Bendik Bygstad

University of Oslo, Norwegian School of Economics

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Bendik Bygstad is a leading scholar in information systems, best known for his pioneering work on Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and the evolving role of IT functions in organizations. His research centers on the tension between lightweight IT—such as software robots, sensors, and mobile devices—and traditional, tightly governed IT infrastructures. Bygstad’s major contributions include conceptualizing how organizations can balance “loose and tight coupling” when implementing RPA, a framework that has become essential for understanding governance challenges in digital transformation. His highly cited 2019 paper, “Organizing Robotic Process Automation,” has garnered 55 citations, while his earlier 2017 study on lightweight IT in a Norwegian bank (41 citations) provides a seminal case analysis of how business units bypass central IT control. Bygstad’s work is notable for its practical impact, offering actionable insights for managers navigating the democratization of technology. He has also contributed to the discourse on IT function evolution, demonstrating how legacy structures must adapt to accommodate agile, user-driven innovations. Through rigorous empirical studies, Bygstad has shaped how researchers and practitioners understand the interplay between innovation and control in modern organizations.