Jan
Ondrus
I research how emerging technologies reshape business, industries and society, and help leaders put them to work.
Professor of Information Systems, ESSEC Business School, Singapore.
- Reading profile
- Collecting this year's highlights
- Overview ready
The overview
- Sep 2026Digital Disruption Matrix 2026Launched in Singapore: five technologies assessed across ten sectors
- Jul 2026Quoted in The Straits TimesOn banks using AI agents to vet private banking clients
- Oct 2025Keynote in SeoulHow agentic AI could reshape digital privacy, Asia Privacy Bridge Forum
- 2025California Management ReviewPlatform governance for established companies
The overview
- Sep 2026Digital Disruption Matrix 2026Launched in Singapore: five technologies assessed across ten sectors
- Jul 2026Quoted in The Straits TimesOn banks using AI agents to vet private banking clients
- Oct 2025Keynote in SeoulHow agentic AI could reshape digital privacy, Asia Privacy Bridge Forum
- 2025California Management ReviewPlatform governance for established companies
His research
How emerging technologies change business models, industries and society, studied over twenty years with companies, regulators and other researchers.
- Payments and FinTechWhy payment platforms succeed or fail, from NFC to Singapore's cashless push and digital banks.
- Platforms and ecosystemsHow established companies build, govern and combine digital platforms.
- AI in businessWhat changes when AI and AI agents enter real business processes.
- Technology and societyScams, cyber vigilantism, digital inclusion and technology-enabled escapism.
Current projects
- 2026Digital Disruption Matrix 2026Five technologies, ten sectors, a survey of 1,000 professionals. Launched in Singapore in September.
- 2026A theory of multi-platform firmsHow firms create and sustain advantage across several platforms. Presented at ICOIS 2026.
- 2026AI programmes for executivesCourses on AI transformation for companies in Singapore.
- 2024Scambaiting and cyber vigilantismWhy people fight scammers online, and what it means for platforms.
Research with the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Enterprise Singapore and the People's Association on e-payments in hawker centres and digital inclusion of senior citizens (2018 to 2020).
Selected publications
Featured journal articles come first. The full list is also in the CV and on Google Scholar.
- 2025A layered governance model for companies with legacy systems and partner networks.California Management Review, 67(4), 48–74
- 2024Four ways firms like Google, Apple and Alibaba combine their platforms.Information Systems Journal, 34(3), 828–853 · Award: Top 10 most-cited papers published by the journal in 2023
- 2023Myths and realities of the metaverseCalifornia Management Review Insights, 1–11
- 2020How technology turned the K-pop industry from a value chain into a value network.Information Systems Journal, 30(5), 866–898
- 2017Why the technically better option lost the battle over the NFC secure element.Telecommunications Policy, 41(4), 253–262
- 2015Electronic Commerce Research and Applications, 14(5), 265–284
- 2015What mobile payment platforms gain and lose by opening up.Journal of Information Technology, 30(3), 260–275
- 2015Technology foresight using MCDM methodsGroup Decision and Negotiation, 24(2), 333–358
- forthcomingA layered model for multi-platform firms: Showcasing competition in the music streaming industryIn Information Systems Outsourcing: The Era of Digital Transformation. Springer
- 2024Navigating the Shadows of Cyber Vigilantism: A Preliminary Analysis of Social Dynamics and Activities of ScambaitingCHI Late-Breaking-Work (CHI 2024), May 2024
- 2023Influencing the Influencers? The Case of @CelebJets and the Role of Social Media in Empowering Citizens to Conduct Climate Justice ActivismProceedings of the Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS 2023), August 2023
- 2021Business ecosystem orchestration in the service of corporate purposeIn C. Mayer, B. Roche & J. Jakub (Eds.), Putting Purpose into Practice. Oxford University Press
- 2021Building Blocks of Digital Platform Ecosystems and Their Implications for Inter-Platform GovernanceAcademy of Management Proceedings (AOM 2021), August 2021
- 2020Hikikomori and Technology-Enabled Escapism: An Affordances and Constraints PerspectiveProceedings of the Forty First International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS 2020), Hyderabad, India, 13-16 December, 2020Award: Best Student Paper Award in the Track "Societal Impact of IS"
- 2020Proceedings of the 24th Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems (PACIS 2020), Dubai, UAE, 20-24 June, 2020
- 2019How Singapore encouraged e-payments at hawker centres.Proceedings of the Fortieth International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS 2019), Munich, Germany, 15-18 December, 2019
- 2018Proceedings of the Thirty Ninth International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS 2018), San Francisco, USA, 13-16 December, 2018
- 2018Proceedings of the 22nd Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems (PACIS 2018), Yokohama, Japan, 26-30 June, 2018
- 2017Proceedings of the Thirty Eighth International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS 2017), Seoul, South Korea, 10-13 December, 2017Award: Nominated for Most Innovative Short Paper Award
- 2017Proceedings of the 25th European Conference on Information Systems (ECIS 2017), Guimarães, Portugal, 5-10 June, 2017
- 2016Lancer sa plateforme web : les 3 erreurs à éviterHarvard Business Review France, 94–95
- 2015Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Electronic Commerce (ICEC 2015), Seoul, South Korea, 3-5 August, 2015
- 2015Proceedings of the 48th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS 2015), Hawaii, USA, 5-8 January, 2015Award: Nominated for Best Paper Award
- 2014International Journal of Accounting and Information Management, 22(4), 321–338Award: Highly Commended Paper, Emerald Literati Network Awards for Excellence 2015
- 2013SIGBPS Workshop on Business Processes and Services (BPS'13), Pre-ICIS workshop, Milan, Italy, 15 December 2013
- 20133rd Biennial Conference of the Indian Academy of Management (IAM 2013), Ahmedabad, India, 12-14 December, 2013
- 2013Advances in Web-Based Learning, (ICWL 2013), 12th International Conference, Kenting, Taiwan, 6-9 October, 2013
- 2012Mobile App Development: Native or Web?Proceedings of the 11th Workshop on e-Business (WEB 2012), Orlando, USA, 15 December 2012
- 2012Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Electronic Commerce (ICEC 2012), Singapore, 7-8 August, 2012
- 2011Telematics and Informatics, 28(1), 22–31
- 2011In R. Sharman et al. (Eds.), Exploring the Grand Challenges for Next Generation E-Business (Vol. 52, pp. 186–191). Springer
- 2011Proceedings of the 15th Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems (PACIS 2011), Brisbane, Australia, 7-11 July, 2011
- 2011Mobile Payments Market: Towards Another Clash of the Titans?Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Mobile Business (ICMB 2011), Como, Italy, 20-21 June, 2011
- 2011Towards a Better Understanding of Personal Productivity in the Context of Information Technology UseProceedings of the 16th Conference of the Association Information and Management (AIM 2011), Ile de la Réunion, France, 25-27 May, 2011
- 2010International Journal of e-Collaboration, 6(4), 32–53
- 2009Information Systems and e-Business Management, 7(3), 347–361
- 2009In C. Hesselman et al. (Eds.), Mobile Wireless Middleware, Operating Systems, and Applications: Workshops (Vol. 12, pp. 55–64). Springer
- 2009The Role of Mobile Network Operators in the Mobile Application MarketProceedings of the 8th Workshop on eBusiness (WEB 2009), Phoenix, USA, 15-18 December, 2009
- 2009Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Design Science Research in Information Systems and Technology (DESRIST 2009), poster session, Philadelphia, USA, 7-8 May, 2009
- 2009Proceedings of the 42nd Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS 2009). Waikoloa, Big Island, Hawaii (USA), 5-8 January, 2009
- 2008Mobile payments: A review of past, present, and future researchA review that became one of the journal's most-cited papers.Electronic Commerce Research and Applications, 7(2), 165–181 · Award: Among the 10 most-cited papers of the journal, 2001 to 2016
- 2008Comparison of Multi-criteria and Prediction Market Approaches for Technology Foresight(AIM 2008), 13eme Congrès AIM Paris 2008 (pre-ICIS Workshop 2008). Paris, France, 13 December, 2008
- 2007Electronic Markets, 17(2)
- 2007Technology Foresight for IT Investment: Multi-Criteria Decision-Making versus Prediction Markets6th pre-ICIS AIM Workshop, Montreal, Canada, 8 December, 2007
- 2007Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Mobile Business (ICMB 2007), IEEE Computer Society, Toronto, Canada, 9-11 July, 2007
- 2006Electronic Commerce Research and Applications, 5(3), 246–257
- 2006Proceedings of the 12th Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS 2006), Acapulco, Mexico, 4-6 August, 2006
- 2006Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Mobile Business (ICMB 2006), IEEE Computer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark, 26-27 June, 2006
- 2006Helsinki Mobility Roundtable 2006, Helsinki, Finland, 1-2 June, 2006
- 2006Proceedings of the 39th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS 2006), IEEE Computer Society, Hawaii, USA, 4-7 January, 2006
- 2005In J. Krogstie, K. Kautz & D. Allen (Eds.), Mobile Information Systems II (Vol. 191, pp. 271–278). Springer
- 2005Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Mobile Business (ICMB 2005), IEEE Computer Society, Sydney, Australia, 11-13 July, 2005
- 2005International Workshop on Context Modeling and Decision Support (Context 2005), Paris, France, 5 July, 2005
- 2005Proceedings of the 38th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS 2005), IEEE Computer Society, Hawaii, USA, 3-6 January, 2005Award: Nominated for Best Paper Award
- 2004Coupling Mobile Payments and CRM in the Retail IndustryIADIS International E-Commerce 2004, Lisbon, Portugal, 14-16 Dec, 2004
- 2003Proceedings of the 36th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS 2003), IEEE Computer Society, Hawaii, USA, 6-9 January, 2003
Teaching
Courses at ESSEC Business School in Singapore, from Master programmes to the Executive MBA, and programmes for companies.
Courses
- From 2027FintechMaster in Finance, Singapore campus
- Since 2022Chair seminars on digital disruptionMaster in Management, Singapore and Cergy
- Since 2021Digital business modelsExecutive MBA Asia-Pacific
- Since 2016Asian Strategy Consulting ProjectStudent consulting projects with companies in Asia
Executive programmes
- 2026AI and LeadershipThree-day open programme, ESSEC Asia-Pacific. Launch date to be confirmed.
- 2026AI TransformationCustomised course for BDO Singapore.
- 2026AI-enabled InnovationProgramme designed and delivered for the executives of Bridgestone Asia.
- 2025Digital Transformation and AIOne-day session in the LEAD open-enrolment programme, ESSEC Asia-Pacific.
- Since 2011Customised programmes for companiesDigital transformation, digital disruption, artificial intelligence, digital platform strategy, platform economics, digital business models, business ecosystems and mobile marketing.
- 2019 to 2020E-commerce and PlatformsExecutive MBA Asia-Pacific, Singapore campus.
- 2017 to 2018E-commerceExecutive MBA Asia-Pacific, Singapore campus.
- 2017Digital Transformation and Digital Platform StrategyExecutive MBA (weekend format), Singapore residency.
- 2017Digital Platform StrategyMS Marketing and Digital, Singapore residency.
- 2014 to 2016eBusinessExecutive MBA, La Défense campus.
- 2015Platform Economics and StrategyAMP Digital, La Défense campus.
- 2014eBusiness and Big DataGeneral Management programme, La Défense campus, with Nicolas Glady.
- 2011eBusiness ModelMS in Marketing (part-time), La Défense campus.
Not taking new PhD students at the moment.
His take
More than 80 media appearances since 2017. These are the topics he comments on most. Journalists: email is the fastest way to reach him on deadline.
Latest comments
- 31 Jul 2026
- 11 Jun 2026
- 17 Dec 2025
- 17 Nov 2025The Straits Times
- 30 Oct 2025
- 13 Aug 2025The Business Times
- 12 Aug 2025
- 18 Apr 2025The Straits Times
- 15 Mar 2025
- 12 Jan 2025
- 1 Jan 2025
- 20 Dec 2024
- 13 Aug 2024
- 30 Jul 2024The Edge Singapore
- 22 Jul 2024
- 17 Jun 2024
- 11 Oct 2023The Business Times
- 21 Sep 2023
- 31 Aug 2023
- 7 Jul 2023China Daily
- 27 Jun 2023Channel News Asia (CNA)
- 29 May 2023International Banker
- 3 May 2023Fortune Times (in Chinese)
- 16 Feb 2023
- 2 Feb 2023
- 19 Jan 2023
- 1 Jan 2023Fortune Times (in Chinese)
- 17 Nov 2022The Edge Singapore
- 2 Nov 2022
- 2 Nov 2022Channel News Asia (CNA)
- 24 Aug 2022
- 21 Jun 2022The Business Times
- 21 Jun 2022Global Voice (Council on Business & Society)
- 19 Jun 2022
- 17 Jun 2022
- 24 May 2022
- 2 Apr 2022Tech in Asia
- 8 Feb 2022
- 18 Jan 2022
- 4 Jan 2022
- 3 Dec 2021
- 27 Nov 2021The Business Times
- 26 Nov 2021
- 24 Nov 2021
- 25 Oct 2021
- 31 Aug 2021The Business Times
- 18 May 2021
- 3 Feb 2021
- 1 Dec 2020
- 26 Sep 2020The Business Times
- 3 Jul 2020The Business Times
- 8 Feb 2020
- 13 May 2019The Straits Times
- 3 May 2019The Business Times
- 20 Mar 2019The Business Times
- 16 Feb 2019
- Feb 2019Global Voice (Council on Business & Society)
- 24 Dec 2018The Edge Singapore
- 19 Nov 2018The Edge Singapore
- Sep 2018The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) Journal
- 2 Aug 2018
- 29 May 2018The Straits Times
- 20 Mar 2018Tatler Singapore
- 28 Sep 2017
- 13 Sep 2017
- 8 Sep 2017The Straits Times
- 15 Mar 2017
- 7 Dec 2016
- 9 Mar 2015eFM101.3, Korea's No.1 Foreign Language Station, This Morning
- 20 Jan 2015
- 17 Jan 2015Le Huffington Post
- 13 Jan 2015ESSEC Knowledge
- Dec 2014Reflets (ESSEC Alumni Magazine)
- 12 Sep 2014Le Cercle des Echos
- 12 Sep 2014
- 14 Apr 2013
- 11 Apr 2013Reflets (ESSEC Alumni Magazine)
- 11 Apr 2013ESSEC Knowledge
- 30 Sep 2012Le Huffington Post
- 26 Sep 2012ESSEC Knowledge
- 13 Sep 2012Radio Television Suisse (RTS)Le journal du matin, La 1ère
- 23 Apr 2012Radio Television Suisse (RTS)
- 18 Apr 2012Exame (Brazilian Business Magazine)
- 2009Bulletin HEC (Alumni HEC Lausanne)
On stage
Keynotes, panels and moderation for executive and policy audiences in Singapore, across Asia and in Europe.
- Oct 2025Asia Privacy Bridge Forum, SeoulKeynote: how agentic AI could reshape digital privacy
- Apr 2025Asia Startup Summit, SingaporeModerator: shaping industries with AI
- Nov 2019WTO-Singapore Workshop on E-CommerceInvited speaker
- Nov 2018Singapore FinTech FestivalModerator: globalisation of domestic payment networks
Signature talks
- AI transformation beyond the hypeWhat changes when AI agents enter real business processes, and what does not.
- Digital banks and the future of paymentsLessons from twenty years of payment platforms, with a focus on Asia.
- Platform strategy for established companiesHow incumbents build and govern platforms without breaking their core.
- The Digital Disruption MatrixWhich technologies will reshape which sectors, from the annual ESSEC study.
Ways to work together
Depending on who you are.
- CompaniesExecutive education and the ChairCustomised AI and digital transformation programmes, partnership with the Digital Disruption Chair, the annual Matrix study.
- OrganisersTalks and moderationKeynotes, panels and moderated sessions.
- ResearchersResearch collaborationOpen to joint projects on platforms, payments and AI.
- StudentsESSEC studentsChair seminars and consulting projects at ESSEC. Not taking new PhD students at the moment.
Chair partners and executive education clients since 2011
Press kit
Free to use with credit. Choose the bio length you need.
- 33 wordsShort bioJan Ondrus is Full Professor of Information Systems at ESSEC Business School in Singapore, where he holds the Digital Disruption Chair. He studies how payments, digital platforms and AI change business and society.
- 106 wordsFull bioJan Ondrus is Full Professor of Information Systems at ESSEC Business School, based in Singapore since 2016, where he holds the Digital Disruption Chair. For twenty years he has studied how emerging technologies change business models, industries and society, from mobile payments and digital platforms to AI. His research appears in journals such as the Information Systems Journal and California Management Review. He teaches in ESSEC's Master and Executive MBA programmes, designs executive programmes on AI for companies in Asia, and comments regularly in The Straits Times, The Business Times, CNA and Nikkei Asia. He holds a PhD in Information Systems from the University of Lausanne.
Photos
Contact
Email is the fastest way to reach him, including for media requests on deadline.
- Email
- OfficeESSEC Business SchoolAsia-Pacific campus, 5 Nepal Park, Singapore 139408
- Profiles
CV
The full academic CV lists every publication, talk and media item.
- 16 Oct 202514th Asia Privacy Bridge ForumKeynote Speaker: How Agentic AI could reshape Digital Privacy, Yonsei University, Seoul
- 11 Jun 2025ESSEC Partners EveningSpeaker: Digital Disruption Matrix 2025
- 21 Apr 2025Asia Startup Summit 2025, AI EditionModerator: Shaping Industries with AI: Applications and Perspectives
- 25 Mar 2025Digital Disruption Matrix 2025, Launch eventSpeaker: Launch of the Digital Disruption Matrix, Paris
- 24 Apr 2024ESSEC Alumni Japan ConferenceSpeaker: Digital Platform Governance for Established Companies
- 25 Jan 2024ESSEC Alumni Fire-side ChatModerator: The Impact of AI on the Financial Services Industry
- 30 Jun 2022ESSEC Asia-Pacific Executive EducationSpeaker: What should you make of the Metaverse
- 21 Apr 2021SICC-ESSEC Leadership SeriesModerator: SGInnovate with Dr. Jui Lim
- 3 Apr 2021ESSEC MBA Day and Postgrad Career ForumModerator: Panel: How an MBA in Strategy & Digital Leadership can pivot your career
- 10 Sep 2020Move Asia 2020Panelist: Blockchain: The future of transport payments?, Singapore
- 15 Jul 2020SICC-ESSEC Leadership SeriesModerator: The Future isn't Digital with Neal Cross
- 22 Feb 2020ESSEC Asia-Pacific Virtual Open HouseModerator: Digital Business Platforms: Opportunities and Challenges Unveiled, Singapore
- 11 Dec 2019ASCP Industry Roundtable: Digital Innovation & Sustainability (with Cap Gemini Invent)Panelist: "Is digital innovation sustainable?", ESSEC Business School, Singapore
- 6 Nov 2019WTO-Singapore Workshop on E-Commerce, organized by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry of SingaporeInvited Speaker: "E-commerce platform business models: developments and implications", Singapore
- 21 Aug 2019Platform Innovation meetup group, BLOCK71 Singapore - NUS EnterpriseKeynote: "Openness & Platforms", Singapore
- 26 Nov 2018United Conference of Internet Money (UCIM)Panelist: "The tipping point for mass adoption of cryptocurrencies", Singapore
- 14 Nov 2018Milken InstitutePrivate Roundtable Participant: "Payments in the 21st Century", Singapore
- 12 Nov 2018Singapore FinTech FestivalModerator: "Globalization of Domestic Payment Networks", Singapore
- 24 Oct 2018FUTRPanelist: "From Basket to Check-out - E-commerce is nothing without a payment!", Singapore
- 13 Sep 2018SIGEF 2018 - Social Innovation and Global Ethics ForumPanelist: Smart cities & Future technology: Furthering Urban Sustainability and Inclusion
- 7 Sep 2018One-North Festival 2018Speaker: "Going Cashless in a Tap and Go World", A*STAR, Singapore
- 28 Aug 2018ESSEC EMBA Speakers SeriesModerator: "Economics of Mutuality", Bruno Roche (Chief Economist, Mars Inc.) and Yassine El Ouarzazi (Mars Catalyst), ESSEC Business School, Singapore
- 18 May 2018Responsible Business ForumMasterclass Speaker: "Deploying Mutuality in business through ecosystem based management practices", Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, UK
- 20 Apr 2018ESSEC Institute of Health Economics and Management Asia Pacific WorkshopKeynote: "Digital revolution and impact on strategy and organization of companies: a cross sectorial overview", Building New Perspectives Workshop, Singapore
- 20 Mar 2018Tatler Table - Gen TKeynote: Building Purposeful Businesses Through Innovation, Singapore
- 15 Nov 2017Singapore FinTech FestivalKeynote at The Sandbox: "The struggle to light a wet match: why mobile payment platforms are so difficult to launch?", Singapore
- 11 Oct 2017Singaporean-German Chamber of Industry and CommercePanelist: Cyber Security Seminar, ESSEC Business School, Singapore
- 12 May 2017Responsible Business ForumMasterclass Speaker: "Management in Economics of Mutuality", Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, UK
- 23 Jun 2015ANVIEOrganizer: Three-day conference days on Internet of Things, Paris, France 19 May, 4 June
- 21 Nov 2014Cap Gemini ConsultingPanelist: Roundtable on Paylib, Chantilly, France
- 25 Oct 2012Tata Consultancy Services Executive RoundtablePanelist: How the financial services industry is and should be responding to the Government's framework for digital, opportunities for the Industry, Enterprise Digital Strategy: Vision, Policy, ROI and Risk, Paris
- 18 Apr 2012Copenhagen Finance IT RegionKeynote: "The Future of Payments", Future of Finance, research, Copenhagen, Denmark
- 18 May 2011Mobile Payment ExpoKeynote: "Google, Amazon, Apple, and NFC: Another Clash of the Titans? ", Paris, France
- TalkAI transformation beyond the hypeWhat changes when AI agents enter real business processes, and what does not.
- TalkDigital banks and the future of paymentsLessons from twenty years of payment platforms, with a focus on Asia.
- TalkPlatform strategy for established companiesHow incumbents build and govern platforms without breaking their core.
- TalkThe Digital Disruption MatrixWhich technologies will reshape which sectors, from the annual ESSEC study.
- ThemePayments and FinTechWhy payment platforms succeed or fail, from NFC to Singapore's cashless push and digital banks.
- ThemePlatforms and ecosystemsHow established companies build, govern and combine digital platforms.
- ThemeAI in businessWhat changes when AI and AI agents enter real business processes.
- ThemeTechnology and societyScams, cyber vigilantism, digital inclusion and technology-enabled escapism.
- TopicDigital banksProfitability, competition and regulation in Singapore and the region.
- TopicPayments and walletsQR codes, e-wallets, cross-border payments, buy now pay later.
- TopicAI in finance and businessAI agents in banking and AI transformation in companies.
- TopicScams and trustFraud on digital platforms and how banks and platforms respond.
- TopicPlatforms and Big TechSuper-apps, platform competition, ecosystems.
- TopicTechnology and societyCorporate purpose, the metaverse, crypto and other technology questions.