Partner 1 – Lead Applicant
name
David West
nationality
American
institution
Region Uppsala
Akademiska University Hospital
department
Research Department
city / country
Uppsala, Sweden
professional status
Professor
keywords
#complex systems #systems thinking #cyber-physical systems #digital transformation #design thinking #innovation #interoperability #sustainability #human-centred design #healthcare systems #interdisciplinary research
general expertise and its relevance for the project
David West is an interdisciplinary researcher with extensive expertise in systems thinking, cognitive anthropology, software engineering, and human-centered organizational development. A central strength of his work is his ability to analyze complex systems and understand how human, organizational, technological, and cultural factors interact within healthcare and social environments. Throughout his academic career, he has developed systems-oriented and participatory approaches to problem solving, communication, and knowledge sharing across multidisciplinary contexts.
This expertise is highly relevant to the VOICE project, which addresses complex challenges related to access to care and requires integrated perspectives across healthcare systems, patient pathways, organisational structures, and stakeholder engagement. His systems thinking approach will support the consortium in identifying barriers and opportunities across care ecosystems and in developing sustainable, patient-centred, and context-sensitive solutions.
awards received / other responsibilities
Professor David West is an internationally recognised expert in complex systems, systems thinking, design thinking, innovation management, and digital transformation. He has held senior academic, research, and industry leadership positions and has extensive experience leading multidisciplinary and international collaborations. His work focuses on applying complexity science and systems approaches to address societal, organisational, and technological challenges.
He is a frequent invited speaker and contributor to international conferences and has published extensively on complex systems, innovation, enterprise agility, and human-centred design. He is co-author of the book Design Thinking – The Key to Enterprise Agility, Innovation, and Sustainability and has contributed to the development of educational programmes and research initiatives linking technology, sustainability, and societal impact. His expertise bridges academia, industry, and public-sector innovation.
positions
1999 – 2015
Professor
New Mexico Highlands University, USA
2007 – 2011
Visiting Professor (dual appointment)
University of New Mexico, USA
2011 – 2012
Professor and Associate Chair
Computer Science (dual appointment)
College of Santa Fe, USA
1994 – 1999
Associate Professor
Graduate School of Technology – Graduate Programs in Software (joint appointment in the Department of Quantitative Methods and Computer Science)
University of St. Thomas, USA
1989 – 1994
Assistant Professor
Graduate School of Technology – Graduate Programs in Software (joint appointment in the Department of Quantitative Methods and Computer Science)
University of St. Thomas, USA
education
1988 – PhD in Cognitive Anthropology
University of Wisconsin–Madison, USA
1987 – MS in Computer Science
University of Wisconsin–Madison, USA
1987 – MA in Cultural Anthropology
University of Wisconsin–Madison, USA
1985 – BA
University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, USA
1972 – Undergraduate studies
in Asian Philosophy and Asian History
Macalester College, USA
complete list of papers
West, D. Conversations With Alexander. 2012. ACM 21 pages.
Elssamadisy A., West D. Adopting Agile Practices: An Incipient Pattern Language. PLoP '06: Proceedings of the 2006 conference on Pattern languages of programs. 2006. Article No.: 1, Pages 1 - 9. DOI: 10.1145/1415472.1415474
Travi L., West D. Articles From Society to Landscape: Alternative Metaphors for Artificial Intelligence. AI Magazine Volume 12 Number 2. 1991.
Becker C., West D. Accounting for Extreme Developers and the Software Mob.
West D. OOPSLA, Liminality, and Deep Theory.
West D. Deep Theory.
West D. Systems Development.
Quillien J., West D., Young M. Dynabook Redux
West D. Enculturating Extreme Programmers.
West D. Five Reasons to Fire your IT Department.
West D. Lean and Agile. Marriage made in heaven, or oxymoron?
West D. Looking for Love (in all the wrong places).
West D. Magic.
Solano M., Stewart D., West D. Metaphors be with you!
West D. Culture, Cognition, and Connectionism: Towards an Hermeneutic Anthropology of Mind.
books
2017 – Design Thinking – The Key to Enterprise Agility, Innovation, and Sustainability. Rikner R., West D. Author's Press International. ISBN-13: 9780998477015
2004 – Object Thinking. West D. Microsoft Press. ISBN: 9780735619654
presentations
2016 – Adapting Agile
The National Institute of Informatics, Tokyo, Japan.
2016 – Why Capturing Business Knowledge with Patterns Provides Strategic Advantage
Asian PLoP, Tokyo, Japan.
2016 – Being Agile – Transcendence and Passing through the Gate
QCon, San Francisco, USA.
2013 – The Agile Enterprise
Agile India, Bangalore, India.
2013 – OOP is Dead! Long Live OODD!
BBC, London, United Kingdom.
2012 – Leonardo’s Workshop (Educating Masters of Software Development)
SPA, London, United Kingdom.
2012 – Empirical Modeling: a Potential Synergy
Warwick College, Leamington, United Kingdom.
2011 – Design for Software and Business Professionals
SPA, London, United Kingdom.
2009 – Designing the Enterprise
QCon, San Francisco, USA.
2009 – Enculturating Master Craftsmen
QCon, San Francisco, USA.
2009 – IT Craft
OTUG, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA.
orcid
additional information
- Co-author of Design Thinking – The Key to Enterprise Agility, Innovation, and Sustainability (2017).
- Internationally recognised researcher, speaker, and advisor in complex systems, systems thinking, design thinking, innovation, and digital transformation.
- Extensive experience leading interdisciplinary collaborations between academia, industry, and public-sector organisations. • Contributor to research and educational initiatives in cyber-physical systems, sustainability, systems innovation, and human-centred design.
- Active participant in international networks focused on complexity science, digital transformation, innovation management, and sustainable systems development.
- Experienced in translating research into practical applications through collaboration with organisations in healthcare, technology, education, and public administration.
