Researcher
Leading Edge Forum

Simon Wardley, based in the UK,  is a Researcher for the Leading Edge Forum and his focus is on the intersection of IT strategy and new technologies.  Simon's most recent published research (December 2012) is entitled Beware of Geeks Bearing Gifts: Strategies for an Increasingly Open Economy.  His previous published research covers subjects including Learning from Web 2.0 and A Lifecycle Approach to Cloud Computing.

Simon is a seasoned executive who has spent the last 15 years defining future IT strategies for companies in the FMCG, Retail and IT industries.  From Canon’s early leadership in the cloud computing space in 2005 to Ubuntu’s recent dominance as the #1 Cloud operating system.

As a geneticist with a love of mathematics and a fascination in economics, Simon has always found himself dealing with complex systems, whether it’s in behavioural patterns, environmental risks of chemical pollution, developing novel computer systems or managing companies.  He is a passionate advocate and researcher in the fields of open source, commoditization, innovation, organizational structure and cybernetics.

Simon is a regular presenter at conferences worldwide, and has been voted as one of the UK's top 50 most influential people in IT in Computer Weekly's 2012 and 2011 polls.

Recent press/video articles

The Sunday Times (January 2013):  Wondering What Present to Buy your Mum?  Your Phone will Know

Silicon Republic (January 2013):  Everyone's an Innovator - Opening Data to Create Value

Computer Weekly (January 2013):  Open Source is just a Weapon

Computer Weekly (November 2012):  LEF's Simon Wardley makes the UK Top Tech 50 Most Influential People in IT for second year running

Watch Simon's presentation from the CW event (November 2012) on the fundamentals of change and why business activities evolve here

Computer Weekly (July 2012):  To Be Open or Not To Be, That is the Question

TechRepublic.com (June 2012):  Not Enough Pizza?  Why Your Tech Projects are Failing to Deliver

Computer Weekly (May 2012):  Why Great Companies Die - Repeatedly - and is Microsoft Next?

O'Reilly Radar (May 2012):  The UK's Battle for Open Standards

Forbes (April 2012):  Ignore the Extremists in the Software Standards Wars

Forbes (April 2012):  Be Wary of Geeks Bearing Gifts

Forbes (April 2012):  Pet Rocks of the Software Kind

Computer Weekly (March 2012):  What Businesses Should Learn from Web 2.0

Computer Weekly (November 2011):  LEF's Simon Wardley nominated in CW's Top UK Tech 50 - Cast Your Vote Now

Strata Jumpstart 'The Business of Data' Conference (YouTube video, September 2011):  Situation Normal, Everything Must Change

The Web Host Industry Review (WHIR) (August 2011):  Situation Normal, Everything Must Change

The Next Web (April 2011):  The 25 Most Influential People Tweeting About Cloud Computing

Wall Street Journal Europe (February 2011): Pinning Down Cloud Computing.

Watch one of Simon's presentions on YouTube from July 2010, entitled Situation Normal, Everything Must Change 

IT Business Edge (July 2010):  Maintaining Strategic Control over Cloud Computing