Sharon Cox

Professor of Computing

School of Computing and Digital Technology - CDT

Professor Sharon Cox’s research in information systems and information management is based on her industrial experience. While developing the corporate data model at Jaguar Cars, Sharon was offered a fully funded studentship from Aston University to embark on doctoral research. Her research focused on developing models to explore the information and information systems needed by organisations to achieve their strategic objectives. With an established industry background, Sharon was committed to engaging in research that had direct practical benefits to industry. She therefore undertook action research with a number of organizations in the manufacturing, construction and motorsport industries. This resulted in the development of the Information Systems Development Aligned with Business Strategy (ISDABS) methodology.

Sharon joined the University in 1995 and was keen to maintain links with industry. She therefore completed a four year part-time secondment to Britvic Soft Drinks in the role of Corporate Data Manager. In this role she developed and implemented strategies, policies and processes to improve management of the organisation’s data resource. This included addressing the data management challenges of collaborative e-business systems in the supply chain. Sharon has continued to work with industry through research, consultancy and knowledge transfer partnership projects.

Prior to receiving a research Professorship, Sharon was awarded a University Teaching Fellowship for her innovations in the learning and teaching of postgraduate research methods. Sharon supports the development of research in the School as a means to enhance the design and delivery of the curriculum. The School focuses on applied research that has direct benefits to industry and ensures graduates are aware of the latest techniques in their specialist areas.

Current Activity

Professor Sharon Cox is a Professor of Information Systems. Her research interests focus on how to manage information and how to understand the context which transforms data to meaningful information. Sharon’s recent book, ‘Managing Information in Organizations: A Practical Guide to Implementing an Information Strategy’, discusses common problems in organisations (such as conflicting information and information overload) and offers practical guidance on how to address the problems and avoid the problems reoccurring. Sharon has developed an approach to formulating and implementing an information management strategy that is outlined in her book.

As information only has meaning in context, Sharon has developed an organisational architecture to explore the context of organisations and a context-box model to determine the information needed to develop intelligent information systems. These models are currently being tested and refined in a number of applications including a live case study (www.blackcountrygifts.co.uk), energy management and audio-visual analysis of CCTV security recordings.

Sharon has worked on a number of funded research projects, including the European-funded project EPIC: European Platform for Intelligent Cities. The project created a platform to enable smart cities to learn from one another and exchange practical information models in a real-life context.

Sharon has published in a number of areas, exploring approaches to understand information management in different contexts including:

• Strategic information systems planning - Sharon developed the Information Systems Development Aligned with Business Strategy (ISDABS) methodology to structure the strategic context of organizations to determine the information systems needed.

• E-business collaboration - working with organizations in the early stages of introducing e-business, Sharon developed models to explore the organizational transformation initiated by e-business.

• Knowledge management - e-business collaboration provides the opportunity to share knowledge in the supply chain, however this can be problematic. Sharon has explored the challenges of sharing knowledge in the context of e-business.

• Developing case materials - Sharon has written a number of case studies, based on her research, to support the teaching of information systems. She has also developed a guide to developing case materials based on structuring the case context. This is being extended with her current work in a live case study.

• Employability - Sharon developed an approach to embed employability in course design and is currently supervising research students seeking to develop contextual models of information in professional practice.

Areas of Expertise

Qualifications

Memberships

Research

Publications

Examples

Murphy, Stephen and Cox, Sharon (2016) Classifying Organizational Adoption of Open Source Software: A Proposal. In: Open Source Systems: Integrating Communities12th IFIP WG 2.13 International Conference, OSS 2016, Gothenburg, Sweden, May 30 - June 2, 2016, Proceedings. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, 472 . Springer International Publishing, pp. 123-133. ISBN 978-3-319-39225-7

Cox, S. A., (2014), Managing Information in Organizations: A Practical Guide to Implementing an Information Management Strategy, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, 978-0230298842

Mayouf, M., Cox, S. & Boyd, D., (2014), ‘Exploring Different Information Needs in Building Information Modelling (BIM) Using Soft Systems Methodology (SSM)’, International Data and Information Management Conference (IDIMC ) Making Connections, Loughborough University, UK, 17 September.

Mayouf, M., Boyd, D. & Cox, S., (2014), ‘Perceiving Space from Multiple Perspectives for Buildings Using Building Information Modelling (BIM)’, ARCOM Conference.

Mayouf, M., Boyd, D. & Cox, S., (2014), ‘Different Perspectives on Facilities Management to Incorporate into BIM’, CIB W070 [International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction] Facilities Management Conference: Using Facilities in an Open World, Creating Value for all Stakeholders, Copenhagen, 21-23 May.

Cox, Sharon and Perkins, J. (2010) Scaffolding Knowledge Management in ePortfolios. 11th European Conference on Knowledge Management, ECKM 2010. pp. 296-304. ISSN 20488963 (ISSN)

Morphing Organizations:
Cox, S. A., (2013), ‘E-Business Planning in Morphing Organizations: Maturity Models of Business Transformation’, in: Li, E. Y., Loh, S., Evans, C. & Lorenzi, F., (eds.), (2013), Organizations and Social Networking: Utilizing Social CRM to Engage Consumers, IGI Global, pp. 286-312.

Cox, S. A., Krasniewicz, J. A., Perkins, J. S. & Cox, J. A., (2006), ‘Modelling the Organisational Transformation Associated with Implementing E-Business Collaborative Systems in the Supply Chain’, Proceedings of the British Academy of Management Conference (BAM2006) in Association with the University of Ulster and Queen’s University, Belfast, 12-14 September 2006. [Awarded Prize for Best Paper].

E-business Collaboration:
Cox, S. A. & Perkins, J.S., (2009), ‘Chapter 4.2: The Role of E-Collaboration Systems in Knowledge Management’, in: Kock, N., (ed.), (2009), E-Collaboration: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools and Applications, Volume II, Information Science Reference, New York, pp.660-667. ISBN: 978-1-60566-652-2 and ISBN: 978-1-60566-653-2.

Cox, S. A. & Perkins, J. S., (2008), ‘Factors for Effective E-Collaboration in the Supply Chain’, in: Kock, N., (ed.), (2008), Encyclopaedia of E-Collaboration, Information Science Reference, New York, pp.279-285. ISBN: 978-1-59904-000-4 and ISBN: 978-1-59904-001-1.

Knowledge Management:
Cox, S. A. & Perkins, J.S., (2010), ‘Scaffolding Knowledge Management in E-Portfolios’, Proceedings of the 11th European Conference on Knowledge Management, Portugal.

Cox, S. & Perkins, J., (2009), ‘Chapter 1.8: A Knowledge Management Approach to Improving E-Business Collaboration’, in: Lee, I., (2009), (ed.), Electronic Business: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications, IGI Global, New York, pp. 109-116. ISBN: 978-1-60566-056-1.

Developing Case Materials:
Cox, S., (2009), ‘Case Study Adaptation for Multimedia Learning Environments’, Proceedings of the International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation, Madrid, 16-19th November, paper 472. ISBN: 978-84-613-2955-7.

Cox, S., (2008), Guide to Using Case Studies for Active Learning, Published by HE Academy

E-learning:
Cox, S. A. (2008), ‘Learning Styles in On-Line Learning’, in: Tomei, L. A., (ed.), (2008), Encyclopaedia of Information Technology Curriculum Integration, Volume II, Second Edition, IGI Global, New York, pp. 525-532. ISBN: 978-1-59904-881-9.

Cox, S. A. & Hollyhead, A., (2007), ‘Critical Success Factors to Engage Reflection in Education: Professional Development of Educators and Students’, Proceedings of International Conference on E-Learning, New York, USA, 28-29 June 2007.

Curriculum Development:
Sharma, M. & Cox, S. A., (2013), ‘Role of Vendor Technologies in the Development of Network Professionals’, Proceedings of the 7th International Technology, Education and Development Conference, 4-6th March, Valencia, Spain.

Bhogal, J., Cox, S. & Maitland, K., (2012), ‘Roadmap for Modernizing Database Curricula’, Proceedings of the 10th International Workshop on Teaching, Learning and Assessment of Databases, 9th July, University of Herefordshire, UK, Published by The Higher Education Academy, (Edited by Petra Leimich and Bernadette Byrne), ISBN: 978-1-907207-57-0

Cox, S. & King, D., (2006), ‘Skill Sets: An Approach to Embed Employability in Course Design’, Education and Training, 48(4), pp.262-274.