About MIT Sloan

George F Westerman

Research Scientist
Center for Information Systems Research

Biography

George Westerman is a Research Scientist in MIT Sloan's Center for Information Systems Research (CISR) and faculty chair for the course IT for the Non-IT Executive. His research and teaching examine executive-level management challenges at the interface between information technology and business units, such as risk management, innovation, and the strategic role of IT.

His research on IT risk management resulted in the book IT Risk: Turning Business Threats into Competitive Advantage (HBS Press 2007, written with Richard Hunter). A paper from his current research on IT-Led Innovation earned the 2007 Best Paper award from the Society for Information Management. His work on IT capabilities and the role of the CIO (with Peter Weill) examines the drivers of CIO effectiveness and IT value from both the IT and Non-IT executive viewpoint.

Prior to earning his doctorate at Harvard Business School, George gained 15 years of experience in engineering and IT management. In addition to the 2007 book, his research has appeared in journals such as Organization Science, Industrial and Corporate Change, MIS Quarterly Executive and Sloan Management Review, as well as case studies, academic conferences and MIT Sloan CISR working papers.