Associate ProfessorToomas Tamm

My research centres on digital technologies and organisational decision-making, covering two closely interrelated themes: (1) strategic technology decisions and (2) digitalisation of organisational decision-making.

Theme 1: Strategic Technology Decisions

Strategic technology decisions were the first main research focus of my academic career, and I remain interested in this theme. My projects on this theme have mainly focused on how large and complex organisations make key decisions about their digital platforms and business applications, including the related decision processes, the main factors that affect such decisions, and good practices for improving the decision processes and outcomes.

Theme 2: Digitalisation of Organisational Decision-making

In recent years, I have shifted my research to a closely related theme—the digitalisation of organisational decision-making. My projects on this theme have mostly focused on the organisational use cases and benefits of business analytics and artificial intelligence (AI), and good practices for the adoption and use of these technologies.

Current Focus

Currently, my key research interests revolve around two key topics within Theme 2:

1. Digital technologies for creative and strategic decision-making. I am particularly interested how to best balance the strengths of humans and digital technology in these decision processes, and how to ensure that any digitalisation of these processes enhances (or at the very least maintains) job enjoyment and meaningfulness for people doing this work. The recent and rapid evolution of generative AI, in particular, raises many new opportunities for organisational use, but also many challenges and risks related to the nature of creative work, human agency, and oversight of such (semi-)automated processes.

2. Digital technologies for the environment and nature conservation. Following from my personal interest in nature, I have a special interest in how digital technologies can help support the environment and help the society to understand, connect with, enjoy, and look after nature. Within this topic, I am particularly interested in technology for wildlife and habitat conservation and keen to pursue projects focused on practical impact in close collaboration with environmental organisations and/or as part of interdisciplinary teams.