Kristján Reykjalín Vigfússon
Lecturer
2025 PhD in Business Administration (Strategic Management), University of Iceland
2016-2017 DBA studies in methodology, Edinburgh Business School
2016 IESE Business School, University of Navarra - High performance & creative negotiator diploma
2014 IESE Business School, University of Navarra - Personal Leadership Program
2006 MBA degree, University of Reykjavík
1998 Masters degree in political science, University of Iceland
1992 BA degree in political science, University of Iceland
KRISTJÁN REYKJALÍN VIGFÚSSON
CURRICULUM VITAE
Office: Reykjavík University, Department of Business Administration, Menntavegur 1, 102 Reykjavík. Iceland. Tel: 354-8602077. E-mail: kristjanv@ru.is – Last updated: September 2024 – ORCID: 0000-0002-9107-7489
Education
M.A. in Political Science. University of Iceland: 1998.
Executive MBA. Reykjavík University: 2006.
B.A. in Political Science. University of Iceland: 1992.
Other Education
Personal Leadership Program. IESE Business School Barcelona: 2016.
Ph.D. studies in methodology at Edinburgh Business School: 2018.
Current studies
Ph.D. in Strategic Management. University of Iceland: 2019 – 2025.
Supervisors: Prof. Lára Jóhannsdóttir, Faculty of Business Administration, University of Iceland.
Prof. Snjólfur Ólafsson, Faculty of Business Administration, University of Iceland.
Current positions
2018-Teaching Adjunct & full-time faculty member. Department of Business and Economics. Reykjavík University.
2021- Responsible for MSc and BSc Internship programs in the Department of Business and Economics.
2017- MBA Academic Council.
Previous positions
2021- 2024 BSc Curriculum Council.
2021-2023 Reykjavík University Equality Committee.
2012-2017 Director of MBA program. School of Business. Reykjavík University.
2007-2011 Teaching Adjunct. Department of Business. Reykjavík University.
2003-2006 Assistant Director of Icelandic Maritime Administration, Iceland.
1998-2002 Diplomatic Attaché at Icelandic Embassy in Brussels.
1992-1998 Head of department in Ministry of Transport and Telecommunication, Iceland.
Owner and
Board member
2020- Sustainability Fund, Landsbankinn
2024- Co-founder of Hljóðmörk, Capital area residence association for unnecessary aviation traffic
2005-2023 Co-owner of Manifesto ehf. strategic consulting company.
2016-2021 Co-owner and a board member of Hjallastefnan ehf.
2016-2021 Co-owner and a board member of Hjalli Model.
2016-2021 Co-owner of Elmwood Limited, school Glasgow Scotland.
Current research
My current research is in strategic management, with a focus on strategy formulation, implementation, and evaluation in businesses (fisheries) and organizations. My research interests include strategy, sustainability, and political economy.
Peer-reviewed publications
K. Vigfusson, L. Johannsdottir, S. Olafsson, A.M. Köseoglu (2025). Integrating Resource-Based and Market-Based Views in the Fisheries Industry – CEO Perspectives. Marine Policy, 171, 106454, doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106454
K. Vigfusson, L. Johannsdottir, S. Olafsson, A.M. Köseoglu (2024). Key success factors for implementing strategy in the Icelandic Fisheries Industry. Journal of Strategy and Management. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSMA-04-2023-0069
K. Vigfusson, L. Johannsdottir, S. Olafsson (2023). Strategy implementation obstacles: Iceland Fishery CEO Perspective. Marine Policy, 147, 105353. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2022.105353
K. Vigfusson, L. Johannsdottir, S. Olafsson (2021). Strategy implementation obstacles and key success factors: A review of the empirical literature. Strategic Management, 26(2), pages 12-30, https://doi.10.5937/StraMan2102012V
Papers in process
Sustainability in Icelandic fisheries: Competitive advantage or social responsibility?
Strategy implementation model for fisheries.
The competitive advantage of future Icelandic fisheries companies.
Papers presented at selected conferences
Business and Science – University of Iceland (2025)
Seminar of PhD students in Business- University of Iceland (2024)
Business and Science – University of Iceland (2024)
Seafood Conference of Iceland, (2024)
Polarization in Icelandic Society- University of Akureyri (2023)
Seafood Conference Iceland (2018)
Research seminar workshops organized
Seafood Conference of Iceland 2024 (Workshop on Strategic Management)
Publication, not peer-reviewed
Vigfusson, K (2010) European Union SMEs report on size, structure, and importance of SMEs in European Economy.
Vigfusson, K (2009) European Union SMEs report on size, structure, and importance of SMEs in European Economy.
Vigfusson, K (2012) How will EU membership affect companies that are Federation of Icelandic Industries members?
Vigfusson, K (1998) Influence of ministers and parliamentarians on budgets allocated to communes in transport and
healthcare?
Vigfusson, K (1992) How effective is the Icelandic Quota System in fisheries
MSc-thesis supervising
Kári Heine Hansen, MSc. Business Management, Strategic and Competitive Analysis of Vodafone Faroe Islands
Auður Ósk Vilhjálmsdóttir, MSc. International Business, The Iceland International Ship Register
Óskar Gunnarsson, MSc. International Business, Market Entry Modes Of Icelandic Fisheries Companies
Monique Delorme, MSc. Human Resources Management and Organizational Psychology, Implementation of Proactive Pay Equity Legislation
Teaching (2006 – 2025)
Strategy & Final project, MBA
Negotiations, MS in business
Negotiations, MA in Law
Internship in MS
Climate change & sustainability, BSc in business
Fisheries and businesses, BSc in Business
Iceland, EEA & EU, BSc in business
Negotiations, BSc in Business
Internship in BSc
Strategy, BSc in Business
International Business, BSc in Business
North-Eastern University Boston US, Sustainability in tourism, fisheries, and energy sector (2009 – 2020)
International cooperation
Chairman of the EFTA/EEA Working Group of Transport and Telecommunication in Brussels from 2001-2006.
Icelandic representative in EMSA (European Maritime Safety Authority) the Administrative board from 2003–2005.
Icelandic Embassy in Brussels, transport, telecom, info technology, tourism, postal services, and agriculture 1998-2001.
Communicator between Icelandic authorities and EU 1998-2001.
Dealing with EEA- issues and cooperation with the EU- Institutions 1998-2001.
Responsible for communications between EFTA and Icelandic Authorities 1998-2001.
Chairing and representative in number of governmental committees 1992-2006
Grants
Received the highest grant from Rannís in 1998 researching the state budget 1965-1990 in connection with
logrolling of parliamentarians and ministers.
Media appearances
Samningamaðurinn Trump og narssisisminn. Grein á Visir.is 4. mars 2025
Við þurfum að ræða Evrópusambandið. Grein á Vísir.is 14. febrúar 2025.
Stefnumótun og breytingar í sjávarútvegi. Viðtal í Morgunblaðinu 9. febrúar 2025.
Útgerðarmönnum finnst á sig hallað. Viðtal í Fréttablaðinu vegna rannsóknar 17. nóvember 2022.
Útgerðarmenn búi við stöðuga ógn. Viðtal í Fréttablaðinu vegna rannsóknar 15. September 2022.
Hatrammar deildur undirstriki mikla hagsmuni. Viðtal í Fréttablaðinu 10. Júní 2022.
Loftlagskvíði orðinn faraldur hjá ungu fólki. Viðtal í Fréttablaðinu 1. febrúar 2022.
Eins og kennslustund í stefnumótun, hvernig íslensk stjórnvöld hafa haldið á COVID stefnu sinni.
Viðtal í Speglinum á RÚV 1, 25. maí 2020.
Hvorki traust né trúverðugleiki í samningatækni Trump. Viðtal í Morgunblaðinu 12. apríl 2018.
Gjaldeyrishöftin rúmast ekki innan EES til lengri tíma. Viðtal í Speglinum á RÚV 1, 7. september 2012.
Leiðir ástandið innan ESB til heimskreppu ? Viðtal í Speglinum á RÚV 1, 22. júní 2012.
Um stöðu Grikklands og Evrunnar. Viðtal í Morgunútvarpi rásar 2. 18. júní 2012.
Fjöldi aðildarríkja ESB getur orðið fjötur um fót. Grein birt í Fréttablaðinu 2. apríl 2012.
Evrópusambandið reynir að stíga ölduna. Grein birt í Fréttablaðinu 5. apríl 2012.
Hvað ef írar segja nei ? Viðtal í Speglinum á RÚV 1, 29. febrúar 2012.
Þrískipt Evrópusamband. Viðtal í Speglinum á RÚV 1, 9. desember 2011.
Grikkland og þjóðaratkvæði vegna Björgunarpakkans. Viðtal í Speglinum á RÚV 1,1. desember 2011.
Slóvakía felldi björgunarpakkann. Viðtal í Speglinum á RÚV 1, 12. nóvember 2011.
Lognið á undan storminum í Evrópumálu. Grein birt í Fréttatímanum 13. maí 2011.
Hvert sem litið er í Evrópumálum má finna sjálfstæðisfólk í forsvari. Grein í veffréttamiðilinn Pressan, 26. febrúar 2011.
Norska þjóðin á 67% í 36 verðmætasta fyrirtæki heims. Grein í veffréttamiðilinn Pressan, 3. desember 2010.
Hvers vegna Sjálfstæðisflokkur og Framsóknarfokkur hafa ekki viljað breyta stjórnarskránni.
Grein í veffréttamiðilinn Pressan, 24. nóvember 2010.
Samninganefndin um aðild Íslands að ESB. Grein í veffréttamiðilinn Pressan, 10. nóvember 2010.
Umfjöllun um skýrslu ESB um stöðu Íslands. Viðtal í Speglinum á RÚV 1, 9. nóvember 2010.
Stjórnmálanetið heldur þó stjórnmálakreppan magnist. Grein í veffréttamiðilinn Pressan, 5. Nóvember 2010.
Gefum einverjum Mosjökull. Grein í veffréttamiðilinn Pressan, 2. nóvember 2010.
Enga styrki þó stjórnsýslan sé í molum. Grein í veffréttamiðilinn Pressan, 20. október 2010.
Umsókn Íslands í Evrópusambandið. Viðtal í Morgunvaktinni á rás 2 RÚV, 24. febrúar 2010.
Völd smáríkja innan ESB. Grein í veffréttamiðilinn Pressan, 28. nóvember 2009.
Smáríkjasambandið ESB. Grein í veffréttamiðilinn Pressan, 15. nóvember 2009.
David Cameron og Evrópusambandið. Grein í veffréttamiðilinn Pressan, 9.nóvember 2009.
2018 - Teaching & Reserach full time faculty member at RU
2012 - 2017 Director of the MBA Programme at Reykjavík University
2011 - 2012 Academic advisor for the MBA Programme
2009 - 2010 Director of European Studies at Reykjavík University
2006 -2009 Teaching Adjunct Reykjavík University
2005-2009 Manifesto - own consulting operation
2002-2005 Assistant Director of the Icelandic Maritime Administration
1998-2002 Head of division Icelandic Embassy Brussels
1992-1998 Head of division ministry of transport an telecommunication
Open University (RU) 2007-
North Eastern University Boston - 2009-2019
School of Industries in Iceland - 2010 -2012
Reiceived the highest grant workin gon my masters degree in University of Iceland from Rannsóknaráð Íslands.
I have specialised in and tought strategic management for nearly 20 years and worked as consultant for various organizations/companies across industries and businesses, public institutions, NGOs and interests groups.
I have also studied, taught and specialised in fisheries, EU affairs and negotiations.
Management consulting in strategy and negotiations as well as European affairs for government, nonprofit organizations and Interest Organizations.
