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Information Systems  ›  Faculty & Staff  ›  Savanid (Nui) Vatanasakdakul

Savanid (Nui) Vatanasakdakul

Teaching Professor, Information Systems

Bio

Dr. Savanid (Nui) Vatanasakdakul is a globally distinguished Full Teaching Professor of Information Systems at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q). With over 25 years of academic experience across Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and the United States, she is an award-winning educator, an internationally recognized researcher, and a strategic leader in digital innovation and entrepreneurship education.

Dr. Vatanasakdakul is renowned for her transformative teaching approach, which integrates experiential learning, interdisciplinary thinking, and glocal (global-local) perspectives. At CMU-Q, she leads the development of the Tech Entrepreneurship Minor, a first-of-its-kind program that empowers students to ideate, build, and pitch tech startups rooted in emerging technologies and artificial intelligence. Her startup course and final pitch day events have become institutional highlights, inspiring students across higher education to develop real-world solutions and explore entrepreneurial pathways in Qatar.

Her excellence in teaching has been recognized through multiple honors, most notably the Meritorious Teaching Award from Carnegie Mellon University in 2020—a lifetime distinction awarded to faculty who demonstrate sustained excellence in education. She also received the Teaching Excellence Award from Macquarie University in Australia, recognizing her innovative pedagogy and deep commitment to student learning across cultures and regions.

Beyond teaching, Dr. Vatanasakdakul is an active scholar in digital transformation, socio-cultural IT adoption, and tech entrepreneurship education. Her research has been published in leading academic journals and bridges theory with practical impact, particularly in emerging markets. She supervises undergraduate, master’s, and Ph.D. students, many of whom have transformed their academic work into entrepreneurial ventures and scholarly contributions.

She holds prominent leadership roles in the global Information Systems (IS) community, including:

  • Founding President of the Thailand Chapter of the Association for Information Systems (2021–present)
  • Past President of the Qatar Chapter of the Association for Information Systems (2022–2024)
  • Co-founder of the Special Interest Group on Green IS (SIGGreen) under the Association for Information Systems, serving on its committee for 10 years since its establishment in 2010
  • Research Track Chair in Green IS at the Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS) for over a decade

Dr. Vatanasakdakul also served as the Local Chair for ICIS 2024 (International Conference on Information Systems)—the most prestigious IS research conference organized by the Association for Information Systems—hosted in Bangkok. This marks the first time in 45 years that the conference is being held in the Southeast Asia region. In this role, she led efforts to connect global IS scholars with local Thai and Gulf-based innovators, including organizing a high-impact pre-ICIS workshop on artificial intelligence, supported by government and industry stakeholders. In recognition of her contributions, she received the Community Leader Award from the Association for Information Systems.

In addition to her academic leadership, Dr. Vatanasakdakul serves as an advisor to the Thai House of Representatives’ Committee on National AI Policy, contributing to strategic digital policymaking at the intersection of academia, government, and industry.

Dr. Vatanasakdakul holds the distinction of being the first Thai professor in Information Systems in both Australia and Qatar, and the second female professor to achieve Full Professorship at CMU-Q. With a cross-continental academic career, she exemplifies inclusive leadership, academic excellence, and global impact. Her work continues to inspire students, scholars, and policymakers committed to shaping the digital future.

Publications

Refereed Journal Articles

  • Vatanasakdakul, S., Aoun C., Putra, Y. (Accepted in 2019). Social Media in Micro Enterprises: Exploring Adoption in the Indonesian Retail Sector. Journal of Global Information Management
  • Aoun, C., Vatanasakdakul, S., Ang, C.S. (2018). Feedback for Thought: A Call for Learner Focused Reflective Practice, Studies in Higher Education: 43(1), pp. 72 to 95 (http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03075079.2016.1156665 – published online on 22 Mar 2016.)
  • Vatanasakdakul, S., Aoun, C., Chen, Y.  (2017). “Chasing Success: An Empirical Model for IT Governance Frameworks Adoption” Science Technology & Society Journal: 22 (2) (ISSN: 0971-7218, ISSN Online 0973-0796)
  • Blount, Y., Abedin, B., Vatanasakdakul, S., Erfani, S. (2016). Integrating ERP (SAP) in the Accounting Curriculum: A Systematic Literature Review and Case Study, Accounting Education: an International Journal. 25(2): 185-202
  • Vatanasakdakul, S., C. Aoun and Y. Chen (2013). "Effects of ERP Systems in China: Cultural Influences in the Manufacturing Industry " Journal of Information, Information Technology, and Organizations8: 41-66.
  • Preittigun, A., W. Chantatub and S. Vatanasakdakul (2012). "A Comparison between IT Governance Research and Concepts in COBIT 5." International Journal of Research in Management and Technology 2(6): 581-589.
  • Vatanasakdakul, S. and C. Aoun (2011). "Why don't accounting students like AIS?." International Journal of Educational Management 25(4): 328-342.
  • Vatanasakdakul, S., J. D'Ambra and P. Ramburuth (2010). "IT Doesn't Fit: The Influence of culture on B2B in Thailand "Journal of Global of Information Technology Management13(2): 10-38
  • Vatanasakdakul, S. and C. Aoun (2010). "Interorganisational Networks of Pressure and Influence: A Study of B2B in the Thai Tourism Industry." Journal of Information and Technology Research3(1): 13-27
  • Vatanasakdakul, S. and J. D’Ambra (2007). "A conceptual model for e-commerce adoption in developing countries: A task-technology fit perspective." International Journal of Information Technology and Management 6(2-4): 343 - 361.

Book

  • Vatanasakdakul, S. (2010), E-Commerce Diffusion in Thailand: The Culture-Fit Dimension, VDM Verlag Germany.

Book Chapters

  • Vatanasakdakul, S., Aoun C., Chantatub W., (accepted in 2018). Information Technology in Thailand: Promises and Challenges.
  • Vatanasakdakul, S., Tibben, W., & Cooper, J. (2006). What prevent B2B e-commerce adoption in developing countries?: A socio-cultural perspective. In E. Mrudula (Ed.), Cultural Framework and Challenges: Web Adoption and Practice. India Institute of Chartered Financial Analysis of India (ICFAI) University Press
  • Vatanasakdakul, S., Lee, E., & Cooper, J. (2004). The success strategies for hybrid business model: Needs for hybrid consumer research In M. Mendes, R. Suomi & C. Passos (Eds.), Digital communities in a networked society: eCommerce, eGovernment and eBusiness. USA: Kluwer Academic Publishers.
  • Vatanasakdakul, S., & Cooper, J. (2003). Socio cultural dimension on online services adoption for developing countries: If you build it, will they come? In C. Narciso & P. Bro (Eds.), Building society through e-commerce: e-government, e-business and e-learning. Chile: Guntenberg.
  • Vatanasakdakul, S., & Ramburuth, P. (2005). Managing across cultures: An Australian manager in Thailand. In P. Ramburuth & C. Welch (Eds.), Casebook in International Business: Australian and Asia Pacific Perspectives. Australia: Pearson.

Refereed Conference Proceedings

  • Vatanasakdakul, S., Aoun C., Putra, Y. (2019) “Connecting the Dots through Social Media: A Lifeline for Micro Enterprises”, Cancun, Mexico, August 14 to 17
  • Vatanasakdakul, S., Aoun C., Putra, Y. (2019) " Social Media Adoption Among Micro Enterprise in Indonesia ”, in the 4th International Conference on Information and Network Technologies (ICINT 2019), Kyoto, Japan, May 25-27
  • Stead, C., Vatanasakdakul, S., Aoun C. (2018) "Big data analytics capabilities for IFRS 9 success”, in the 26th European Conference on Information Systems (ECIS 2018), Portsmouth, United Kingdom, June 23 to 28
  • Ahad, T., Bush, P., Blount, Y., Vatanasakdakul, S. (2018) “Mobile based Information System Adoption: The Role of Perceived Empowerment Benefits" to the International  Business Information Management Conference (31st IBIMA) Milan, Italy, 25-26 April
  • Stead, C., Vatanasakdakul, S. (2017) “IFRS 9 (Financial Instruments) and the Heightened Demand for Big Data Governance. A Preliminary Literature Review”, Pacific Asia Conference of Information Systems, Langkawi, Malaysia 16-20 July
  • Taimur, A., Bush, P., Blount, Y., Vatanasakdakul, S. (2016) “Mobile phone enabled SCM: The Bangladeshi RMG sector”. The 28th International Business Information Management (IBIMA) Conference, Seville, Spain
  • Taimur, A., Bush, P., Blount, Y., Vatanasakdakul, S. (2016) “Empowering RMG workers: towards a Conceptual Framework”. The 28th International Business Information Management (IBIMA) Conference, Seville, Spain
  • Aoun, C., Vatanasakdakul, S. (2016). “Enabling Community Resilience A Context Specific Approach”, the SIGGreen Pre ICIS workshop in to be held in connection with the International Conference in Information Systems, Dublin
  • Aoun, C., Ang, K., and Vatanasakdakul, S. (2014). "Where is the Feedback! A Decomposition of Feedback Mechanisms in an Introductory Information Systems Course," the 20th Americas Conference of Information Systems - Smart Sustainability: the Information Systems Opportunity, Savannah, Georgia, 2014.
  • Aoun, C., Chew, E., and Vatanasakdakul, S. (2014). "Beyond Speculation: A Holistic Investigation into Factors Affecting Social Media Utilisation in the Workplace," the 20th Americas Conference of Information Systems - Smart Sustainability: the Information Systems Opportunity, Savannah, Georgia, 2014.
  • Ngoh, S., Vatanasakdakul, S., and Smith, S. (2014). "Smart Statements – An Analysis of Organizational Green Statements," in the 20th Americas Conference of Information Systems - Smart Sustainability: the Information Systems Opportunity: Savannah, Georgia, USA
  • Ngoh, S., Vatanasakdakul, S., and Smith, S. (2014). "Sustainable Symmetry: A Comparison of Institutional Green Statements," in the18th Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems- IT Ubiquitous and Collaborative Innovation, Chengdu, China 2014.
  • Chen, Y., Vatanasakdakul, S., and Aoun, C. (2013). "Governing IT: Factors Influencing the Success of IT Governance Frameworks Adoption in Australia," the 5th Annual Pre-ICIS Workshop on Accounting Information Systems in to be held in connection with the International Conference in Information Systems in, Milan, Italy,
  • Aoun, C. and S. Vatanasakdakul (2012). Social Media in the Workplace: Key Drivers for Inclusive Innovation. the 18th Americas Conference on Information Systems, Seattle, USA.
  • Zhong, X., S. Vatanasakdakul, C. Aoun (2012). Does culture matter? Cultural influences and IT governance integration mechanism. the 18th Americas Conference on Information Systems, Seattle, USA.
  • Zhong, X., S. Vatanasakdakul, C. Aoun (2012). IT Governance in China: Cultural Fit and IT Governance Capabilities the 16th of Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam.
  • Aoun, C., Vatanasakdakul, S., and Bunker, D. (2011) "From Cloud to Green: E-Collaboration for Environmental Conservation," the 9th IEEE International Conference on Dependable, Autonomic and Secure Computing, Sydney, Australia, pp. 1-8.  
  • Aoun, C., Vatanasakdakul, S., and Cecez-Kecmanovic, D. (2011) "Can IS Save the World? Collaborative Technologies for Eco-Mobilisation," the 22nd Australasian Conference on Information Systems, Sydney, Australia, pp. 1-10.
  • Aoun, C., Vatanasakdakul, S., and Chen, Y. "IT Governance Framework Adoption: Establishing Success Factors," Governance and Sustainability in Information Systems – Managing the Transfer and Diffusion of IT: International Federation for Information Processing WG 8.6 Conference Hamburg, Germany, 2011, pp. 239–248.
  • Richards, D., Marrone, M., and Vatanasakdakul, S. (2011) "What does an Information Systems Graduate need to know?:  A focus on Business Analysts and their role in sustainability," the 22nd Australasian Conference on Information Systems, Sydney, Australia, pp. 1-10.
  • Aoun, C., Vatanasakdakul, S. & Li, Y. (2010), AIS in Australia: UTAUT application & cultural implication, the proceedings of the 21st Australasian Conference on Information Systems, 1-3 December, Brisbane
  • Rai, P., Vatanasakdakul, S. & Aoun, C. (2010), Exploring perception of IT skills among Australian accountants: An alignment between importance and knowledge, the proceedings of the 16th Americas Conference of Information Systems, 12-15 August, Lima, Peru.
  • Aoun, C., & Vatanasakdakul, S. (2009). I Don't Like IT: Exploring challenges in accounting information systems education. Paper presented at the 15th Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS), San Francisco, USA.
  • Vatanasakdakul, S., & Aoun, C. (2009). Social structures, isomorphic pressures, and B2B utilisation in Thailand. Paper presented at the 42th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS42), Hawaii, USA.
  • Vatanasakdakul, S., Aoun, C., & Chen, Y. (2009). Made in China: ERP post-implementation performance in the Chinese manufacturing industry. Paper presented at the 15th Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS).
  • Vatanasakdakul, S. (2008). National culture's impact on B2B technology adoption in Thailand. Paper presented at the 14th Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS), Toronto, Canada.
  • Vatanasakdakul, S. (2008). Introducing cultural fit factors to investigate the appropriateness of B2B technology adoption to Thailand. Paper presented at the 21st Bled conference e-commerce on e-Global, Bled, Slovenia
  • Vatanasakdakul, S. (2006). Reshaping e-commerce in Thailand: An exploratory study of e-commerce adoption for business to business communication in the Thai tourism industry from a cultural fit perspective. Paper presented at the 17th Australasian Conference on Information Systems (ACIS), Adelaide, Australia.
  • Vatanasakdakul, S., & D'Ambra, J. (2006). An exploratory study of the socio-cultural impact on the adoption of e-commerce for firms in the tourism industry of Thailand. Paper presented at the 14th European Conference on Information System (ECIS), Goteborg, Sweden.
  • Vatanasakdakul, S., D'Ambra, J., & Ramburuth, P. (2006). Is B2B e-commerce technology appropriate for developing countries?: A proposed conceptual model to investigate B2B e-commerce adoption in developing countries from a strategic fit perspective. Paper presented at the Academy of World Business, Marketing & Management Development Conference, Paris, France.
  • Vatanasakdakul, S., Tibben, W., & Cooper, J. (2004). What prevent B2B e-commerce adoption in developing countries?: A socio-cultural perspective. Paper presented at the 17th Bled conference e-commerce on e-Global, Bled, Slovenia.
  • Vatanasakdakul, S., & Cooper, J. (2003). Socio-cultural dimensions on online services adoption for developing countries: If you build it, will they come? Paper presented at the Collaborative Electronic Commerce Technology and Research conference for Latin American (CollECTeR LatAm), Santiago, Chile.
  • Vatanasakdakul, S., Lee, E., & Cooper, J. (2003). The success strategies for hybrid business model: Needs for hybrid consumer research. Paper presented at the 3rd IFIP conference on e-commerce, e-business and e-government, Brazil.
  • Vatanasakdakul, S., Lee, E., & Cooper, J. (2003). Toward understanding hybrid consumer behaviour: A new approach to characterize hybrid consumer. Paper presented at the European Co-operation in the field of scientific and technical research on users aspect of ICTs: the good the bad and the irrelevant, Finland.
  • Vatanasakdakul, S., & Cooper, J. (2002). The needs for development of control assurance framework for e-business from the IT perspective. Paper presented at the 7th conference on Collaborative Electronic Commerce Technology and Research (CollECTeR), Melbourne, Australia. 
  • Vatanasakdakul, S., & Tibben, W. (2002). Some implications of knowledge management theory for e-business. Paper presented at the 7th conference on Collaborative Electronic Commerce Technology and Research (CollECTeR) Melbourne, Australia.