Summary and Research Interests

Hej! I serve as an Assistant Professor in the Business IT Department of the IT University of Copenhagen since April 2017. In my current research, I study blockchain-enabled creative work on next generation social media platforms. In the past and ongoing, I studied emergent human practices in the context of digital innovation. I am generally interested in studying phenomena related to the design, development, and use of innovative information systems in organizations. I am open to many different research methodologies, but I am mostly familiar with qualitative research (interpretive field studies, interviews, coding, grounded theory) and design-oriented research.

Current Teaching Activities

Bachelor/Master Thesis

• I offer multiple thesis projects in the area of understanding and designing blockchain social networks. Contact me for further info!
• Blockchain technology is a not yet sufficiently understood enabler of large-scale societal and economic change. For instance, blockchain makes it possible for users to securely and profitably share content on social media platforms. The goal of this bachelor or master thesis project is to explore the potential and better understand the effects of Blockchain Social Networks. A Blockchain Social Network (BSN) can be defined as a decentralized social media platform that provides a reward mechanism for the creation, curation, and consumption of user-generated online content. Notable examples of BSNs include Steem, Synereo, Nexus, ReddCoin, Minds, InDorse, and Dock.
• Thesis projects can take a behavioral approach, a design-oriented approach, or a combination thereof. Broadly speaking, behavioral studies focus on the human element of information systems and the effects of IT usage, whereas design-oriented studies focus on engineering and development of advanced information systems to improve human or organizational capabilities. That is, thesis projects can focus on behavioral aspects of existing BSNs or design new (elements of) BSNs.

Open Office hours for students:

• Every Monday 13:00-14:00, or just book an appointment via mail.

Courses and Seminars:

• IT-Enabled Process Improvement, 15 ECTS, Spring, Bachelor in Global Business Informatics (GBI)
• Process Innovation, 15 ECTS, Autumn, Master in Digital Innovation Management (DIM)

Short CV

• since April 2017: Assistant Professor of Information Systems, Business IT Department, IT University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
• 2014-2017: Research Assistant and PhD Student at the Department of Informatics, University of Zurich. Dissertation topic: “Digital Innovation: People, Practices Tools”.
• 2012-2014: Master studies in Information Systems (Wirtschaftsinformatik) at University of Zurich. Doctoral Fast Track. Thesis topic: "Innovation Practices in the Software Industry". Graduated with summa cum laude. Besides, I worked as a Software Engineer (40-100%) at Avaloq in Zurich, Switzerland.
• 2008-2012: Bachelor studies in Information Systems (Wirtschaftsinformatik) at University of Hohenheim, University of Stuttgart, (Germany) and University of Bologna (Italy). Thesis Topic: "NegoWS - The Negotiation Support Web Service", awarded with the Alma Mater Stuttgart Award for Outstanding Bachelor Theses. Part-time working student at the Chair of Information Systems 1 (WI1), University of Hohenheim.
• Born and raised 1988 in Hechingen, Germany.

Selected Publications

Ciriello, R.F., Richter, A., Schwabe, G., 2017. From Process to Practice: Towards a Practice-Based Model of Digital Innovation. Full Paper, in: 38th International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS 2017). Seoul, South Korea.

Ciriello, R.F., Richter, A., Schwabe, G., 2017. When Prototyping Meets Storytelling. Practices and Malpractices in Innovating Software Firms. Full Paper, in: 39th International Conference on Software Engineering (ICSE 2017). Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Ciriello, R.F., Richter, A., 2015. Idea Hubs as Nexus of Collective Creativity in Digital Innovation. Full Paper, in: 36th International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS 2015). Fort Worth, USA.

Ciriello, R.F., Richter, A., Schwabe, G., 2015. PowerPoint Use and Misuse in Digital Innovation. Full Paper, in: 23nd European Conference on Information Systems (ECIS 2015). Münster, Germany.