Roman Beck

Roman Beck

Teaching Interests

Dr. Roman Beck specializes in Information Systems education at graduate level, with particular emphasis on emerging financial technologies and digital transformation. His primary teaching portfolio encompasses Decentralized Finance, Service Science, Blockchain Economics, and Digital Business Strategies. At the executive level, he guides professionals through the development of decentralized business models. His doctoral instruction focuses on blockchain applications in business research and philosophy of science.

Research Interests

Dr. Roman Beck's research focuses on the transformative impact of emerging technologies on organizational structures and societal systems. His work examines how technological advancements are driving more decentralized and autonomous economic models. Specifically, his research investigates governance frameworks, mechanism design principles, and ethical considerations in decentralized systems. He has a particular interest in understanding value co-creation and value capture processes, with an emphasis on service delivery and system optimization.

Consulting/Practice Interests

Dr. Roman Beck bridges industry and innovation in digital transformation. As a managing director at a German office supplies company, he proved his business acumen before co-founding FinTech and blockchain startups in the US, Germany, and Denmark. He's advised Central Banks and government ministries on blockchain regulation, while having been convenor developing a blockchain governance standard for ISO, and ethical guidelines for blockchain systems on behalf of the European Union.

Bio

Dr. Roman Beck is the Chester B. Slade endowed chair at the Computer Information Systems Department at Bentley University. His research focuses on blockchain economics and distributed ledger technologies, examining their impact on economic systems and governance. He received an honorary doctorate from West University Timisoara in 2023 for his contributions to crypto and ledger research. Dr. Beck serves as senior editor for several leading information systems journals, including JAIS, MISQE, and BISE, while advising various corporate and government organizations.

Professional Memberships

  • Association for Information Systems 2003 - Present

    • Awards and Honors

  • 2023, Doctorate honoris causa, West University Timisoara
  • 2021, AIS Impact Award, Association for Information Systems

    • Publications

    Journal Articles

  • Gregory, R. W., Beck, R., Henfridsson, O., Yaraghi, N. (2024). Cooperation among strangers: Algorithmic enforcement of reciprocal exchange with blockchain-based smart contracts. Academy of Management Review.
  • Schwiderowski, J., Pedersen, A. B., Beck, R. (2024). Crypto tokens and token systems. Information Systems Frontiers, (26) 1 319-332.
  • Beck, R., Dibbern, J., Wiener, M. S. (2023). A Multi-Perspective Framework for Research on (Sustainable) Autonomous Systems. Business & Information Systems Engineering.
  • Schletz, M., Constant, A., Hsu, A., Schillebeeckx, S., Beck, R., Wainstein, M. (2023). Blockchain and regenerative finance: charting a path toward regeneration. Frontiers in Blockchain, (6) 1165133.
  • Beck, R., Dibbern, J., Wiener, M. S. (2023). Correction to: A Multi-Perspective Framework for Research on (Sustainable) Autonomous Systems. Business & Information Systems Engineering.
  • Schwiderowski, J., Pedersen, A. B., Jensen, J. K., Beck, R. (2023). Value creation and capture in decentralized finance markets: Non-fungible tokens as a class of digital assets. Electronic Markets, (33) 1 45.
  • Beck, R., Dibbern, J., Wiener, M. S. (2022). A multi-perspective framework for research on (sustainable) autonomous systems. Business & Information Systems Engineering, (64) 3 265-273.
  • Beck, R., Dibbern, J., Wiener, M. S. (2022). Interview with Peter Mertens and Wolfgang Koenig: “From Reasonable Automation to (Sustainable) Autonomous Systems”. Business & Information Systems Engineering, (64) 3 311-315.
  • Kranz, J., Zeiss, R., Beck, R., Gholami, R., Sarker, S., Watson, R. T., Whitley, E. A. (2022). Practicing what we preach? Reflections on more sustainable and responsible IS research and teaching practices. Communications of the Association for Information Systems, (51) 1 557-580.
  • Joergensen, K., Beck, R. (2022). Universal wallets. Business & Information Systems Engineering.
  • Buettgen, M., Dicenta, J., Spohrer, K., Venkatesh, V., Raman, R., Hoehle, H., De Keyser, A., Verbeeck, C., Zwienenberg, T. J., Beck, R., Joergensen, K. (2021). Blockchain in service management and service research-developing a research agenda and managerial implications. Journal of Service Management Research, (5) 2 71-102.
  • Kochupillai, M., Gallersdoerfer, U., Koeninger, J., Beck, R. (2021). Incentivizing research \& innovation with agrobiodiversity conserved in situ: Possibilities and limitations of a blockchain-based solution. Journal of Cleaner Production, (309) 127155.
  • Sunyaev, A., Kannengie\sser, Niclas, ., Beck, R., Treiblmaier, H., Lacity, M., Kranz, J., Fridgen, G., Spankowski, U., Luckow, Andr\'e, . (2021). Token economy. Business \& Information Systems Engineering, (63) 4 457--478.
  • Pedersen, A. B., Risius, M., Beck, R. (2019). A ten-step decision path to determine when to use blockchain technologies. MIS Quarterly Executive, (18) 2 99--115.
  • Rossi, M., Mueller-Bloch, C., Thatcher, J. B., Beck, R. (2019). Blockchain research in information systems: Current trends and an inclusive future research agenda. Journal of the Association for Information Systems, (20) 9 14.
  • Beck, R. (2018). Beyond bitcoin: The rise of blockchain world. Computer, (51) 2 54--58.
  • Alt, R., Beck, R., Smits, M. T. (2018). FinTech and the transformation of the financial industry. Electronic markets, (28) 235--243.
  • Beck, R., Mueller-Bloch, C., King, J. L. (2018). Governance in the blockchain economy: A framework and research agenda. Journal of the Association for Information Systems, (19) 10 1.
  • Tremblay, M., VanderMeer, D., Beck, R. (2018). The effects of the quantification of faculty productivity: perspectives from the design science research community. Communications of the Association for Information Systems, (43) 625--661.
  • Beck, R., Avital, M., Rossi, M., Thatcher, J. B. (2017). Blockchain technology in business and information systems research. Business & Information Systems Engineering, (59) 381-384.
  • Niederman, F., Clarke, R., Applegate, L., King, J. L., Beck, R., Majchrzak, A. (2017). IS research and policy: Notes from the 2015 ICIS Senior Scholar’s Forum. Communications of the Association for Information Systems, (40) 1 5.
  • Dernbecher, S., Beck, R. (2017). The concept of mindfulness in information systems research: A multi-dimensional analysis. European Journal of Information Systems, (26) 2 121--142.
  • Beck, R., Pahlke, I., Vykoukal, J. (2016). Colocation as a hybrid ICT sourcing strategy to improve operational agility. ACM SIGMIS Database: the DATABASE for Advances in Information Systems, (47) 2 9--35.
  • Risius, M., Akolk, F., Beck, R. (2016). Mit Social-Media-Stimmungen B\"orsenkursbewegungen vorhersagen. Wirtschaftsinformatik \& Management, (8) 3 74--84.
  • Benthaus, J., Risius, M., Beck, R. (2016). Social media management strategies for organizational impression management and their effect on public perception. Journal of Strategic Information Systems, (25) 2 127--139.
  • Risius, M., Beck, R. (2015). Effectiveness of corporate social media activities in increasing relational outcomes. Information \& Management, (52) 7 824--839.
  • Beck, R., Gregory, R. W., Marschollek, O. (2015). The interplay of institutional logics in IT public-private partnerships. ACM SIGMIS Database: the DATABASE for Advances in Information Systems, (46) 1 24--38.
  • Beck, R., Pahlke, I. (2014). Knowledge Exchange and Symbolic Action in Social Media-Enabled Electronic Networks of Practice: A Multilevel Perspective on Knowledge Seekers and Contributors. MIS Quarterly, (38) 4 1245--1269.
  • Zickert, F., Beck, R. (2013). A mapping model for assessing project effort from requirements. Information Systems and e-Business Management, (11) 377--401.
  • Seebach, C., Beck, R., Denisova, O. (2013). Analyzing social media for corporate reputation management: How firms can improve business agility. International Journal of Business Intelligence Research (IJBIR), (4) 3 50--66.
  • Gregory, R. W., Beck, R., Keil, M. (2013). Control balancing in information systems development offshoring projects. Mis Quarterly. 1211--1232.
  • Beck, R., Weber, S. (2013). Enhancing IT artifact construction with explanatory and predictive knowledge in design science research. Journal of Information Technology Case and Application Research, (15) 1 4--18.
  • Beck, R., Weber, S., Gregory, R. W. (2013). Theory-generating design science research. Information Systems Frontiers, (15) 637--651.
  • Marschollek, O., Beck, R. (2012). Alignment of divergent organizational cultures in IT public-private partnerships. Business \& Information Systems Engineering, (4) 153--162.
  • Beck, R., Schott, K. (2012). Das Zusammenspiel von Projektsteuerung und interorganisationalem Lernen und dessen Effekt auf kulturelle Unterschiede in globalen ISE-Outsourcing-Projekten mit mehreren Dienstleistern. Wirtschaftsinformatik, (4) 54 177--187.
  • Marschollek, O., Beck, R. (2012). Harmonisierung divergierender organisationaler Kulturen in \"offentlich-privaten IT-Partnerschaften. Wirtschaftsinformatik, (3) 54 153--163.
  • Wolf, M., Beck, R., Pahlke, I. (2012). Mindfully resisting the bandwagon: reconceptualising IT innovation assimilation in highly turbulent environments. Journal of Information Technology, (27) 3 213--235.
  • Beck, R., Schott, K. (2012). The interplay of project control and interorganizational learning: mitigating effects on cultural differences in global, multisource ISD outsourcing projects. Business \& Information Systems Engineering, (4) 183--192.
  • Zickert, F., Beck, R. (2011). Coping with existing systems in information systems development. IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, (38) 5 1027--1039.
  • Beck, R., Schott, K., Gregory, R. W. (2011). Mindful management practices in global multivendor ISD outsourcing projects. Scandinavian Journal of Information Systems, (23) 2 1.
  • Zickert, F., Beck, R. (2010). Because Effort Matters! Ein Zuordnungsmodell zur Bewertung des Projektaufwands im Requirements Engineering. Wirtschaftsinformatik, (52) 161--171.
  • Pahlke, I., Beck, R., Wolf, M. (2010). Enterprise mashup systems as platform for situational applications: Benefits and challenges in the business domain. Business \& Information Systems Engineering, (2) 305--315.
  • Beck, R., Marschollek, O., Gregory, R. W. (2010). Establishing preconditions for spanning the boundaries in public private IT megaprojects. International Journal of Information Technology Project Management (IJITPM), (1) 4 20--37.
  • Vykoukal, J., Wolf, M., Beck, R. (2009). Does green IT matter? Analysis of the relationship between green IT and grid technology from a resource-based view perspective. PACIS. 51.
  • Vykoukal, J., Wolf, M., Beck, R. (2009). Services grids in industry--on-demand provisioning and allocation of grid-based business services. Wirtschaftsinformatik, (51) 206--214.
  • Gregory, R., Prifling, M., Beck, R. (2009). The role of cultural intelligence for the emergence of negotiated culture in IT offshore outsourcing projects. Information Technology & People, (22) 3 223--241.
  • Beck, R., Gregory, R., Prifling, M. (2008). Cultural intelligence and project management interplay in IT offshore outsourcing projects. . 44.
  • Beck, R. (2008). Designing reputation and trust management systems. Journal of Electronic Commerce in Organizations (JECO), (6) 4 8--29.
  • Beck, R., Schwind, M., Hinz, O. (2008). Grid economics in departmentalized enterprises. Journal of Grid Computing, (6) 277--290.
  • Beck, R., Beimborn, D., Weitzel, T., Koenig, W. (2008). Network effects as drivers of individual technology adoption: Analyzing adoption and diffusion of mobile communication services. Information Systems Frontiers, (10) 415--429.
  • Beck, R., Franke, J., Koenig, W. (2007). Globalization and diffusion of e-business: two sides of the same medal. Systemes d'Information et Management, (12) 2 7.
  • Andersen, K. V., Beck, R., Wigand, R. T., Bjoern-Andersen, N., Brousseau, E. (2005). European e-commerce policies in the pioneering days, the gold rush and the post-hype era. Information Polity, (9) 3-4 217-232.
  • Beck, R., Wigand, R. T., Koenig, W. (2005). Integration of e-commerce by SMEs in the manufacturing sector: a data envelopment analysis approach. Journal of Global Information Management (JGIM), (13) 3 20--32.
  • Beck, R., Weitzel, T. (2005). Some economics of vertical standards: integrating SMEs in EDI supply chains. Electronic Markets, (15) 4 313--322.
  • Beck, R., Wigand, R. T., Koenig, W. (2005). The diffusion and efficient use of electronic commerce among small and medium-sized enterprises: an international three-industry survey. Electronic Markets, (15) 1 38--52.

    Book Chapters

  • Beck, R. (2017). Technology-driven changes in the economy In , (Eds.) The Routledge Companion to Management Information Systems. 481--489. Routledge
  • Beck, R. (2014). ‘Looking for trouble’in global information systems development and new product development outsourcing projects In , (Eds.) Innovation and IT in an International Context: R\&D strategy and operations. 236--248. Palgrave Macmillan UK London

    • Cases

    Abdallah, R., Di Maggio, M., Beck, R. (2024). Beyond Borders with Blockchain - Deloitte's Digital VisionHarvard Business School Case. Applegate, L. M., Beck, R., Mueller-Bloch, C. (2017). Deutsche Bank: Pursuing Blockchain Opportunities (A)Harvard Business School Case. Applegate, L. M., Beck, R., Mueller-Bloch, C. (2017). Deutsche Bank: Pursuing Blockchain Opportunities (B)Harvard Business School Case.

    Conference Proceedings

  • Varys, B.Beck, R.Marabelli, M.Duane, J. E. (2024). The Politics of Blockchain: Power Dynamics in Decentralized Systems , (2024) 1 12840.
  • Beck, R.Schletz, M.Baggio, A.Gentile, L. (2023). Distributed Ledger Technology for Collective Environmental Market Action .
  • Agerskov, S.Pedersen, A. B.Beck, R. (2023). Ethical Guidelines for Blockchain Systems. .
  • Henry, T.Beck, R.Laga, N.Gaaloul, W.Pan, S. (2022). Decentralized procurement mechanisms for efficient logistics services mapping-a design science research approach .
  • Kernahan, A.Bernskov, U.Beck, R. (2021). Blockchain out of the Box-Where is the Blockchain in Blockchain-as-a-Service? .
  • Henry, T.Laga, N.Hatin, J.Beck, R.Gaaloul, W. (2021). Hire me fairly: towards dynamic resource-binding with smart contracts . 407--412.
  • Kranz, J.Zeiss, R.Beck, R.Gholami, R.Sarker, S.Watson, R. T.Whitley, E. A. (2020). Practicing what we preach? Reflecting on environmental sustainable research practices of the IS community .
  • Radonic, N.Kildetoft, M. B.Beck, R. (2020). Using blockchain to sustainably manage containers in international shipping . 1446.
  • Eklund, P. W.Beck, R. (2019). Factors that impact blockchain scalability . 126--133.
  • Hyv\"arinen, Hissu, .Beck, R. (2019). Fear and loathing in Boston: the roles of different emotions in information sharing on social media following a terror attack .
  • Hyv\"arinen, Hissu, .Beck, R. (2019). How emotions unfold in online discussions after a terror attack .
  • Ciriello, R.Beck, R.Thatcher, J. (2018). The paradoxical effects of blockchain technology on social networking practices .
  • Mukkamala, A. M.Beck, R. (2018). The role of social media for collective behaviour development in response to natural disasters .
  • Wunderlich, N.Beck, R. (2017). 25 years of CIO and IT leadership--Revisiting managerial roles in information systems research .
  • N\aerland, K.M\"uller-Bloch, C.Beck, R.Palmund, S. (2017). Blockchain to rule the waves-nascent design principles for reducing risk and uncertainty in decentralized environments .
  • Mukkamala, A. M.Beck, R. (2017). Presence of social presence during disasters .
  • Mukkamala, A.Beck, R. (2017). Social media for disaster situations: Methods, opportunities and challenges . 1--9.
  • Mukkamala, A. M.Beck, R. (2017). The Development of a Temporal Information Dictionary for Social Media Analytics .
  • Wunderlich, N.Beck, R. (2017). Time for Climate Change: Leadership, IT Climate, and their Impact on Organizational Performance . 5037--5046.
  • Wunderlich, N.Beck, R. (2017). We've got the power-the relevance of IT leadership and organizational IT capabilities in the fully digitized business era .
  • Beck, R.Czepluch, J. S.Lollike, N.Malone, S. (2016). Blockchain--the gateway to trust-free cryptographic transactions . 1--14.
  • Mukkamala, A.Beck, R. (2016). Disaster management and social media use for decision making by humanitarian organizations . 1379--1385.
  • Mukkamala, A. M.Beck, R. (2016). Enhancing Disaster Management Through Social Media Analytics To Develop Situation Awareness: What Can Be Learned From Twitter Messages About Hurricane Sandy? .
  • Risius, M.Beck, R. (2014). You reap what you sow? How knowledge exchange effectiveness is affected by different types of communication in enterprise social media . 540--549.
  • Dernbecher, S.Beck, R.Toenker, M. (2013). Cloudifying Desktops-A Taxonomy for Desktop Virtualization. .
  • Dernbecher, S.Beck, R.Weber, S. (2013). Does Cloud Computing Matter? An Analysis of the Cloud Model Software-as-a-Service and its Impact on Operational Agility .
  • Fremdt, S.Beck, R.Weber, S. (2013). Does cloud computing matter? An analysis of the cloud model software-as-a-service and its impact on operational agility . 1025--1034.
  • Benthaus, J.Pahlke, I.Beck, R.Seebach, C. (2013). Improving sensing and seizing capabilities of a firm by measuring corporate reputation based on social media data .
  • Weber, S.Beck, R.Gregory, R. W. (2012). Combining Design Science and Design Research Perspectives--Findings of Three Prototyping Projects . 4092--4101.
  • Weber, S.Beck, R. (2011). How IT-Based Co-creation Can Provide Small Banks Access to the Financial Market--A Prototype Development from a Design Science Research Perspective . 321--334.
  • Zickert, F.Beck, R. (2010). Assessing project effort in requirements engineering: a report on design research in progress . 490--505.
  • Schott, K.Beck, R.Gregory, R. (2010). Conflict as Manifestation of Culture in Global IS Outsourcing Relationships .
  • Weber, S.Beck, R.Gregory, R. (2010). Design science in research cooperations with the industry: findings from three prototyping projects . 534--537.
  • Weber, S.Beck, R.Wolf, M.Vykoukal, J. (2010). Portfolio performance measurement based on service-oriented grid computing: Developing a prototype from a design science perspective . 1--10.
  • Wolf, M.Vykoukal, J.Beck, R. (2010). Services Grid Competence As Driver of Business Agility in Turbulent Environments-A Conceptual Model in the Financial Services Industry . 1--10.
  • Gregory, R.Beck, R.Prifling, M. (2009). Breaching the knowledge transfer blockade in IT offshore outsourcing projects-A case from the financial services industry . 1--10.
  • Prifling, M.Gregory, R.Beck, R. (2009). Changing psychological contracts and their effect on control modes in IT offshore outsourcing projects-A case from the financial services industry . 1--10.
  • Wolf, M.Vykoukal, J.Beck, R. (2009). Impact of Services Grid Assimilation on the Level of Business Agility .
  • Hinz, O.Schwind, M.Beck, R. (2008). Grid Computing in Extreme Situations: Reducing Costs and Creating Resilience for IT In-frastructures .
  • Beck, R.Beimborn, D. (2008). The Impact of Direct and Indirect Network Effects on the Diffusion of Communication Standards . 309--309.
  • Schwind, M.Hinz, O.Beck, R. (2007). A cost-based multi-unit resource auction for service-oriented grid computing . 137--144.
  • Beck, R.Franke, J. (2007). Automating Customer Complaints Management through Trust Accounts .
  • Beck, R.Franke, J.K\"onig, Wolfgang, .Wigand, R. T. (2005). Globalization and e-business application adoption and usage: comparing Germany in a global context .
  • Beck, R.Beimborn, D.Weitzel, T. (2003). The German mobile standards battle . 10--pp.