Exploring the rise of emerging markets and blockchain technology: Meet professor Timothy Hannigan

In 2024, Tim Hannigan joined the Telfer School of Management as an associate professor of strategy and organization, as well as the Thivierge Chair in Canadian Business. His research explores the early stages of markets, fields, and ecosystems, focusing on their cultural and material development. His current projects include studying organizing and governance in blockchain communities, as well as understanding risks related to knowledge and responsible use of generative AI in organizations. 

Why did you choose to study organizations and management? Any personal motivation?  

My journey was sparked by a fascinating question: How do organizations navigate uncharted waters with no map to follow? This curiosity led me from computing science to the intricate worlds of organizational theory and strategy. My research now explores the wild frontiers of markets, fields, and ecosystems, focusing on how they evolve both culturally and materially. It's like watching the birth of new worlds in real-time.

How does your PhD training inform your current research program?    

During my PhD at Oxford, I realized that organizations aren’t islands — they're more like living organisms, constantly interacting with and adapting to their environment. I learned that an organization’s legitimacy and reputation are shaped through ongoing interactions with various stakeholders and audiences. This is particularly crucial for organizations in emerging fields, where established best practices may not exist. My interdisciplinary training continues to shape my current research, which runs from the blockchain revolution to the ethical tightropes of AI in business.

Do you have any new research insights to share? Any new projects you’re excited about?   

One of my exciting current projects feels almost like science fiction: I’m tracking the birth of the blockchain entrepreneurship field. It’s like watching a new digital continent emerge from the sea of technology. This is emerging through continuing experiments with governance and institutional infrastructure.

My work delves into the stories organizations and communities tell themselves and others to make sense of uncertainty. I call this “provisional knowledge,” a concept that’s as practical as it is poetic. Imagine leaders as explorers, using stories like compasses to navigate through fog.

How can your research influence business communities in Canada?     

My work isn’t just of theoretical interest. My insights into “provisional knowledge” and “epistemic risks” are crucial for Canadian businesses grappling with game-changing technologies like generative AI. As these innovations reshape the business landscape, my research offers a beacon for organizations trying to maintain their footing and credibility. In essence, my work is about understanding how organizations tell their stories, envision their futures, and channel those visions into reality. It’s a journey that takes me from the cutting edge of technology to the timeless human craft of storytelling and back again.