How Impacts Are Created In Academia: Navigating Impact Channels, Zones, And Design Thinking

How Impacts Are Created in Academia offers a fresh approach for aspiring academics seeking to make a lasting impact across various domains. Drawing on the experience of the impact creation journeys of nine academics, the author introduces the Impact Channels-Zones-Designs (CZD) framework of impact creation, which summarises impact channels and impact zones.

This book provides a suite of impact creation tools for academics to strategically plan for maximum impact and broaden their influence. Designed to support academics in addressing real-world challenges, these tools guide users in defining impactful goals, engaging stakeholders, and measuring success across research, teaching, and community outreach. By integrating these structured frameworks into their work, academics can transform their expertise into meaningful contributions that reach beyond traditional academic boundaries and impact designs.

Scientia Professor Shan L Pan is the Deputy Head of School (Research) at the School of Information Systems and Technology Management, UNSW Business School. A Fellow of the Association for Information Systems (AIS) and recipient of the inaugural AIS Impact Award, Shan's career has centred on advancing impactful research in information systems and digital transformation. With over two decades of experience mentoring PhD students and early-career researchers, guiding interdisciplinary research, and championing the practical applications of theory, Shan has consistently bridged the gap between academic inquiry and real-world relevance.