Professor
Department of Information Technology & Decision Sciences

Lan Cao

757-683-4845

2121 CONSTANT HALL
NORFOLK, 23529

My primary research interest centers on Information Systems (IS) development processes in dynamic environments. I have investigated different aspects of IS development in dynamic environments characterized by time-to-market pressures, ambiguous user requirements, and rapid changes in competitive threats, stakeholder preferences, and software technologies. Over the course of my professional career, I have established the following three research streams: (1) Agile software development process and methodology; (2) IT investment, governance and system development process; and (3) knowledge and data management in IS development, implementation and operation. Beyond the three major research streams, I have also studied research productivity in the field of IS. I have published more than 40 articles, 21 of which appear in premier journals such as Information Systems Research, Journal of Management Information Systems, Journal of the Association of Information Systems, European Journal of Information Systems, Decision Support Systems, ACM Transactions on Management Information Systems, ACM Transactions on Management Information Systems, ACM Journal of Data and Information Quality. My work has also appeared in high quality journals such as Group Decision and Negotiation, as well as in premier professional journals such as Communications of the ACM and IEEE Software.
In addition, I have presented my research at prestigious conferences and workshops such as the International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS), Workshop on Information Technologies and Systems (WITS). I have also served as the track co-chair at the Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS) for four years, and as associate editor at ICIS. I have also been awarded three ODU research grants and was one of the winners of the Faculty Preparation Proposal Program by ODU Office of Research. I was selected as the E. V. Williams Research Fellow in 2012 for “outstanding scholarly productivity”. I was also recognized as the 12th most cited researcher during 2001-2012 in the literature on Agile Software Development [see Chuang, S.W., Luor, T., and Lu, H.P, “Assessment of Institutions, Scholars, and Contributions on Agile Software Development (2001 to 2012)”, The Journal of Systems and Software, vol. 93, 2014. pp. 84-101]

Ph.D. in Computer Information Systems, Georgia State University, ()

Contracts, Grants and Sponsored Research

Cao, L. "Collaborative Research: Dynamic Modeling Of Agile Development For Real-World Systems" $300,000. -

Expertise

Business
Information Systems

Articles

Cao, L. and Park, E. (2024). Shift of Ambidexterity Modes: An Empirical Investigation of the Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Customer Service. International Journal of Information Management.
Cao, L. (2023). A Platform-Based Approach to Ambidexterity for Innovation: An Empirical Investigation in the Public Sector. International Journal of Management Information Systems 68.
Estimating Efforts for Various Activities in Agile Software Development: An Empirical Study. IEEE Access 10 , pp. 83311-83321.
Park, E., Werder, K., Cao, L. and Ramesh, B. (2022). Why do Family Members Reject AI in Health Care? Competing Effects of Emotions . Journal of Management Information Systems 39 (3).
Mohan, K., Cao, L., Sarkar, S. and Ramesh, B. (2019). Adapting IT Governance Practices for the Changing IT Function. IEEE IT Professional 21 (1).
Ramesh, B., Cao, L., Kim, J., Mohan, k. and James, T. L.. (2018). Consider Culture When Implementing Agile Practices. Sloan Management Review October.
Ramesh, B., Cao, L., Kim, J., Mohan, K. and James, T. (2017). Conflicts and Complements Between Eastern Cultures and Agile Methods: An Empirical Investigation. European Journal of Information Systems 26 (2).
Park, E., Ramesh, B. and Cao, L. (2016). Emotion In IT Investment Decision Making with a Real Options Perspective: The Intertwining Of Cognition and Regret. Journal of Management Information Systems 33 (3) , pp. 652-683.
Jain, R., Cao, L., Ramesh, B. and Mohan, K. (2015). Situated Boundary Spanning: An Empirical Investigation of Requirements Engineering Practices in Product Family Development. ACM Transactions on Management Information Systems 5 (3).
Haines, R., Hough, J., Cao, L. and Hains, D. (2014). Anonymity in Computer-Mediated Communication: More Contrarian Ideas with Less Influence. Group Decision and Negotiation 23 (4) , pp. 765-786.
Cao, L., Mohan, k. and Ramesn, B. (2013). Evolution of Governance: Achieving Ambidexterity in IT Outsourcing. Journal of Management Information Systems (JMIS) 30 (3) , pp. 115-140.
Cao, L. and Zhu, H. (2013). Normal Accident: Data Quality Problems in ERP-Enabled Manufacturing. ACM Journal of Data and Information Quality 4 (3).
Cao, L., Mohan, k., Ramesn, B. and Sarker, S. (2013). Adapting Funding Processes for Agile IT Projects: An Empirical Investigation. European Journal of Information Systems 22 (2) , pp. 115-205.
Cao, L. (2012). Dynamic Capability for Trustworthy Software Development. Journal of Software: Evolution and Process 24 (7).
Ramesh, B., Mohan, k. and Cao, L. (2012). Ambidexterity in Agile and Distributed Development: An Empirical Investigation. Information Systems Research 23 (2) , pp. 323-339.
Mohan, K., Cao, L., Sarker, S. and Ramesh, B. (2011). Managing Disruptive and Sustaining Innovations in Green IT. IEEE IT Professional 14 (6) , pp. 22-23.
Cao, L., Ramesh, B. and Abdel-Hamid, T. (2010). Modeling Dynamics of Agile Software Development. ACM Transactions on Management Information Systems 1 (1) , pp. 26.
Ramesh, B., Cao, L. and Baskerville, R. (2010). Agile Requirement Engineering Practices and Challenges: an Empirical Study. Information Systems Journal 20 (5) , pp. 449-480.
Wu, H. and Cao, L. (2009). Community Collaboration for ERP Implementations. IEEE Software 26 (6).
Cao, L., Mohan, K. and Ramesh, B. (2009). A Framework for Adapting Agile Methodologies. European Journal of Information Systems 18 (4).
Cao, L., Ramesh, B. and Rossi, M. (2009). Are Domain-Specific Models Easier to Maintain Than UML Models. IEEE Software 26 (4).
Cao, L. and Ramesh, B. (2008). Benefits and Challenges of Agile Requirements Engineering Practices: An Empirical Study. IEEE software 25 (1).
Mohan, K., Xu, P., Cao, L. and Ramesh, B. (2008). Improving change management in software development: Integrating traceability and software con fi guration management. Decision Support Systems 45.
Cao, L. and Ramesh, B. (2007). Agile Software Development: Sound principles or ad-hoc practices. IEEE IT Professional 9 (2).
Ramesh, B., Cao, L., Mohan, K. and Xu, P. (2006). Can distributed software development be agile. Communications of the ACM 49 (10).
Chua, C., Cao, L., Cousins, K. and Straub, D. (2003). Measuring Researcher Production in Information Systems. Journal of the AIS 3 (6).
Chua, C., Cao, L., Cousins, K., Straub, D., Mohan, K. and Vaishnavi, V. (2002). IS Bibliographic Repository (ISBIB): A Central Repository of Research Information for the IS Community. Communications of the AIS 8 (27).

Conference Proceeding

Cao, L. and Park, E. (2017). Understanding Goal-Directed Emotions in Agile Software Development Teams Boston. MA: Americas Conference on Information Systems.
Mohan, K. and Cao, L. (2013). Boundary Spanning in Ambidextrous Project Teams Milan: JAIS Theory Development Workshop.
Jain, R. and Cao, L. (2013). An Empirical Investigation of a Healthcare IT Initiative for Socio-economically Challenged Populations" Milan: ICT and Social Challenges Workshop.
Cao, L., Zhu, H. and Su, G. (2012). Global Software Development Project Lima: America Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS).
Cao, L. (2008). Estimating Agile Software Project Effort: An Empirical Study America Conference on Information Systems.
Haines, R., Cao, L. and Haines, D. (2006). Participation and Persuasion via Computer-Mediated Communication: Anonymous versus Identified Comments Milwaukee, Wisconsin: International Conference on Information Systems.
Xu, P. and Cao, L. (2006). Coordination in Agile Software Development Americas Conference on Information Systems.
Cao, L. and Wu, H. (2006). Design in Agile Software Development Norfolk, VA: International Conference on Agile Manufacturing.
Cao, L. and Xu, P. (2005). Activity Patterns of Pair Programming Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences.
Cao, L., Mohan, k., Xu, P. and Ramesh, B. (2004). Agile Software Development for Large Projects Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences.
Cao, L. and Ramesh, B. (2004). An Exploratory Study on the Effects of Pair Programming International Conference on Empirical Assessment in Software Engineering.
Cao, L. and Woo, H. (2004). An Ontological Approach to Support Domain Knowledge Learning in Information Systems Development Americas Conference on Information Systems.
Cao, L. (2004). Modeling Dynamics of Agile Software Development Vancouver: 19th Annual ACM SIGPLAN Conference on Object-Oriented Programming, Systems, Languages, and Applications.
Xu, P., Kannan, M., Cao, L. and Ramesh, B. (2003). Traceability Support for Software Configuration Management Seattle, WA: The 13th Workshop on Information Technology and Systems (WITS).
Purao, S., Truex, D. and Cao, L. (2003). Now the Twain Shall Meet: Combining Social Sciences and Software Engineering to Support Development of Emergent Systems Americas Conference on Information Systems.
Purao, S. and Cao, L. (2003). Research in ISD: Supporting Co-Evolution of Information Systems and Organizations 2nd Symposium on Research in System Analysis and Design Miami, FL:.

Presentations

Cao, L. and Ramesh, B. ( 2004). Modeling Dynamic in Agile Sofware Development Poster 14th Workshop on Information Technology and Systems Washington D.C..
Cao, L. and Ramesh, B. ( 2003). A Dynamic Model of Agile Software Development Poster 13th Workshop on Information Technology and Systems Seattle, W. A..
Cao, L. ( 2003). Show me the Data: Simulation of Agile Software Process Oral Presentation INFORMS Annual Meeting Atlanta, GA.
  • Winner of Faculty Preparation Proposal Program, Old Dominion University
  • 2015: Shining Star Award, Division of Student Engagement and Enrollment Services
  • 2012: E. V. Williams Faculty Fellow for Research,

Organizational Chart