Background

PhD (innovation policy), MBA, PG Cert (HE), PG Cert (Mktg), Electronic Eng, Cert (IS), BEng 

Academic Profile

I obtained a PhD at Lancaster University Management School on public policies for digital innovation in SMEs. My research has been awarded by the Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE), and has been selected to be published in the special issue of world-top conferences -International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) and Engage Higher Education Institutions (Engage HEI). I have developed an emerging portfolio of publications as a first author in high-impact/top-ranked journals -4* and 3* of the Association of Business Schools (ABS) classification- on disrupting themes affecting units of analysis, topics, theories and methodological approaches in whole research areas. Also, my teaching has been consistently rated by the students as one of the best over the years in the Business School. Finally, I was director of the MSc in Digital Business programmes for 5.5 years with exceptional results in terms of programme design, recruitment, student satisfaction and employability. Prior to joining Newcastle University I worked as a senior lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University Business School and research associate at Lancaster University Management School. 

Industry Profile

I have almost 10 years of rich experience in multinational corporations of the technology sector, including Oracle, IBM, Philips and Unibanca. My international exposure embraces long stays in the United Kingdom, Spain, Mexico and Peru. I have worked in very diverse areas, including my last leadership role as a principal consultant. My background in industry has given me well-founded knowledge of practically all the organisational innovation process (strategy and innovation definition, project design, selection of products and suppliers, implementation, change management, training, support and evaluation) as well as all the business functions (procurement, logistics, inventory, production and operations, sales and marketing, customer service, and accounting and finance) in different industries. During my stay at Oracle, my teams secured around eight 6-digit-dollar contracts in business software. For this reason, I was a member of the Oracle Excellence Club in two opportunities and travelled to San Juan (Puerto Rico) and Las Vegas (USA) for the awards. I have also written several articles for newspapers and specialised magazines, and given interviews to the media. 

Research

Research Profile 

My research is on digital innovation in society as one of the main drivers for competitive advantage and economic development.

My specific research areas are the following:

• Analysis and design of systems of innovation (e.g. ecosystems) in countries, regions, industries, and technological sectors. The innovation systems are about the development, entrepreneurship, or diffusion of digital innovations.
• Formulation, administration, implementation, and evaluation of enterprise-related policies, including science, technology, innovation, and SME policies.
• Knowledge exchange and impact activities of higher education institutions regarding digital innovation.
• Innovation in small and medium enterprise (SME) and start-up sectors, especially information systems/technologies (IS/T).
• Business and enterprise architecture.
• Philosophy (especially critical realism), trans-disciplinarity and methodological pluralism in innovation studies.

Prospective PhD students

I welcome enquiries from prospective students wishing to undertake doctoral studies under my supervision. The topic areas in which I am prone to develop PhD proposals are any of the ones mentioned above, but we could shape them according to your interests.

Feel free to contact me should you wish to explore the possibility of working together. I would also strongly recommend applying as early as possible to not lose the deadline for relevant scholarships. Before formally applying, the trick is to construct and then email to me (arturo.vega@newcastle.ac.uk) no more than a six-page summary of your proposed work, plus a full list of references.

Teaching

Teaching Profile

The modules I teach are very popular and consistently receive some of the best feedback from the students in the Business School. My teaching has five core characteristics. Firstly, as a consequence of the trans-disciplinary nature of my research, I have been involved in courses as diverse as information systems, electronic business, innovation, entrepreneurship, strategic management, consultancy projects and public policies. Secondly, my teaching is strongly informed by research. This is instrumental to include topics that really matter in the syllabus of the courses and the content of the sessions. Thirdly, my work in industry has equipped me with relevant experience to base my teaching largely on practice. The aim is to make students reflect on real situations in order to make sense and interiorise the theoretical concepts. Importantly, my industrial background has also been fundamental for the delivery of executive education to senior professionals. Fourthly, my degree in higher education has given me knowledge of different concepts and techniques which nurture my planning and daily teaching activities. For example, educational aims, learning styles, student-centred learning, assessment-driven learning, project-based learning, e-learning and multimedia, brainstorming and discussion groups, and feedback types. Fifthly, all the design and execution of my teaching put strong emphasis on employability, including special activities, sessions and coaching about that.  

Current/Previous Responsibilities

• Supervision of PhD, MSc and BSc research projects.
• Currently, courses related to information systems strategy, technology, management and employability.
• Previously, courses related to innovation, entrepreneurship, policy and consulting.
• Former director of the MSc in Digital Business programmes.

Publications

• Articles

  • Vega A, Chiasson M. Complementary adoptions and the diffusion of information systems in small and medium enterprises: an exploratory study. International Journal of Business Science and Applied Management 2021, 16(3), 18-38.
  • Vega A, Gabbioneta C, Osorio C. Academics and research impact. 2020. Submitted.
  • Vega A, Chiasson M. A comprehensive framework to research digital innovation: The joint use of systems of innovation and critical realism. Journal of Strategic Information Systems 2019, 28(3), 242-256.
  • Vega A, Chiasson M. Towards a comprehensive framework for the evaluation of small and medium enterprise policy. Evaluation 2015, 21(3), 359-375.
  • Vega A, Chiasson M, Brown D. Understanding the causes of informal and formal discretion in the delivery of enterprise policies: a multiple case study. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy 2013, 31(1), 102-118.
  • Vega A, Brown D, Chiasson M. Open innovation and SMEs: Exploring policy and the scope for improvements in university-based public programmes through a multidisciplinary lens. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research 2012, 18(4), 457-476.
  • Vega A, Chiasson M, Brown D. Extending the research agenda on diffusion: the case of public program interventions for the adoption of e-business systems in SMEs. Journal of Information Technology 2008, 23(2), 109-117.

• Book Chapters

  • Vega A, Chiasson M. Government support to information systems innovation in small and medium enterprises. In: Devos, J; Van Landeghem, H; Deschoolmeester, D, ed. Information Systems and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) - State of the Art of IS Research in SMEs. Berlin: Springer, 2014, pp.337-350.
  • Vega A, Brown D. Systems of innovation, multidisciplinarity and methodological pluralism: A realist approach to guide the future of information systems research and practice. In: Chiasson, M; Henfridsson, O; Karsten, H; DeGross, J, ed. Researching the Future in Information Systems. Boston: Springer, 2011, pp.249-268.
  • Vega A, Chiasson M, Brown D. Extending the research agenda on diffusion of innnovations: The role of public programs in the diffusion of e-business innovations. In: McMaster, T; Wastell, D; Ferneley, E; DeGross, J, ed. Organisational Dynamics of Technology-Based Innovation: Diversifying the Research Agenda. Boston: Springer, 2007, pp.379-392.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

  • Vega A. Operationalizing the research of digital innovation systems: Lessons from the covid-19 pandemic. In: International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP), Working Group 6.11. 2022, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
  • Vega A, Gabbioneta C, Osorio C. Managing academic diversity and motivation towards research impact in a university department: The case of a business school. In: Danish Research Unit for Industrial Dynamics (DRUID) 2022 conference. 2022, Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • Vega A, Chiasson M. Critical realism as the research philosophy of the systems of innovation. In: International Association for Critical Realism (IACR) 2021 conference. 2021, Eastern Cape and Johannesburg, South Africa.
  • Vega A, Gabbioneta C, Osorio C. The response to research impact in a business school: Managing diversity within an academic department. In: 7th University-Industry Interaction Conference. 2019, Helsinki, Finland.
  • Vega A, Chiasson M. Systems of innovation and critical realism: An alternative and holistic framework to research innovation policy in the SME sector. In: 42th Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship. 2019, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
  • Vega A, Chiasson M. Adoption Process Complexity and the Diffusion of Innovations: The Case of Information Systems in Small and Medium Enterprises. In: British Academy of Management (BAM) Conference. 2014, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
  • Vega A, Chiasson M, Brown D. What can we learn from the qualitative evaluations of the public assistance to SMEs? A new but necessary practice. In: Engage Higher Education Institutions Conference (HEI). 2012, London, UK.
  • Vega A, Chiasson M. Value of the qualitative evaluations of support programmes. In: 35th Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference (ISBE). 2012, Dublin, Ireland.
  • Vega A, Chiasson M, Brown D. The improvement of the public assistance to SME innovation: The role of governments, universities and industry. In: 10th Triple Helix Conference. 2012, Bandung, Indonesia.
  • Vega A, Chiasson M, Brown D. Qualitative approaches as formative evaluations: The missing link in the public support to SMEs. In: 10th Triple Helix conference. 2012, Bandung, Indonesia.
  • Vega A, Brown D, Chiasson M. Improvement of the public support to SMEs: Policy and research implications. In: 35th Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference (ISBE). 2012, Dublin, Ireland.
  • Vega A, Chiasson M, Brown D. Considerable discretion in the implementation of enterprise policy: The influence of policy contexts. In: 16th International Research Society for Public Management Conference (IRSPM). 2012, Rome, Italy.
  • Vega A, Brown D. Systems of innovation, multidisciplinarity and methodological pluralism: A realist approach to guide the future of information systems research and practice. In: International Federation for Information Processing Working Group 8.2, Annual Conference (IFIP). 2011, Turku, Finland.
  • Vega A, Chiasson M, Brown D. Discretion in the implementation of policies for the informatisation of SMEs. In: 34th Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference (ISBE). 2011, Sheffield, UK.
  • Vega A, Chiasson M, Brown D. Adoption and programme contexts effect in the support to the informatisation of SMEs. In: 34th Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference (ISBE). 2011, Sheffield, UK.
  • Vega A, Chiasson M, Brown D. A revisited impact of the public assistance to SME innovation: Policy consequences and a complementary evaluative approach. In: 15th International Research Society for Public Management Conference (IRSPM). 2011, Dublin, Ireland.
  • Vega A, Chiasson M, Brown D. The effects of innovation process and programme contexts on the implementation of public services: The worrying case of enterprise innovation. In: 14th International Research Society for Public Management (IRSPM) conference. 2010, Berne, Switzerland.
  • Vega A, Chiasson M, Brown D. Setting up university support to small and medium enterprise innovation: Managerial, policy and research implications. In: Engage Higher Education Institutions (HEI) Annual Conference. 2010, Bradford, UK.
  • Vega A, Chiasson M, Brown D. Public programme contexts and their influence on enterprise innovation: The case of university outreach activities. In: 8th Triple Helix conference. 2010, Madrid, Spain.
  • Vega A, Chiasson M, Brown D. How much the role of the other? universities as policy-makers in the enterprise innovation arena. In: Triple Helix VIII International Conference on University, Industry and Government Linkages. 2010, Madrid, Spain: Triple Helix Association.
  • Vega A, Chiasson M, Brown D. Critical realism, multidisciplinarity and methodological pluralism: A systemic approach to guide information systems research and practice. In: 16th Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS). 2010, Lima, Peru.
  • Vega A, Chiasson M, Brown D. A systems perspective to improve the public support to enterprise innovation: The case of information systems diffusion in SMEs. In: Public Administration Committee (PAC) annual conference. 2010, Nottingham, UK.
  • Vega A, Chiasson M, Brown D. Extending the research agenda on diffusion of innovations: The role of public programs in the diffusion of e-business innovations. In: International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP), Working Group 8.6, annual conference. 2007, Manchester, UK.