Prof. Dr. Kai Spohrer

Personal Details

Kai Spohrer is Associate Professor of Information Systems. In his research, he applies qualitative and quantitative methods as well as design science to understand and shape the development and use of information systems. He is particularly interested in questions related to collaboration and coordination in information systems development, IT healthcare, and blockchain systems.

Digital transformations force organizations to develop and maintain innovative digital products and services. Thus, effectively managing these activities and supporting them with appropriate technology at various levels is crucial for organizational success. To support these goals, Kai Spohrer conducts research at several levels, ranging from psychological explanations of biased behavior in AI system users over team-level analyses of software development methods to investigations into the interactions of software architecture and organizational structure in development organizations. His research has appeared and is forthcoming in MIS Quarterly, Information Systems Research, Journal of Management Information Systems, IEEE Transactions of Software Engineering, and others.

Prior to joining FS, Kai Spohrer was Assistant Professor at the Business School of the University of Mannheim where he completed his habilitation on digital innovation in healthcare and the software industry, focusing particularly on agile development, design, and use of information systems. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Mannheim for his dissertation on collaborative quality assurance and team cognition in software development teams. Over the years, he has spent time as a student and visiting researcher at institutions such as the University of Arkansas, Washington State University, and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. He is a founding member and the director of content and media of the AIS special interest group “Advances in Sourcing”.