James W. Cortada

James W. Cortada is a historian of information technology and a former IBM executive whose scholarship has shaped understanding of the digital revolution. He is a Senior Research Fellow at the Charles Babbage Institute at the University of Minnesota, where his work focuses on the history of computing, business innovation, and the evolution of digital-era management practices.

Over a distinguished career at IBM, Cortada held leadership roles in consulting, strategic planning, and industry research. His experience within one of the world’s most influential technology companies provided a foundation for his extensive historical writing, bridging corporate practice with scholarly analysis.

Cortada is the author of more than thirty books on computing history, information policy, digital transformation, and management science. His work is known for its breadth, archival rigor, and ability to illuminate the cultural and economic forces that shaped modern computing. He remains one of the most prolific historians of IT, contributing significantly to the field’s intellectual and institutional development.