Strategy and Business Systems

Profile

Christine Welch joined the University in 1998 and since then has taught information systems, information strategy and knowledge management and research methods at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.  She has acted as course leader for undergraduate programmes in eBusiness and Business Information Technology.

Her research interests include critical systemic thinking, contextual inquiry in relation to decision-making and organizational change and knowledge management. She is currently Chair of the University’s cross-faculty Systems Thinking Research Group which has been designated as the Southern Regional Centre of the UK Systems Society.

Christine is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a member of the UK Systems Society and of the Association for Information Systems. She holds an MSc in Information Systems & Technology, with Distinction from City University, London, a BA (Hons) Social Science from the Open University and is an associate of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators.  

General academic activities have included:

Associate Editor, International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management, 2004 Issue.

Member of standing Planning Committee, European Conference on Research Methods in Business and Management Studies. Session chair at 2006 and 2007 conferences.

Member of standing Planning Committee, European Conference on Knowledge Management. Session chair at 2007 conference.

Board member and Trustee of UK Systems Society, 2006 to date.

Convenor, UKSS Southern Regional Centre.

Co-editor, Special Series of Informing Science Journal 2007 "Use and Redesign in IS: a Double Helix Relationship?", (with Prof. Hans-Erik Nissen of Lund University, Sweden and Peter M Bednar, University of Portsmouth).

Organizer, speaker and facilitator, national seminar for Systems Practice for Managing Complexity (SPMC) Network on ‘Organizational Change and the NHS IT Project’, Northumbria University, 15 March 2006

Stream Chair, InSITE Conference, University of Salford, 26-29 June 2006

Discussant and Stream Chair, UKSS International Conference 2006, St Anne’s College, Oxford, 11-13 September 2006

Organizer, speaker and facilitator, UKSS regional workshop on Grand Challenges in Systems, University of Portsmouth, 18 December 2006.

Guest editor, Issue 29(1), The Systemist, April 2007.

Publications

Peer Reviewed Book Chapters

Katos, V., Bednar, P., and Welch, C. (2006). ‘Dealing with epistemic uncertainty in the SST framework’, in Creativity and Innovation in Decision Making and Decision Support, Vol. 2. F. Adam et al, (editors). Decision Support Press, London

Bednar, P. and Welch, C.  (2006). ‘Structuring uncertainty: sponsoring innovation and ceativity’, in Creativity and Innovation in Decision Making and Decision Support, Vol.2.  F. Adam et al, (editors). Decision Support Press, London

Bednar, P M, Welch, C and Graziano, A (2006) ‘Learning Objects and their implications on Learning: a case of developing the foundation for a new Knowledge Infrastructure,’ Chapter in ‘Learning Objects: Applications, Implications & Future Directions, ‘ Harman, K and Koohang, A, eds., Informing Science Press, NY

Bednar, P. and Welch, C. (2007). Knowledge creation and sharing: a role for complex methods of inquiry and paraconsistent logic. Managing Strategic Intelligence: Techniques and Technologies. M. Xu, editor. Idea Group: Hershey, PA

Bednar, P.M. and Welch, C. (2007). 'Contextual Analysis as support for Successful Innovation in Complex Environments,' Chapter 11 in Organizational Dynamics of Technology-Based Innovation: Diversifying the Research Agenda, T. McMaster, D. Wastell, E. Ferneley and J.I. DeGross (editors), Springer/IFIP.

Bednar, P.M. and Welch, C. (2008). 'Information Technology Projects: leaving the "magic" to the "wizards".' In Papadoupoulus, G.A., Wojtowski, W.G., Wrycza, S. & Zupancic, J. (eds.) (2008). Information Systems Development: Towards a Service Provision Society. Springer-Verlag, New York.

Bednar, P.M. and Welch, C. (2008). Contextual Inquiry and Requirements Shaping. In Barry, C., Lang, M., Wojtkowski, W., Wojtkowski, G., Wrycza, S., & Zupancic, J. (eds) (2008). The Inter-Networked World: ISD Theory, Practice and Education. Springer-Verlag: New York, ISBN 978-0387304038.

Bednar, P.M. and Welch, C. (2008). 'Loitering with intent: dealing with human-intensive systems.' In D'Atri A., De Marco, M. and Casalino, N. (eds.) (2008). Interdisciplinary Aspects of Information Systems Studies, Physica Verlag (Springer). ISBN: 978-3-7908-2009-6.

Peer Reviewed Journal Paper

Welch, C and Strevens, S (2004). The Impact of Virtual Marketspace on the Provincial Legal Practice: An Examination of the Virtual Presence of Legal Firms in the Portsmouth Area. International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management, Issue 4, 2004.

Bednar, P.M., Eglin, R. and Welch, C. (2007). 'Contextual Inquiry: A systemic support for student engagement through reflection', Interdisciplinary Journal of Knowledge and Learning Objects, 3 45-55.

Bednar, P.M. and Welch, C. (2007). 'A Double Helix Metaphor for Use and Usefulness in Informing Systems', Double Helix Relationships in IS: A monograph of the Informing Science Journal, Volume 10, 2007.

Welch, C. and Akers-Smith, L. (2007). 'Reflections on use of the Appreciative Inquiry Method as a vehicle for structuring debate'. The Systemist, 29(1), April 2007.

Bednar, P.M., Welch, C. and Katos, V. (2008). 'Innovation management though the use of diversity networks,' International Journal of Knowledge and Learning, 4 (1&2) 2008 (forthcoming).

Bednar, P.M. and Welch, C. (2008). 'Bias, Misinformation and the Paradox of Neutrality,' Informing Science: the International Journal of an Emerging Transdiscipline, pp.85-106, Volume 11, 2008, ISSN: 1521-4672.

Bednar, P.M. and Welch, C. (2008). 'Resilience through systemic structuring of uncertainty.' The Systemist, Vol. 30 (2), ISSN 0961-8309.

Peer Reviewed Conference Papers

Welch, C and Strevens, S (2004). ‘The Impact of Virtual Marketspace on the Provincial Legal Practice: An Examination of the Virtual Presence of Legal Firms in the Portsmouth Area’.  Proceedings of 4th International Conference on Knowledge, Culture and Change in Organizations, University of Greenwich, August 2004

Bednar, P and Welch, C (2005). ‘Critical Systemic Thinking – or The Standard Engineer in Paris’.  Proceedings of the 4th European Conference on Research Methods in Business and Management, Université Paris-Dauphine, France, 21-22 April 2005

Bednar, P and Welch, C (2005).  ‘IS, Process and Organizational Change and their Relationships to Contextual Dependencies’, Proceedings of 13th European Conference on Information Systems: Information Systems in a Rapidly Changing Economy, University of Regensburg, Germany, 26-28 May 2005

Bednar, P M, Welch, C and Graziano, A (2005) ‘Learning Objects and their implications on Learning: a case of developing the foundation for a new Knowledge Infrastructure,’ Proceedings of Informing Science & IT Education Joint Conference (InSITE 2005), Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA, 16-19 June 2005

Bednar, P.M., Anderson, D. and Welch, C. (2005). ‘Knowledge Creation and Sharing – Complex Methods of Inquiry and Inconsistent Theory’.  Proceedings of 6th European Conference on Knowledge Management, University of Limerick, 8-9 September 2005. 

Katos, V., Bednar, P., and Welch, C. (2006). ‘Dealing with epistemic uncertainty in the SST framework’. Proceedings of International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) Working Group 8.3, Conference on Creativity and Innovation in Decision-making and Decision Support , London School of Economics, 29 June- 1 July 2006

Bednar, P. and Welch, C.  (2006). ‘Structuring uncertainty: sponsoring innovation and ceativity’. Proceedings of International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) Working Group 8.3, Conference on Creativity and Innovation in Decision-making and Decision Support , London School of Economics, 29 June- 1 July 2006

Bednar, P.M. and Welch, C. (2006) ‘Second order discourse: critically-informed research.’ Proceedings of 5th European Conference on Research Methods in Business and Management, Trinity College Dublin, 17-18 July 2006

Bednar, P., Welch, C., and Katos, V. (2006). ‘Four valued logic: supporting complexity in knowledge sharing processes,’ Proceedings of 7th European Conference on Knowledge Management, Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary, 4-5 September, 2006

Bednar, P.M. and Welch, C. (2006). ‘Incentive and desire: covering a missing category.’ Proceedings of the Mediterranean Conference on Information Systems, Università degli Studi di Trento, San Servolo, Venice, Italy. 5-9 October, 2006.

Bednar, P.M. and Welch, C. (2006). ‘Phenomenological perspectives in IS: lessons learnt from Claudio Cibbora.’ Proceedings of 3rd Conference of Italian Chapter of the Association for Information Systems: Information Systems and People: Implementing Information Technology in the Workplace , Università Bocconi, Milan. 26-27 October 2006

Bednar, P.M., Katos, V. and Welch, C. (2007). 'Systems Analysis: Exploring the Spectrum of Diversity', Proceedings of the 15th European Conference on Information Systems: Rigor and Relevance, University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, 6-8 June 2007.

Bednar, P.M. and Welch, C. (2007). 'Conquering Complex and Changing Systems through Recognition of Individual Uniqueness' Proceedings of 6th European Conference on Research Methods in Business and Management, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal, 9-10 July 2007.

Bednar, P.M. and Welch, C. (2007). 'Contextual Inquiry and Requirements Shaping', Proceedings of 16th Conference on Information Systems Development: Challenges in Practice, Theory and Education, National University of Ireland, Galway, 29-31 August 2007.

Bednar, P.M. and Welch, C. (2007). 'Educational Applications of the SST Framework' Proceedings of UK Systems Society International Conference, St Anne's College, Oxford, 3-5 September 2007.

Bednar, P., Welch, C. and Katos, V. (2007). 'Dealing with Complexity in Knowledge Sharing Processes,' Proceedings of 8th European Conference on Knowledge Management, Consorci Escola Industrial de Barcelona (CEIB), Spain, 6-7 September 2007.

Bednar, P.M., Welch, C. and Depaoli, P. (2007). 'Transformation of Information Systems: Expectations of Relevance.' Proceedings of the Mediterranean Conference on Information Systems, Universita degli Studi di Trento, San Servolo, Venice, Italy. 5-9 October 2006.

Bednar, P.M. and Welch, C. (2007). 'Loitering with intent: dealing with human-intensive systems', Proceedings of 4th Conference of Italian Chapter of the Association for Information Systems: Information Systems and People: Implementing Information Technology in the Workplace, Universita Bocconi, Milan. 3-4 October 2007.

Bednar, P. and Welch, C. (2008). 'Tomorrow is Another Day: Information Systems Governance.' In Golden, W., Acton, T., Conboy, K., van der Heijden, H., Tuunainen, V., (eds.) 16th European Conference on Information Systems, Galway, Ireland, June 9-11. ISBN13: 978-0-9553159-2-3.

Bednar, P. and Welch, C. (2008). 'Generating Real Business Value: Transcending the Socio-Technical Dimension.' In Golden W., Acton T., Conboy K., van der Heijden H., Tuunainen, V. (eds.) 16th European Conference on Information Systems, Galway, Ireland, June 9-11. ISBN13: 978-0-9553159-2-3.

Bednar, P. and Welch, C. (2008). 'Beyond the Usual Suspects: Critically Informed Research.' In Brown A. (ed.) ECRM 2008. The 7th European Conference on Research Methodology for Business and Management Studies. London, UK, 19-20 June. pp. 73-80. ISBN13: 978-1906638-03-0.

Bednar, P. and Welch C. (2008). 'Is Modernism vs. Postmodernism a Relevant Discussion?' In Brown A. (ed.) ECRM 2008. The 7th European Conference on Research Methodology for Business and Management Studies. London, UK, 19-20 June. pp.83-88. ISBN13: 978-1906638-03-0.

Bednar, P. and Welch, C. (2008). "Think with your senses - Feel with your mind.": Cognitive and Affective Domains in Knowledge Creation and Sharing. In Harorimana D. and Watkins D. (eds.) ECKM 2008. Proceedings of 9th European Conference on Knowledge Management, Southampton, UK, 4-5 September 2008. Academic Conferences International: reading, pp 43-50, ISBN13: 978-1-906638-10-8.

Welch, C. and Alhamoudi, S.A. (2008). "The Challenge of Implementing Knowledge Management Strategy in a Public Sector Organisation in Saudi Arabia: Evaluating the Balanced Score Card as a Useful Tool," In Harorimana D. and Watkins D. (eds.) ECKM 2008. Proceedings of 9th European Conference on Knowledge Management, Southampton, UK, 4-5 September 2008. Academic Conferences International: reading, pp 43-50, ISBN13: 978-1-906638-10-8.

Other works

Strevens, C., Katos, V. and Welch, C (2005).  ‘eLegal Services and the Professional Legal  Practice.’ Proceedings of Society of Legal Scholars Conference, University of Strathclyde, 6-9 September 2005

Eglin, R., Bednar, P.M., Welch, C. and Bain, A. (2005). ‘Not avoiding the question ofcomplexity.’ The Systemist, Vol.27, 2005

Bednar, P and Welch, C (2006). ‘A method for contextual inquiry: some reflections.’ Proceedings of UK Systems Society International Conference, St Anne’s College, Oxford, 11-13 September 2006. Abstract only.

Bednar, P.M., Welch, C. and Katos, V. (2007). 'Innovation management through the use of diversity networks', Proceedings of 22nd European Conference on Operational Research: Knowledge, Learning and Innovation Management: Synergies and Opportunities, Prague, July 8-11, 2007.

Stowell, F., Welch, C. and Sice, P. (2007). 'Grand Challenges in Systems', Proceedings of UK Systems Society International Conference, St Anne's College, Oxford, 3-5 September 2007.