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In Memory of Claudio Ciborra 1951 - 2005 |
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Tributes to Claudio Ciborra |
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Page 7
Pasquale Gagliardi
Secretary General, Giorgio Cini Foundation, Venice
Claudio, you will stay with us longer, because your creative thinking
will continue to affect our minds, and we'll treasure the memory of your
style in searching, playing, talking, teaching, living.
Lucas Introna
Lancaster University Management School
It was with a great sense of loss and sadness that I heard of the
death of Claudio. I could write at length about his work and what I admired
in it, as I am sure many could. However, what I will miss most is a generous
friend who was even more excited about phenomenology and Heidegger than
me. Our conversations about "the big man" were always a delight.
We have indeed lost a great scholar, teacher, innovator, and most of all
a friend. Claudio's parting leaves a great big gap in our community that
nobody can possibly fill.
As a Heideggerian Claudio knew that it is the possibility of death that gives life its vitality. An authentic life is one lived 'toward-death', not hiding from it or concealing it but embracing it as an ever possible possibility. I also wish to celebrate the authenticity of Claudio's life--a life lived in the fullness of every single moment.
May we continue to be inspired by him!
Carsten Sørensen
Department of Information Systems, LSE
Claudio was always the master of substance and style. From ICIS 1991 where
Claudio showed us photos of Hundertwasser's architecture and suggested
lack of documentation and improvisation as a means of creating strategic
advantage, over his taste of rotten mushrooms when he dressed as a preacher
took on strategic alignment at ECIS 1997, to his excellent recent presentation
of moody knowledge. He also had the rare ability to consistently deliver
recalcitrance. In his world social science laboratories could indeed blow
up, and they frequently did. The results were most often than not spectacular,
groundbreaking and unexpected. Due to Claudio's rigor, integrity, idiosyncrasy,
charm and in particular humour, it was impossible to take it personal
when his lab happened to explode in your face. His search in Gothenburg
for pasta sauce without the obligatory cream led the gang to a restaurant
where the Italian owner refused to believe that Claudio was Italian -
much to his own great amusement. Claudio was a unique person and we will
all miss dearly at work every day. His ideas locked in books cannot console
us as we have lost a friend.
Goodbye Claudio.
Marius Janson
University of Missouri - St. Louis
I had the opportunity to meet Claudio five years ago during an IS
workshop in Northern Finland. I was totally captivated by Claudio's presentation
of the spirit of Baroque Art and its relation to the field of Information
Systems. In addition to being and extraordinary scholar, Claudio was a
generous human being who, even though he was an accomplished skier himself,
took time out to give a novice like me helpful hints. My subsequent meetings
with Claudio were always a great pleasure and I experience Claudio's passing
with great sadness.
Finn Kensing
IT University of Copenhagen
We have known each other for the best half of our lives - professionally
and as friends. Your radical and innovative thoughts influenced the ways
in which I conduct research. We met at conferences, we travelled together,
and we stayed in each others homes. I'll miss the provocative ideas -
even the insults, I'll miss the laughs, I'll miss you.
Rik Maes
University of Amsterdam
In the light of our temporary farewell, I can only repeat the dedication
you wrote in the book you offered me at our last encounter: "To a
long lasting friend"...
Adel Al-Taitoon
Department of Information System , LSE
I am deeply shocked to know about the sad news of Claudio’s death.
We learned from him, and I remember the Interpretations of Information
lectures, and his deconstruction of theories such as resource-based view,
and many others. However, can the resource-based view offer something
that helps us to have better understanding of Claudio as one of those
resources for innovation in the information system field and beyond? Theories
and ideas produced by an intellectual and visionary scholar like Claudio
are indeed beyond death. We miss you Claudio.
Robin Hättich
SAP , Walldorf, Germany
I am very sorry to hear about the death of Professor Claudio Ciborra.
During my studies at the LSE, I was given the chance to attend his lectures
and to work with members of his department. The IS community will miss
Claudio Ciborra. My condolences go out to his family and friends.
Nina Andreeva
ADMIS 2002/3, Department of Information Systems, LSE
There is no doubt that Professor Ciborra was an overpowering mind and
an amazing human being. The moment that has been imprinted in my memory
is the day of our graduation in 2003, when he was standing on the stage
and reading out names of every student while presenting our diplomas.
After a half an hour of reading Greek, Russian, Nigerian etc. names, which
was probably as difficult as explaining the theoretical underpinnings
of information systems to the same people a year ago, Professor Ciborra
was congratulated by Howard Davies on passing the task "with distinction."
I think that this phrase describes the way he has dealt with the department
and the students - "with distinction" and this is precisely
the way he will be remembered by us.
Prodromos Tsiavos
Department of Information Systems, LSE
It is strange but the department, our department, has never been so full
of you now that you are not any more there.
You have always been a naughty kid making sure that no single research
seminar, conference or other event you ever participated remained a dull
gathering of bored and boring academics. You were giving me false deadlines
to make sure that I would submit my papers on time and we never managed
to agree on a single thing related to fashion, music or art, (if art is
those posters that I kept putting on the walls of the 5th floor). But
being a kid you would always be fascinated by a new idea; look out for
the people you loved; and give advice in your own unique Claudio way that
made me a happy man every time I would get a smile or an email from you.
I still remember our trip in Oslo with Ole, Jannis, Daniel and Diego,
the first research trip I had ever made. I had lost my wallet, credit
cards and was late in every single meeting we had when you turned to Jannis
and told him: "we chose not to have any children to avoid this, and
now look at us!”
Another time, in Oslo again, I was not letting you enjoy your meal and
kept asking you about a boring case study. You gave me a very serious
look and told me that we all have a limited time on this planet and we
had better spend it doing interesting stuff. This was back in 2002.
I hope that you will be cycling up there as well and I'm sure bicycles are not as easily stolen there, as in London. Maha says that she will finish your paper; I still need to look at the manuscripts for the risk case study; and Ash refuses to accept that you have left. I think he is right.
Mario Abis
Italy
Caro Claudio, lunedi il ns ciao è stato in una bellissima
rara giornata milanese di vento e di sole.E c'era, per come si è
svolto il tutto, un pò di stile,un pò di ironia alla True
Stories, tanta tenerezza,nessuna retorica...insomma sono sicuro che ti
è piaciuto.
A questo pensavo e penso..:a quell'iinsieme di affettivitò,di humor
e di intelligenza creativa che ti faceva unico e che rende innaturale
e insopportabile l'idea che tu non ci sia più.
Katerina Voutsina
Department of Information Systems, LSE
Our Claudio had always pursued authenticity and originality in every facet
of his everyday life. He was writing about the role of surprises and improvisation
in IT management and then the way he was lecturing was itself a surprise
and an improvisation! Every topic gained a new interesting and challenging
dimension after Claudio touched it. The discussions I had with him were
always an inexhaustible source of joy, excitement and intellectual stimuli.
I feel so privileged to have been his student. The academic world has
lost one of the brightest minds and we have lost one of the most beloved
teachers–We will miss him terribly.
Marit Torgersen
ADMIS 2002/3, Department of Information Systems, LSE
It was with great sadness that I got the message about Claudio’s
death. Claudio’s lectures in the Interpretations of Information
course gave me a limited, but extremely interesting, insight into his
brilliant work. Last time I met Claudio was on the streets of Oslo, where
he was giving lectures at the University. We accidentally “bumped”
into each other, and, as the wonderful person he was, he came along for
a nice cup of coffee (tea for him of course) and a long chat. It makes
me very sad to know that I will not "bump" into him again.
Mobina Salahuddin
ADMIS 2004/5, Department of Information Systems, LSE
I am honoured to have been taught by such a high calibre intellectual.
Professor Claudio Ciborra was truly inspirational and will be missed in
the world of Information Systems. Thank you Claudio for teaching us how
to think differently.
Adio Lasisi
Lagos, Nigeria
Claudio's type is rare to find. He is a scholar par excellence. I
will remember him for his brilliance, the joy he brought to his lectures
and his multicultural skills. We have lost a gem and I hope his works
will not die.
Lapo Mola
IULM University, Milan
I had the honour and the pleasure of being accepted by Professor Ciborra
as his Ph.D. student at IULM University last year. I haven’t had
the time to know him as I would have wished. As a scholar he always looked
for better and innovative ideas, asking courage of his students; not only
in their writing, but also in their lives; giving first his own example.
He lives in his works and in the hearts of all the people who knew him:
his friends, his colleagues, and his students.
I miss his guidance and the great things he was planning to do. Goodbye Professor.
Sundeep Gupta
ADMIS 2004/5 Department of Information Systems, LSE
Time has taken away a dynamic thinker and dynamic speaker, one who
pushed the boundaries of thought, whilst explaining his thoughts extraordinarily
well. Thank you for sharing.
Paolo Canonico
ADMIS 2000/1 Department of Information Systems, LSE
I met Claudio for the first time at LSE in 2000. I remember his constant
encouragement and the care that he showed in teaching; always open as
he was, in sharing ideas and research results. His mind-opening classes
stood out for their brilliance and insightfulness, ranging across many
disciplines, yet gifted with rigour and relevance. In all our subsequent
meetings throughout the years, I felt lucky in receiving from him words
of sympathy and support. In addition to his major intellectual legacy
and research accomplishments, personally I will remember Claudio's innate
ability to establish a climate of genuine relationships and mutual respect.
Mini Idudu
ADMIS 2003/4 Department of Information Systems, LSE
This is indeed a great loss to the department, staff and students and
the IS community at large. I was priviledged to have attended Cibbora's
lectures and will , like most of my peers, never forget his Armani designer
glasses. Claudio Cibbora was truly inspirational. His originality and
his unconventional view of life was a breath of fresh air to the IS community.
His books will continue to inspire generations of IS students.
My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time. May Claudio's soul rest in perfect peace.
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last updated
18 February, 2005
