AIS recognizes the impact of information systems research beyond academia. Impactful research is rewarding and the ability to be impactful is attracting talent to the discipline. Within and beyond our own community, multiple initiatives seek to encourage us to pursue research with societal and economic value. Increasingly, however, impact is also a hallmark of research excellence in the view of accreditation, evaluation, and funding programs, making impact and individuals with impactful research a valuable resource to any institution.

The AIS Impact Award recognizes information systems research with proven impact on practice in business and society. Therefore, the key criterion for this Award is the provision of evidence that research outputs (papers) have led to outcomes and actual impact.

The assessment of the academic quality of the work is considered secondary to the degree to which it has had impact. Awardees can be individuals or groups of collaborating researchers. The award ceremony will be conducted at the International Conference of Information Systems (ICIS). 

To view past AIS Impact Award winners, please visit the AIS history website.  

AIS Impact Award Committee 

The AIS Impact Award committee is comprised of AIS members as established in the Council Policy Manual.

Current committee members include:

• Chair: Michael Rosemann, Queensland University of Technology
• Christine Legner, University of Lausanne
• Carina Kemp, Amazon Web Services
• Ravi Mahamuni, TCS
• Marko Nöhren, Google
• Arun Rai, Georgia State University
• Christina Soh, Nanyang Technological University
• Michael Barrett, University of Cambridge

Eligibility

Individuals that are members of AIS or single sets of collaborators of which at least one person is a member of AIS can be nominated for the award. Self-nomination is permitted. None of the nominees should have received the AIS Impact award within five years prior to the nomination.

Criteria

The criteria for selecting the awardee(s) are (1) grounding in IS research, (2) demonstrated causal effects between this research and a form of impact, and (3) the depth (e.g., single design guideline versus comprehensive policy) and breadth (e.g., size of community that benefitted) of this impact. More recent impact (e.g., within the last three years) or long lasting, continuing impact is regarded favorably.

We will look for evidence of impact in one or more of the following seven areas as depicted in this figure while underlining that this is not an exhaustive or exclusive list.

We encourage nominations in all stages of an individual’s career.

Procedure

There is a two-step process for nominations. In the first step and no later than 21 October, a completed nomination form is required providing the following information:

1. the name(s) of the person or set of collaborators responsible for the contribution

2. reference(s) to the underpinning peer-reviewed research

3. a brief summary of the basis of impact (e.g., construct, model, method, software or other form of instantiation, etc.)

4. a classification of the type of impact and a brief description of the impact itself as well as an inclusion of evidence of the impact claimed

5. a description of the stakeholders or community that has benefitted from this research

6. the nature of the contribution made by the person or group being nominated as part of the overall impact

In the second step, the AIS Impact Award Committee will determine a short list of potential awardees by 29 October. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide additional information by 17 November. Additional information may be requested to better understand the precise nature of an individual's contribution and the impact, including quantitative measures, testimonials, or other forms of evidence from benefactors of this research.

Download the AIS Impact Award 2025 Nomination Form here.