Research Resources Grants Career Writing Contact Google Scholar ↗
Scott J. Warren

University of North Texas
College of Information

Scott J.
Warren

Professor & PhD Program Director

Department of Learning Technologies

Scholar and practitioner of digital transformation in complex systems - examining how organizations adopt, integrate, and sustain emerging technologies across education, healthcare, supply chain, and enterprise settings. Two Ph.D.s spanning Instructional Systems Technology and Business Administration ground a research agenda that bridges learning design, systems methodology, AI integration, ethics, and organizational change.

Areas of Expertise

  • Digital transformation in complex systems
  • AI integration & technology adoption frameworks
  • Systems methodology & organizational change
  • Supply chain resilience & data analytics
  • Information technology ethics (ECET Framework)
  • Learning design & educational games
  • Environmental impacts of information technologies
  • Healthcare & enterprise IT implementation
45+
Refereed Articles
30+
Book Chapters
6+
Funded Grants
20+
Years at UNT
01

Tools & Resources

Decision-support tools, frameworks, and materials from research on digital transformation in complex systems

⚖️

ECET Framework

The Ethical Choices in Educational Technology (ECET) Framework - a validated, research-based decision support tool for instructors and instructional designers making technology adoption choices.

ecet.systemly.space →
📊

Digital Transformation in Learning Organizations with AI

Decision-making scorecard for evaluating IT adoption risks in organizational contexts. Supports structured analysis across complex digital transformation scenarios.

dtrisks2026.systemly.space →
🗂️

Digital Transformation Resources

Curated resources, frameworks, and supporting materials for digital transformation, systems methodology, and organizational change in educational and business settings.

dtresources.systemly.net →
🎓

DSI 2025 Conference

Materials, presentations, and supplementary resources from the 2025 Decision Sciences Institute conference work on digital transformation, systems modeling, and AI integration.

dsi2025all.systemly.net →
02

Recent Research

Digital transformation, systems methodology, AI integration, and organizational change - 45+ refereed articles, 3 books

No publications match your search.
2025

Enhancing Quality Assurance Through Strategic Artificial Intelligence Integration: A Framework for Higher Education Digital Transformation

Quality Assurance in Education - Warren, Vogt, Tincher, & Yang

Conf.

Measuring Return on Investment from Digital Transformation in Corporate Training Environments

Decision Sciences Institute Annual Conference 2024 & 2025 - Warren, Churchill, Fog, Tincher, Boone, & Robinson

Conf.

Leveraging Data Analytics Capabilities to Build Resilient Supply Chains: The Mediating Role of Supply Chain Flexibility

Decision Sciences Institute Annual Conference 2024 & 2025 - Warren, Fog, Boone, Tincher, & Robinson

Conf.

Beyond TAM and UTAUT: Improving Healthcare IT Implementation Theory

Decision Sciences Institute Annual Conference 2024 & 2025 - Warren, Robinson, Tincher, Fog, & Boone

Conf.

Cognitive Load Theory for Industrial Vehicle Training

Decision Sciences Institute Annual Conference 2024 & 2025 - Warren, Boone, Tincher, Fog, & Robinson

Conf.

A Sustainability Analysis of the Environmental Benefits and Challenges from Including Additive Manufacturing in the Supply Chain

Decision Sciences Institute Annual Conference 2024 & 2025 - Warren, Tincher, & Trussell

2025

Leveraging opportunities for self-regulated learning in smart learning environments

Smart Learning Environments, 12(6) - DOI

2025

Choosing Technologies for Education: A Sentiment Analysis and Topic Modeling Approach on Twitter Data

International Journal of Social Media and Interactive Learning Environments - DOI

2024

Ethics of Care and Soft Systems Methodology Employed to Guide a Doctoral Program Redesign

International Journal of Designs for Learning, 15(3) - Full Text

2024

Developing an Ontology to Explore Competencies Needed by Instructional Design Professionals in Higher Education

Journal of Applied Instructional Design, 13(3) - DOI

2024

A Model for Applying Cognitive Theory to Firm to Improve Organizational Learning for Sustained Knowledge Production and Competitive Advantage

Performance Improvement Journal - DOI

2022

Strategic, operations, and evaluation planning for higher education distance education

Distance Education, 43(2), 239-270 - DOI

2019

The historic impact of soft systems methodology on academic research and theory

Systems, 7(10), 1-15 - DOI

2017

Learning Games - The Science and Art of Development (Book)

Springer - Warren & Jones

2011

Opening the Door: An Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Problem-based Learning Game

Computers & Education, 58, 1-15

2009

A MUVE towards PBL writing: Effects of a digital learning environment designed to improve elementary student writing

Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 41(1)

2009

Educational game as supplemental learning tool: Benefits, challenges, and tensions arising from use in an elementary school classroom

Journal of Interactive Learning Research, 20(4)

2007

Situationally embodied curriculum: Relating formalisms and contexts

Science Education, 91(5), 750-782 - Barab, Zuiker, Warren et al.

2013

The Impact of Technology and Theory on Instructional Design Since 2000

Handbook of Research for Educational Communications & Technology, 4th ed. - Springer

2022

Strategic, Operations, and Evaluation Planning for Higher Education Distance Education Programs

Distance Education, 43(2), 239-270 - Warren & Churchill - DOI

2019

The Historic Impact of Soft Systems Methodology on Academic Research and Theory

Systems, 7(10) - Warren, Sauser, & Nowicki - DOI

2024

A Model for Applying Cognitive Theory to Firm to Improve Organizational Learning for Sustained Knowledge Production and Competitive Advantage

Performance Improvement Journal - Warren & Churchill - DOI

2023

In Support of Ethical Instructional Design: Translation and Use of the ECET Framework

Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence for Teaching and Learning - IGI Global - Warren, Beck, & McGuffin

Rev.

The environmental costs of 1:1 computing initiatives: A model to determine resource use, pollution, and e-waste impacts

Under Review - Journal of Cleaner Production

Rev.

Measuring University Students' Satisfaction with Traditional Search Engines and Generative AI Tools as Information Sources

Under Review - Reference Services Review - Lund, Teel & Warren

Rev.

Dynamic Systems Engineering: A Holistic Approach to Supporting Complex Media Design

Under Review - System Dynamics

Acc.

Aligning Instruction: Bridging State Standards with Generative AI for Teacher Education

Accepted - Journal of Applied Instructional Design

2025

The Evolution of Learning Technologies (Open Access Book)

In preparation

2025

The Strategic ROI of Training: From Compliance to Competitive Advantage (Book)

Submitted - Routledge

Rev.

Advancing Digital Transformation Ontology to Support Artificial Intelligence and Automated Production Planning

Under Review - Information Systems Journal - Warren, Fog, & Tincher

Rev.

Overcoming the Analytics Chasm with Digital Transformation Systems Methodology to Support Generative AI Integration

Under Review - Journal of Operations Management - Warren, Tincher, Talbot, Grotewold, & Stein

03

Funded Research

Selected funded grants and contracts

NIH - R25 GM150158-01 · 2023-2028

Improving Middle Grade STEM Interest and Learning Using GN and DOC

Co-PI

NSF FW-HTF-P · 2022-2023

Supporting the Future Industrial Operators Workforce in Warehouse & Distribution Centers

Co-PI

U.S. State Dept. / USAID · 2020-2022

Continuity of Education - American University of Iraq, Sulaimani (AUIS)

Technical Advisor & Research PI

U.S. State Dept. / USAID · 2020-2022

Continuity of Education - Kwame Nkrumah University (Ghana) & Philippines CHED

Technical Advisor & Research PI

NIH STTR · 2017-2019

External Evaluator - Educational Game for Legionnaire's Disease (Phase 1 & 2)

External Evaluator

Crystal Bridges Museum · 2016

Evaluation of Teacher Preparation

Evaluator

04

Career History

From classroom teacher to Professor and PhD Program Director

Academic Appointments

2022 - Present

PhD Program Director

Department of Learning Technologies, UNT

2016 - Present

Professor

Department of Learning Technologies, UNT

2021 - 2023

Technical Advisor / Researcher

Texas International Education Consortium, Austin TX

2013 - 2016

Founder & Co-Director

The Koan School, Denton TX

2011 - 2016

Associate Professor

Department of Learning Technologies, UNT

2006 - 2011

Assistant Professor

Department of Learning Technologies, UNT

2004 - 2006

Research Assistant / Designer / Novelist

Quest Atlantis / NSF, Indiana University Bloomington

Education

2018

Ph.D. Business Administration - Logistics Systems

University of North Texas

2006

Ph.D. Instructional Systems Technology

Indiana University, Bloomington

1998

M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction

University of Houston

1995

B.A. English & Political Science

Western Michigan University

Notable Early Work

Author of Archfall (2005) and Shardflower (2007) - fictional novels embedded within the Quest Atlantis digital learning world at Indiana University, demonstrating narrative-driven learning game design at scale.

05

Writing & Commentary

Accessible writing on systems, technology, and organizational change

Substack · Systemo Systems

Systems thinking for
the real world

Writing at the intersection of systems methodology, digital transformation, and learning technologies - translating research into accessible insights for practitioners, educators, and leaders navigating complex change.

Read & Subscribe →
06

Get in Touch

Department of Learning Technologies · College of Information · UNT

Interested in research collaboration, speaking engagements, consulting on digital transformation, or learning technologies? Please reach out directly.

Email scott.warren@unt.edu
Phone 940-369-7489
Institution University of North Texas
Denton, Texas

Research Tools & Sites