Professor Omar Al-Tabbaa elected to the Fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences
Professor Omar Al-Tabbaa has been elected to the Fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences.
The Academy of Social Sciences is the national academy of academics, practitioners and learned societies in the social sciences. New Fellows are elected for their significant contributions to social science. Their work highlights the vital role of the social sciences in understanding and helping to address some of the complex societal challenges facing the UK and the world today. As well as excellence in research and the professional application of social science, the new Fellows have also made substantial contributions beyond academia, including in policy, public service, industry and civil society.
Professor Al-Tabbaa, Professor of International Business and Strategy, and Director of Research and Innovation for the School’s International Business Department, is a distinguished researcher in digital strategy, international business, and research methods, where he has published tens of academic papers, chapters, invited case studies, and industrial reports.
His research examines digitalisation as a socio-technical process, asking how smart technologies reshape the way organisations create value within and across borders. He also researches business model innovation and the dynamics of inter-organisational relationships in a range of settings, including SME alliances, digital platforms, university-industry collaboration, global value chains, and cross-sector partnerships. Much of his empirical work is set in developing and unstable economies.
His scholarly contributions have been featured in prestigious journals, including Research Policy, Global Strategy Journal, Journal of the Association for Information systems, Journal of Product Innovation Management, British Journal of Management, among others. Reflecting the reach and impact of this work, his research has received more than 5,300 citations on Google Scholar and over 110,000 downloads on ResearchGate.
Professor Al-Tabbaa commented: “I was genuinely touched to hear that I had been elected to the Fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences. I have always seen research as something built with others, and this recognition brings to mind the many co-authors, doctoral students and industry partners I have had the privilege of working with over the years and across different countries. Much of my own research is about collaboration, so that makes this recognition feel especially meaningful. I am also very proud to represent Leeds University Business School in the Academy”.
President of the Academy, Will Hutton FAcSS, said, “Our newest Fellows represent some of the most influential voices in social science today. Their work is expanding knowledge, challenging assumptions and generating insights that are informing and even redefining decision making across government, business, education and civil society. I am delighted to welcome them to the Academy and look forward to working with them to raise the profile and impact of the social sciences across the UK and beyond.”
