UNSW PRAxIS Lab

Advancing PRActice with Implementation Science.

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Bridging Research and Reality: Where Practice Meets Implementation Science

At the PRAxIS (Practice x Implementation Science) Lab, we address the "last research mile challenge” - transforming cutting-edge research into real-world solutions. Our focus is on ensuring evidence-based solutions drive meaningful change in organisations and society. 

Vision

To revolutionise how research drives real-world change by bridging the research-practice gap.

We envision a world where cutting-edge academic insights directly fuel innovation, solve complex organisational challenges, and create positive societal impact.

Mission

Implementing the Science:

Transform research outcomes into effective real-world solutions, ensuring that ground-breaking ideas transcend academic boundaries to actively shape business practices and societal progress.

Advancing the Science of Implementation:

Develop & refine methodologies, tools, and frameworks that systematically support the application of business research in practical settings, creating a robust foundation for evidence-based decisions.

How we create impact

Systematic Research Translation

We facilitate strategic partnerships between academic experts, industry practitioners, and leading research institutes. Through this collaborative approach, we identify high-potential research and accelerate its adoption in real-world settings. Our process converts complex academic insights into actionable, practical strategies, empowering community and organisational end-users to:

  • Implement innovative solutions to critical challenges
  • Make informed decisions grounded in evidence
  • Stay at the forefront of advancements through applied research insights

Implementation Science Products and Services

We pioneer the application of Implementation Science into diverse business and societal contexts. Through our portfolio of practice-oriented and Implementation Science research, we offer:

  • Customised methodologies and frameworks for effective research and digital implementation
  • Digital tools that streamline the adoption of evidence-based practices
  • Research partnership that guides practitioners through complex implementation journeys
  • Training programs for both practitioners and academics designed to build robust implementation capabilities

Collaborate with us

Please direct general enquiries to: praxis@unsw.edu.au

For Practitioners

We partner with forward-thinking organisations and practitioners facing complex implementation challenges. Our collaborations will support you through:

  • Navigating barriers to change
  • Evaluating organisational readiness and context
  • Planning necessary adaptations for your unique environment
  • Ensuring sustainable value creation 

Submit a short enquiry here.

For Research Institutes and Researchers

We form alliances with top-tier research institutes and teams with promising research outcomes. Together, we:

  • Identify high-potential research with significant real-world applications
  • Bridge the gap between theoretical insights and practical implementation
  • Amplify the impact of academic research in organisational and societal contexts

Contact us to find out more.

Our research and partners

1. Implementation Science for Value Creation and Transformation

We use Implementation Science methods and tools to drive organisational change and create value in rapidly evolving business environments. Our research in this theme focuses on translating cutting-edge academic insights into practical strategies for organisational transformation, particularly in the face of disruptive technologies.

Featured Project:
    • Funded by a government utility agency.
    • Developing a customised Implementation Science roadmap for the strategic deployment of a generative AI tool for positive business outcomes.
    • Leveraging interdisciplinary expertise in information systems, corporate governance, organisational change, leadership, and operations management to holistically explore the multifaceted organisational factors that would shape the success of AI implementation.

2. Implementation Science for Societal Advancement and Access to Opportunities

We apply Implementation Science techniques to address societal challenges and improve access to vital services and opportunities through digital solutions. Our work in this theme focuses on empowering communities in need to access public services, healthcare, education, and other opportunities critical to societal well-being.

Featured Project:
    • Partnership with SingHealth – one of the largest health clusters in Singapore.
    • Explored the implementation of a mobile application to promote effective chronic disease management, specifically the integration of health and social care to support patients with multiple chronic conditions.
    • Developed critical insights into the design-reality gaps common in healthcare, which have been disseminated to SingHealth to inform the future design and implementation of digital health solutions within their existing healthcare practices. The findings were also presented at a successful public seminar, in collaboration with the National University of Singapore (NUS) Behavioural and Implementation Science Interventions (BISI), which drew over 150 practitioners from across the Asia Pacific region.

3. Implementation Science for Digital Resilience

We adopt a range of Implementation Science techniques, toolkits, and models to enhance the resilience of organisations and communities in the face of acute and chronic shocks, from natural disasters and pandemics to cyber threats and climate change.

Featured Project:
    • Collaboration with the UNSW Digital Grid Futures Institute.
    • Creating a prescriptive framework for effective cyber risk management in renewable energy network implementation.
    • Translating the latest cyber risk and energy system modelling techniques into actionable strategies for optimising renewable energy deployment.

Our research outputs

Building Digital Resilience: A Symptom Monitoring System for Frontline Healthcare Workers

Researchers
A/Professor Yenni Tim, Professor Ng Chirk Jenn, Professor Barney Tan


We designed and implemented a symptom monitoring system that has actively supported 115 frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, alleviating the overwhelming burden of monitoring symptoms and enabling them to focus on delivering critical care.

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Digital Sustainability: Why Business Should Take an “Ecosystem Approach”

Researcher
Professor Barney Tan
 

To implement digital sustainability effectively, businesses need an ecosystem approach that fosters collaboration, adaptability, and shared value across networks, positioning themselves as key drivers of sustainable innovation.

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Bridging Grassroots Initiatives with Strategic Support in Digital Social Innovation

Researcher
A/Professor Yenni Tim


To successfully implement digital social innovation, it is crucial to effectively combine bottom-up initiatives with top-down strategic support. By aligning grassroots efforts with overarching strategic goals, communities can build resilience and thrive in an increasingly digital world.

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Our mission is to bridge the gap between academic insight and real-world impact. We believe that the true value of research lies in its application, and the most impactful research is that which transforms lives and organisations. PRAxIS Lab is dedicated to facilitating this transformation.

Associate Professor Yenni Tim and Professor Barney Tan, Founders and Directors of PRAxIS 

Our team

The PRAxIS Lab brings together a diverse, world-class team of experts from across the globe, united by a shared passion for bridging the gap between research and real-world impact. Our team members come from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds, including but not limited to:

  • Systems Design and Implementation
  • Data Science and AI
  • Public Health
  • Operation Management
  • Risk Modelling
  • Corporate Governance
  • Change Management
  • Leadership

Our team of experts is organised into three interrelated research themes, each led by a Theme Lead:

  • Resilience and Sustainability Theme: Develops solutions for long-term organisational and community resilience, enabling sustainable practices in complex environments.
  • Organisational Innovation Theme: Leverages emerging technologies to drive organisational change and create value across both business and government sectors, adapting to evolving challenges and opportunities.
  • Social Impact Theme: Enhances access to opportunities and drives societal progress by advancing public services, healthcare, and education for improved community wellbeing.
Associate Professor Yenni Tim
Associate Professor

School of Information Systems and Technology Management

Lecturer KF Cheung
Lecturer

School of Information Systems and Technology Management

Assistant Professor Mairead O'Connor, School of Information Systems and Technology Management, UNSW Business School
Lecturer

School of Information Systems and Technology Management

 

Professor and Head of School Barney Tan
Professor and Head of School

School of Information Systems and Technology Management

Associate Professor Helen Kang
Associate Professor

School of Accounting, Auditing and Taxation

Lecturer Maggie Yazhu Wang
Lecturer

School of Information Systems and Technology Management

Calvin Chan
Associate Professor

Singapore University of Social Sciences

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Research Associate Bradley Hastings
Research Associate

UNSW Business Insights Institute

Lecturer Alba Olivares Nadal
Lecturer

School of Information Systems and Technology Management

NG Chirk Jenn
Professor

Duke-NUS Singapore

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Latest updates

PRAxIS Lab Directors Shine at TEDxUNSW Event

Our lab directors were recently invited to showcase the power of Implementation Science at TEDxUNSW, captivating an audience of 273 participants. The presentation, which highlighted the critical role of Implementation Science in bridging the gap between research and real-world impact, was met with overwhelming enthusiasm.

Innovations in Behavioural and Implementation Science for Healthcare

Our lab director, Associate Professor Yenni Tim, and lab member, Professor Ng Chirk Jenn, were invited as speakers for a webinar on “Making Digital Health Interventions Work: The Key Challenges and Solutions.” This event, hosted by the National University of Singapore (NUS) Behavioural and Implementation Science Interventions (BISI) in June 2024, drew over 150 practitioners from across the Asia Pacific region.