEA) of the Higher Education Academy (Advance HE) and holds a PGCert in Academic Practice (PCAP) from the University of Exeter (UoE), where his research-led, transformative teaching practice received a Distinction (D2, UKSPF). He was also awarded the ASPIRE Fellowship (Accrediting Staff Professionalism in Research-Led Education) from UoE for his dedication and excellence in pedagogical innovation.

His interdisciplinary research programme is at the intersection of management/organisation studies and digital innovation/transformation. He examines the broader themes of organising for emerging and algorithmic technologies, the changing nature of work and performing multiple values in the digital age. Methodologically, he primarily uses qualitative methods, ranging from longitudinal ethnographic to comparative multiple case study research designs. In addition, he is familiar with quantitative, econometric, and algorithmic analyses. His research on implementing 3D Printing in healthcare won the prestigious Organisational Communications and Information Systems (OCIS) Division Best Paper Award (2020) at the 8oth Annual Academy of Management (AoM) Meeting. Stavros has published in leading, top-tier journals such as Information Systems Research, Information and Organization, and recently, using algorithms as co-researchers in the Cambridge Handbook of Qualitative Digital Research. 

He employs a deep engagement agenda by purposefully entwining challenge-led research activities and teaching practices to generate impact. His expertise includes a range of activities, from translating knowledge to co-creating impact through collaborative relationships with industry and government partners to address grand challenges.

PhD Supervision

Stavros is committed to working closely with PhD students through mentorship leading to impactful research that can make a real difference in the world. Stavros has extensive experience in healthcare, leading digital innovation initiatives in 4 leading NHS Trusts over a decade, such as implementing personalised medicine through 3D-printing labs in-house. He also has led numerous knowledge translation activities with global industry partners. Students exploring any of the below research interests are welcome to discuss PhD supervision: 

Research interests and supervision themes:

1. Organising for Algorithmic and Emerging Technologies
2. Digital Innovation and Transformation
3. IS and healthcare
4. Future of work
5. Performativity of Platforms and Ecosystems
6. Professional and Occupational Expertise
7. New Forms of Value Creation in the Digital Age (social and societal value, e.g. reputation, legitimacy)
8. Empirical: Ethnographic style of investigation; comparative case studies; process research; practice-based studies