Dr Emma Forsgren

Profile

Dr Emma Forsgren is a Lecturer in Information Management at Leeds University Business School, and holds a doctorate from University of Borås, Sweden, since 2018. Her research broadly seeks to understand the interrelationship between new digital technologies, people and their work practices, with a particular focus on how information is managed and used.

Emma’s earlier studies were in the area of information architecture with a focus on the role of information systems in organisations and ways to evaluate and improve digital and physical information environments. Before joining the University of Leeds, Emma taught on the MSc in Strategic Information and Communication at University of Borås, Sweden. There, she applied a strategic perspective to the importance of effective and efficient information and communication processes in order to achieve organisational objectives.

Throughout her academic work, Emma has enjoyed engaging with industry partners and has managed networks and collaboration between academics and business representatives. Currently, she manages the Advisory Board for the MSc Information systems and Information Management, which includes organisations such as Ericsson and BT (telecommunications), ITV and UKTV (creative industries), West Yorkshire Police and the Home Office (public sector), First Direct and Lloyds Bank (UK banks), Cloud2 and IBM (cloud service providers), and Thales (aerospace, defence, transportation and security markets).

Emma has supervised and examined student dissertations at both undergraduate and postgraduate level (including MBA). This also involves experience of supervising dissertation projects online as part of the MSc Strategic Information and Communication, University of Borås. Many of the dissertation projects have been conducted in close collaboration with businesses. 

Since autumn 2019, Emma has taken on the responsibility of Programme Director for the MSc Information Systems and Information Management. She is also an active member of the Adaptation Information Management and Technology (AIMTech) research centre.

Responsibilities

• Programme Director for the MSc in Information Systems and Information Management
• Managing the Advisory Board for the MSc in Information Systems and Information Management

Research interests

Emma’s research broadly seeks to understand the interrelationship between emerging, digital technologies, people and their work practices in a variety of contexts. In particular, she is interested in the impact of technologies on information related activities such as information sharing, collaboration and co-creation. Her PhD studied enterprise social media in software development, and how these platforms can support information sharing and ambient awareness in flat and agile businesses. To explore the role of technology in the workplace, Emma applies holistic, relational and critical theories and frameworks.

Emma conducts research in both the private and public sectors. One of her current interdisciplinary projects focuses on the Creative Industries where she, working closely with industry partners, is exploring the impact of digital transformation on media and broadcasting organisations in Leeds. In addition, she is part of a series of projects investigating how digital technologies are impacting British policing. Emma is co-leading the strand that explores the adaptation process of social media into established police practices and the contradictions and tensions that emerge in a hierarchal organisational context.

For potential PhD students – Emma is interested in supervising PhD students within the fields of Information Systems and Information Management. Topics include but are not limited to:

• Social media/social media analytics in organisations 
• Critical perspectives on social media (e.g. ethics and privacy, information overload, technostress, commodification of social media data and behaviour)
• Digital transformation and organisational change 
• Software development and collaborative platforms 
• New technologies and future ways of working 

If you would like to discuss your project idea further or have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch: e.forsgren@leeds.ac.uk 

Qualifications

• PhD, Information Management, University of Borås, Sweden

Professional memberships

• Association for Information Systems

Student education

Emma has teaching experience from both Swedish and English Higher Education and has designed a range of modules and related teaching material delivered both on campus and online in distance education programmes. In short, many of the topics she teaches relate to digitisation and how this influences the management of information in workplaces and new ways of working. Part of this involves new technologies, such as social media, mobile technologies, cloud computing, big data, artificial intelligence and autonomous technology. However, technology is not the only aspect that is important to consider, therefore Emma makes an explicit effort in her lectures and seminars to frame the technological development in relation to people, practices and processes in organisations, and the wider society. She also make sure students’ learning includes critical perspectives where positive outlooks on future digital development is contrasted with challenges and issues that may emerge.

Research groups and institutes

• Adaptation Information Management and Technology