I requested and was granted sabbatical leave for the Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 semester due. My request included this summary of aims and objectives:
- I hope to visit RMIT University in Melbourne where, among other projects, I will collaborate with several colleagues on a study called “Blockchain Application Strategies” in which we will explore the potential opportunities and threats that emerging Blockchain technologies pose to business. The aim of the project is to develop a framework and a set of strategies to assist organizations and industry groups with Blockchain planning and implementation.
- I expected to publish three to four papers.
During the Fall semester I worked on a National Science Foundation (NSF) proposal with Keith Weber, Leslie Kerby, and Tom Baldwin titled "Harnessing Geospatial Data to Deliver Actionable Information." Unfortunately, the NSF decided to eliminate that line of funding at that time.
During the Spring semester I was able to visit Australia and meet with my research partners just before the COVID-19 outbreak.
- The project coordinator, Dr Arthur Adamopoulos, indicated that there had been some delays in ramping up the project primarily due to unexpected increases in workload.
- We had one project meeting before the COVID-19 outbreak, and in April 2020 the government directed all visitor visa holders to return to their home countries.
- No more work as done on the project as the COVID-19 pandemic triggered an unprecedented, rapid transition for Australian universities, with most institutions moving the majority of their courses online by late March 2020 to ensure continuity of education and safety.
After returning to the U.S., I collaborated on a study with Dr. Vlad Krotov, MSIS Program Director at the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems, Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business, Murray State University.
- The paper, "Using Scrum for Managing Group Projects in a Graduate Information Systems Course", was submitted to our discipline’s premier conference, America’s Conference on Information Systems but ultimately rejected.
Because COVID-19 impeded may of my research plans, I accepted a request to assist a start-up company, Crisis Strategy Organization, Inc., on the development of training materials for a unique multi-disciplinary approach to crisis management and business continuity.
- I was selected to develop content for crisis management and business continuity with respect to Information Technology.
In summary, my sabbatical milestones included the following:
- Participated in developing an NSF proposal, "Harnessing Geospatial Data to Deliver Actionable Information", for a solicitation that did not materialize.
- Had an initial meeting with my Australian research colleagues on the "Blockchain Application Strategies" project before COVID-19 banished international visitors from Australia.
- Developed and submitted "Using Scrum for Managing Group Projects in a Graduate Information Systems Course" to AMCIS 2020, but it was rejected
- Developed training materials for a start-up company with a focus on crisis management.