Summary

Dr Zeeshan Ahmed Bhatti is an Associate Professor in Information Systems Management in the School of Organisations, Systems, and People, and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). He leads and contributes to teaching across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, including the Digital Agility and Transformation and Publication and Dissemination modules.

With academic experience spanning multiple international contexts—Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, France, and the United Kingdom—his work reflects a global perspective on digital transformation and information systems. Before transitioning into academia in 2011, he built industry experience with leading multinational organisations, including Ericsson, Nortel Networks, and Siemens.

Biography

Dr Zeeshan Ahmed Bhatti holds an MS and PhD in Management Information Systems (MIS) from a joint doctoral programme delivered by IAE Aix-en-Provence, Aix-Marseille University, and ESSEC Business School, France. He also holds an MS in Engineering Management and a BS (Hons) in Computer Science.

Since entering academia in 2011, he has built an international academic career spanning Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, France, and the United Kingdom. Prior to this, he developed significant industry experience with leading multinational organisations, including Ericsson, Nortel Networks, and Siemens.

His work sits at the intersection of technology, organisations, and society, with a particular focus on digital transformation, emerging technologies, and online user behaviour. Drawing on both academic and industry perspectives, his research explores how technological strategy shapes business performance and how digital and social media technologies influence organisational practices and societal outcomes.

Research interests

Dr Zeeshan A. Bhatti’s research sits at the intersection of social theory and Information Systems Management, with a focus on understanding how digital technologies shape organisational practices and societal outcomes. His work has been published in leading international journals, including British Journal of Management, Personnel Psychology, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Industrial Marketing Management, Information Technology & People, Behaviour & Information Technology, Journal of Business Ethics, Journal of Knowledge Management, and IEEE Access. He also serves on the Editorial Board of Technological Forecasting and Social Change.

His research explores the interplay between digital technologies and society, with particular emphasis on online user behaviour, digital platforms, and the application of social theory to explain emerging behavioural and organisational phenomena.

He welcomes PhD candidates interested in online user behaviour, social media, and theory-driven research in digital contexts. He has previously led a research project funded by the British Academy and the Leverhulme Trust. He is also the Principal Investigator and Academic Supervisor for a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with PETA Corporation.

Teaching responsibilities

Dr Zeeshan Ahmed Bhatti has extensive international teaching experience, having been active in higher education since 2011. His academic career spans South Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, where he has held academic and visiting positions across diverse institutional and cultural contexts. This global exposure informs his teaching approach, enabling him to incorporate cross-cultural perspectives and develop inclusive, internationally relevant learning experiences.

In 2014, he joined King AbdulAziz University as an Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems, where he contributed to undergraduate, postgraduate, and Executive MBA teaching within AACSB- and EQUIS-accredited programmes. His teaching in these contexts has emphasised the application of digital and information systems knowledge to real-world organisational challenges.

He has delivered invited lectures and academic talks internationally across South Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Australia, and maintains an ongoing affiliation as visiting faculty at the IAE Graduate School of Management, Aix-Marseille University.

At the University of Portsmouth, he currently teaches and coordinates Digital Agility and Transformation (undergraduate) and Publication and Dissemination (postgraduate). His teaching is research-informed and practice-oriented, focusing on developing students’ critical thinking, digital competencies, and readiness for contemporary organisational and societal challenges.