Professor Barney Tan
Head of School
- Ph.D., Information Systems, National University of Singapore, 2012
- B.Comp. (Hons), Information Systems, National University of Singapore, 2004
Business School
School of Information Systems and Technology Management
Barney is the Head of School and a Professor at the School of Information Systems and Technology Management (SISTM) of UNSW Business School. He graduated with a PhD in Information Systems from the National University of Singapore, and was formerly Professor of Strategic Information Systems and Deputy Head of the Discipline of Business Information Systems at The University of Sydney.
His research interests include strategic information systems, digital platforms and ecosystems, IT and sustainable development, IT management in the Asia-Pacific, and qualitative research.
Barney’s research has been published in MIS Quarterly, Information Systems Research, Journal of Association of Information Systems, and Information Systems Journal. He is also currently a Senior Editor at Information Systems Journal and Information Technology and People, as well as an Associate Editor at Information and Management and Internet Research.Ìý
Barney is an award-winning educator and research supervisor over his time at The University of Sydney, receiving a total of 22 awards in 11 years, including the Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association (SUPRA) Teacher of the Year award for 2019 and 2020, the SUPRA Supervisor of the Year award for 2019, 2020 and 2021, as well as the inaugural The University of Sydney Business School Dean’s Award for Teaching in 2019.
E-mail
Location
Rm 2096, Level 2, West Wing, Quadrangle Building E15
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
Hong Kong University Grants Committee General Research Fund (GRF) 2020-2022: ‘The Impact of Social Media on Digital Guanxi Formation in the Chinese Workplace’, Co-Investigator, HKD$475,617 (A$88,286)
The University of Sydney Business School Industry Partnership Grant 2017: ‘International Think Tank for Landlocked Developing Countries Research Development Project’, Chief Investigator, A$27,238
Zhejiang Gongshang University Strategic Research Grant 2016-2019: ‘Emerging Digital Commerce Platforms: Development Patterns and Usage Behavior, Principal Investigator, CNY$300,000 (A$60,535)
The University of Sydney Bridging Support Grant 2016: ‘Fostering Australia-China Trade: An Investigation of the Role of Digital Commerce’, Chief Investigator, A$10,000
The University of Sydney Bridging Support Grant 2015: ‘Engaging China through Digital Commerce: Implications for Australian Firms’, Chief Investigator, A$10,000
The University of Sydney Business School General Research and Industry Partnership Grant 2014: ‘Engaging China: Digital Commerce Strategies for Australian Businesses’, Chief Investigator, A$12,408
The University of Sydney Business School Research Grant 2011: ‘Strategies for Competing in the Chinese Electronic Commerce Market: Implications for Australian Firms’, Chief Investigator, A$14,327
- Supervisor of the Year, Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association, 2021
- Teacher of the Year, Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association, 2020
- Supervisor of the Year, Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association, 2020
- Business School Research Award Nomination, University of Sydney, 2020
- Dean’s Citation for Teaching, University of Sydney, Semester 1, 2020 (INFS3600 Business Information Systems in Practice)
- Dean’s Citation for Teaching, University of Sydney, Semester 2, 2019 (INFS3600 Business Information Systems in Practice)
- Dean’s Award for Teaching, University of Sydney, 2019
- Teacher of the Year, Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association, 2019
- Supervisor of the Year, Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association, 2019
- Dean’s Citation for Teaching, University of Sydney, Semester 1, 2019 (INFS7903 Qualitative Research Methods)
- Dean’s Citation for Teaching, University of Sydney, Semester 1, 2019 (INFS1000 Digital Business Innovation)
- Dean’s Citation for Teaching, University of Sydney, Intensive January, 2019 (INFS1000 Digital Business Innovation)
- Supervisor of the Year (Finalist), Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association, 2018
- Dean’s Citation for Teaching, University of Sydney, Semester 2, 2018 (INFS3080 Business Information Systems Project)
- Dean’s Citation for Teaching, University of Sydney, Semester 1, 2017 (INFS1000 Digital Business Innovation)
- Dean’s Citation for Teaching, University of Sydney, Summer School, 2017 (INFS1000 Digital Business Innovation)
- Business School Research Award Nomination, University of Sydney, 2016
- Dean’s Citation for Teaching, University of Sydney, Summer School, 2016 (INFS1000 Digital Business Innovation)
- Dean’s Citation for Teaching, University of Sydney, Semester 2, 2015 (INFS1000 Digital Business Innovation)
- Dean’s Citation for Teaching, University of Sydney, Summer School, 2015 (INFS1000 Digital Business Innovation)
- Dean’s Citation for Teaching, University of Sydney, Semester 2, 2014 (INFS1000 Digital Business Innovation)
- The University of Sydney Business School Teaching Award Nomination, University of Sydney, 2012
- The University of Sydney Business School Teaching Award Nomination, University of Sydney, 2011
- Dean’s Citation for Teaching, University of Sydney, Semester 1, 2011 (INFS2030 eCommerce Business Management)
- Research Achievement Award, National University of Singapore, 2011 – 2012
- Dean’s Graduate Research Excellence Award, National University of Singapore, 2009 – 2010
- President’s Graduate Fellowship, National University of Singapore, 2009 – 2010
- Research Achievement Award, National University of Singapore, 2008 – 2009
- Research Scholarship, National University of Singapore, 2006 – 2008
- Dean’s List, National University of Singapore, 2003 – 2004
Barney is deeply passionate about translational research that contributes toward sustainable development. As an engaged researcher, Barney is often asked to provide advisory and consultancy support to the organizations he has studied, including national governments through his work with the United Nations International Think Tank for Landlocked Developing Countries.
He has also been featured in technology-related articles in mainstream media outlets including ABC News, Business Insider, Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, News.com.au, The Australian Financial Review, CIO, and Bloomberg Businessweek.
His research expertise spans the following areas:
- Digital Platforms and Ecosystems
- Fintech
- Information Systems for Sustainable Development
- IT Trends and Developments in the Asia-Pacific (including China and ASEAN countries)
- Digital Transformation
- Qualitative IS Research
Barney’s past and current editorial roles include:
- Senior Editor, Information Systems Journal (2022 – Present)
- Senior Editor, Information Technology and People (2019 – Present)
- Associate Editor, Internet Research (2020 – Present)
- Associate Editor, Information Systems Journal (2017 – 2021)
- Associate Editor, Information and Management (2016 – Present)
- Associate Editor, Journal of Global Information Management (2016 – 2019)
- Editorial Board Member, Information Systems Research (2022 - Present)
- Editorial Board Member, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management (2017 – Present)
Financial Times ‘Defiant Chinese netizens skirt lockdown censorship using blockchain’, May 19, 2022, available at
The Australian ‘Investors warned about security of stablecoins’, May 5, 2022, available at
UNSW BusinessThink ‘Digital disruption: how can traditional businesses thrive?’, April 11, 2022, available at
Sydney Morning Herald ‘No pain, no gain? High-yielding crypto savings accounts come with considerable risks’, March 23, 2022, available at
UNSW BusinessThink ‘Sustainable crypto: solution to Bitcoin's environmental problem?’, March 22, 2022, available at
The Australian ‘Experts cautious about digital Australian currency’, January 12, 2022, available at
ABC News ‘Chinese activists lament the end of the last major US social media platform in China: LinkedIn’, October 22, 2021, available at
upstart ‘Confronting online gaming in the modern world’, October 20, 2021, available at
Life on Planet A ‘Episode 45: Cryptocurrency and Energy’, August 19, 2021, available at
Ticker News ‘Crypto chat: Amazon denies report, regulatory clarity’, July 29, 2021, available at
Business Insider Australia ‘Locked out of property and increasingly pessimistic about the future, some young Australians see crypto as a path to wealth’, July 27, 2021, available at
ABC News ‘Chinese internet giant introduces facial recognition technology in a bid to control underage gaming’, July 22, 2021, available at
Ticker News ‘Heightened scrutiny: what’s behind China’s big tech crackdown?’, July 14, 2021, available at
The Conversation ‘Facial recognition for gamers, app store bans for Didi: what’s behind China’s recent crackdown on big tech?’, July 14, 2021, available at
3AW News Talk ‘Why Millennials are 11 times more likely to invest in cryptocurrency than Baby Boomers’, May 14, 2021, available at
The New Daily ‘Elon Musk serves up another reminder of Bitcoin’s major flaws’, May 13, 2021, available at
ABC TripleJ Hack ‘Experts warn cryptocurrency hype is unsustainable’, May 6, 2021, available at
ABC TripleJ Hack ‘Young Aussies are turning to crypto investment to create wealth, but there's a dark side’, May 6, 2021, available at
ABC Radio National ‘Should young Australians invest in the 'hype-train' of Bitcoin?’, February 16, 2021, available at
Sydney Morning Herald ‘Rise of the teen traders: How 15-year-old Sam made $10,000 from bitcoin’, February 14, 2021, available at
The Australian ‘Mt Gox casts its shadow over bitcoin’, February 12, 2021, available at
Vice ‘Bitcoin Just Blew Up: Here’s What You Need to Know’, November 19, 2020, available at
Business Insider ‘Alibaba isn't looking to dominate in the Australian market – but it's here for other reasons’, June 24, 2019, available at
The Hans India ‘FinTech coordinator foresees boom for blockchain market’, July 13, 2018, available at
The Australian Financial Review ‘How Alibaba became the template for China’s unicorns’, June 5, 2017, available at
Sydney Business Insights ‘Entrepreneurship and China’s big three’, June 1, 2017, available at
News.com.au ‘Chinese tech companies that are changing the world’, October 28, 2016, available at
CIO ‘Alibaba Portal Opens Business Opportunities for Aussie Companies’, July 26, 2016, available at
In The Black ‘The $8 Billion Business Battle over your Pets’, April 1, 2016, available at
Bloomberg Business ‘The Secret of Taobao’s Success’, February 19, 2014, available at
Bloomberg Business ‘E-Commerce Gives a Lift to China's Rural Farmers’, February 14, 2014, available at
The Conversation ‘The Social Side of E-Commerce: Lessons from Rural China’, January 6, 2014, available at