Arthur Tatnall is an Honorary Fellow in Information Systems in the Victoria University Business School at Victoria University. He was formerly an Associate Professor.

For his PhD he used actor-network theory to investigate the adoption of Visual Basic in the curriculum of an Australian university. Prior to this while completing in his MA, he investigated the origin of the information systems discipline in Australia.

Much of Arthur's research is based on the use of actor-network theory. His research interests include:

  • technological innovation
  • history of technology
  • project management
  • information systems curriculum
  • information technology in educational management
  • electronic business.

Arthur is a Fellow of the Australian Computer Society and active in the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) with an IFIP Silver Core. He is a member and former Chair of IFIP WG9.7 – History of Computing, member and former Chair of IFIP WG3.4 – ICT in Professional and Vocational Education and a member of IFIP WG3.7 – Information Technology in Educational Management.

He has published widely in journals, research books, text books, book chapters and conference proceedings and is the former Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Actor-Network Theory and Technological Innovation.

He is also the current Editor-in-Chief the Journal of Education and Information Technologies (Springer).

Areas of expertise

  • Technological innovation - adoption and use of ICT and other technologies
  • IT Project Management
  • History of computing and use of computers in education
  • ICT and Education
  • eGovernment and eBusiness

Contact details

(03) 9919 1034
(03) 9919 1064

Publications

Refereed journal articles

Tatnall, A. and Davey, W. (2018). "Birth, Life and Death of the Victorian Education Ultranet." Education and Information Technologies 23(4): 1585-1605

Adam, T. and Tatnall, A. (2017). "The value of using ICT in the education of school students with learning difficulties." Education and Information Technologies 22(6): 2711-2726.

Toro, F. and Tatnall, A. (2016). "Developing a Project to Investigate the Introduction of ICT to Mapuche Students in Chile." International Journal of Actor-Network Theory and Technological Innovation 8(1): 34-42.

Tatnall, A. (2015). "Computer Education and Societal Change: History of Early Courses in Computing in Universities and Schools in Victoria." Information Technology & People 28(4)

Wong, L., Tatnall, A. and Burgess, S. (2014). "A Framework for Investigating Blended Learning effectiveness." Education + Training 56 (2/3): 233-251

Che Nawi, N., Fong, M. and Tatnall, A. (2014). "Using Research Case Studies in eCommerce Marketing Courses: Customer Satisfaction at Point-of-Purchase and Post-Purchase." Journal of Information Technology Education: Research 13: 15-26

Tatnall, A. (2013). "The Australian Educational Computer That Never Was." IEEE- Annals of the History of Computing 35(1): 2-13.

Adam, T. and Tatnall, A. (2012). "School Children with Learning Disabilities: An Actor-Network Analysis of the Use of ICT to Enhance Self-Esteem and Improve Learning Outcomes." International Journal of Actor-Network Theory and Technological Innovation 4(2): 10-24.

Sharifzadeh, M., Zamani, G. H., Karami, E., Khalili, D. and Tatnall, A. (2012). "The Iranian Wheat Growers' Climate Information Use: An Actor-Network Theory Perspective." International Journal of Actor-Network Theory and Technological Innovation 4(4): 1-22.

Wong, L. and Tatnall, A. (2010). "Factors Determining the Balance between Online and Face-to-Face Teaching: an Analysis using Actor-Network Theory." Interdisciplinary Journal of Information, Knowledge and Management 5: 167-176.

Tatnall, A. (2009). "Gateways to Portals Research." International Journal of Web Portals 1(1):1-15

Wong, L. and Tatnall, A. (2009). "The need to Balance the Blend: Online versus Face-to-Face Teaching in an Introductory Accounting Subject." Journal of Issues in Informing Science and Information Technology (IISIT) 6: 309-322

Davey, W. and Tatnall, A. (2009). "Aspects of Professionalism, Ethics and Lifelong Learning for Australian ICT Professionals." Journal of Business Systems, Governance and Ethics 4(3): 27-42.

Research books

Tatnall, A. (2011). Information Systems Research, Technological Innovation and Actor-Network Theory. Melbourne, Heidelberg Press.

Al-Hajri, S. and Tatnall, A. (2009). Electronic Banking in Oman: Understanding Online Banking Adoption. Melbourne, Heidelberg Press.

Tatnall, A. (2007). Innovation Translation in a University Curriculum. Melbourne, Heidelberg Press.

Tatnall, A. (2006). Curriculum Cycles in the History of Information Systems in Australia. Melbourne, Heidelberg Press.

McLean, P. and Tatnall, A. (2000). Studying Business at University: Everything You Need to Know. Sydney, Allen & Unwin.

Refereed book chapters

Faruq, Q. and Tatnall, A. (2019). Adoption of ICT in Primary Healthcare in the 21st Century. Analytical Frameworks, Applications, and Impacts of ICT and Actor-Network Theory. Spöhrer, M. USA, IGI Global: 238-255.

Tatnall, A. and Davey, B. (2019). Rise of the Non-Human Actors: The Internet of Things. Analytical Frameworks, Applications, and Impacts of ICT and Actor-Network Theory. Spöhrer, M. USA, IGI Global: 138-155.

Tatnall, A. (2019). Researching Computers and Education Through Actor-Network Theory. Sustainable ICT, Education and Learning. Ed: Tatnall, A. and Mavengere, N. Switzerland, Springer: 78-88.

Lecomber, A. and Tatnall, A. (2018). "The Value of Project Management Education for IT Professionals." Tomorrow's Learning: Involving Everyone. Ed: Tatnall, A. and Webb, M. Heidelberg, Springer: 253-260

Tatnall, A. (2018). History of Early Autralian-Designed Computers. This Changes Everything - ICT and Climate Change: What Can We Do? Kreps, D., Ess, C., Leenen, L. and Kimppa, K. Switzerland, Springer: 31-41.

Tatnall, A. and Burgess, S. (2018). "Information Systems Curriculum in an Australian University: Past Developments and Future Directions." Tomorrow's Learning: Involving Everyone. Tatnall, A. and Webb, M. Heidelberg, Springer: 463-472

Tatnall, A. and Davey, B. (2016). "Towards Machine Independence: from Mechanically Programmed Devices to the Internet of Things." International Histories of Innovation and Invention. Tatnall, A. and Leslie, C. Switzerland, Springer International Publishing: 87-100

Tatnall, A. (2016). "The Beginnings of Government Support for Computers in School: The State Computer Education Centre of Victoria in the 1980s." Technology and Intimacy: Choice of Coercion. Kreps, D., Fletcher, G. and Griffiths, M. Switzerland, Springer International Publishing: 291-302

Tatnall, A. and Davey, B. (2016). "Towards Machine Independence: from Mechanically Programmed Devices to the Internet of Things." International Histories of Innovation and Invention. Tatnall, A. and Leslie, C. Switzerland, Springer International Publishing: 93-107

Tatnall, A. (2016). "The Beginnings of Government Support for Computers in School: The State Computer Education Centre of Victoria in the 1980s." Technology and Intimacy: Choice of Coercion. Kreps, D., Fletcher, G. and Griffiths, M. Switzerland, Springer International Publishing: 291-302

Unnithan, C. and Tatnall, A. (2015). "Radio Frequency Identification Technology in an Australian Regional Hospital: An Innovation Translation Experience with ANT." Maximizing Healthcare Delivery and Management through Technology Integration. Iyamu, T. and Tatnall, Arthur. Hershey, USA, Medical Information Science Reference (an imprint of IGI Global): 76-100

Tatnall, A. (2014). "Aspects of the History of Computing - an Actor-Network Perspective." Le Sujet De L'Acteur - An Anthropological Outlook on Actor-Network Theory. Kapriev, G., Roussel, M. and Tchalakov, I., Wilhelm Fink. Paderborn, Germany: 145-162

Tatnall, A. and B. Davey (2014). "History of the Use of Computers and Information Technology in Education in Universities and Schools in Victoria." ICT and Society. Kimppa, K., Kuusela, T., Whirehouse, D. and Phahlamohlaka. Heidelberg, Germany, Springer: 214-225

Sharifzadeh, M., G. H. Zamani, E. Karami, D. Khalili and Tatnall, A (2014). "Climate Information Use - An Actor-Network Theory Perspective." Technological Advancements and the Impact of Actor-Network Theory. Tatnall, A. Hershey, USA, IGI Global: 35-60

Davey, W. and Tatnall, A. (2013). "Social Technologies in Education: An Actor-Network Analysis", Open and Social Technologies for Networked Learning. Heidelberg, Springer.

Demant, D. and Tatnall, A. (2012). "Institutional Nostalgia - Museum Victoria's Cabinet of Computing Curiosities", Reflections on the History of Computing: Preserving Memories and Sharing Stories. Tatnall, A. Heidelberg, Springer: 348-361.

Wickramasinghe, N., Tatnall, A. and Bali, R. (2012). "Using Actor-Network Theory to Facilitate a Superior Understanding of Knowledge Creation and Knowledge Transfer" (Reprinted), Social Influence on Information and Communication Technology Innovations. Tatnall, A. Hershey, PA, Information Science Reference: 205-218.

Tatnall, A. and Leonard, R. (2010). "Purpose-Built Educational Computers in the 1980s: the Australian Experience", History of Computing: Learning from the Past. Tatnall, A. Heidelberg, Springer: 101-111.

Tatnall, A. and Davey, W. (2003). "Modelling the Adoption of Web-Based Mobile Learning - an Innovation Translation Approach", Advances in Web-Based Learning. Zhou, W., Nicholson, P., Corbitt, B. and Fong, J. Berlin, Springer Verlag. LNCS 2783: 433-441.

Doctoral supervisions

  • Completions as principal supervisor: 11 PhD students, 5 DBA students
  • Completions as associate supervisor: 5 PhD students, 2 DBA students
  • Current as principal supervisor: 2 PhD students
  • PhD examinations (Australia and International): 55 students

Research grants

National Institute of Accountants (2009-2010), $16,000

ARC APAI grant, (2003-2006), $99,099

School of Information Systems (VU) Collaborative Research Scheme

An Analysis of Infrastructure to Provide Support for the Implementation and Delivery of Learning through ICT for Students with Special Needs (2004), $9,710

The Use of Information Systems by Small Business – an International Perspective (2003), $7,658

Professional memberships

  • Australian Computer Society (ACS), fellow
  • Informing Science, member