IADIS-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL ON COMPUTER SCIENCE AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Number Vol16N1, 2021

14
LIGHTWEIGHT IT AS A NEW ANALYTICAL LENS FOR DIGITALIZATION OF NGOS

Authors: Marie-E. Godefroid

Abstract

View in PDF

Number of views: 86

While digitalization remains high on the agenda of most private sector organizations, many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) still struggle, due to budget constraints (Merkel et al. 2007). A concept that might be helpful in this context is lightweight IT. It describes "a socio-technical knowledge regime, driven by competent users’ need for solutions, enabled by the consumerization of digital technology, and realized through innovation processes" (Bygstad 2017). By building on existing solutions and focusing on the user, NGOs might circumvent high IT spending and sub-optimal IT solutions that do not fit users' needs. A use case analysis along the NGO value chain shows that ~1/3 of the use cases identified from literature already represent lightweight IT examples. Nonetheless, certain lightweight IT solutions successfully deployed in the private sector like RPA do not appear at all, leaving room for future exploration and improvement.

15
DYNAMIC CONNECTIVITY: SOME GRAPHS OF INTEREST

Authors: George Lagogiannis

Abstract

View in PDF

Number of views: 87

In this paper we deal with the dynamic connectivity problem, targeting deterministic worst-case poly-logarithmic time-complexities. First we show that instead of solving the dynamic connectivity problem on a general graph G, it suffices to solve it on a graph we name aligned double-forest that has only 2n-1 edges where n is the number of vertices. Then we present an algorithm that achieves all the operations in logarithmic worst-case time on a graph we name star-tied forest that consists of a star and a forest (of trees), both defined on the same set of vertices. The star-tied forest which can be seen as a special case of an aligned double-forest is more complicated than a forest on which deterministic worst-case logarithmic time-complexities have already been obtained by means of the Dynamic Trees algorithm, introduced by Sleator and Tarjan (1983). For implementing the operations we build upon Dynamic Trees.

15
MITIGATING THE INSIDER THREAT TO INFORMATION SYSTEMS USING FULLY EMBEDDED AND INSEPARABLE AUTONOMIC SELF-PROTECTION CAPABILITY

Authors: Ghassan (Gus) Jabbour and Jason J. Jabbour

Abstract

View in PDF

Number of views: 96

The insider threat is a problem that organizations have to deal with. Regardless of its size, mission, or location, any company that uses information systems is potentially vulnerable to insider attacks. Federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, as well as data centers face the same risk of being attacked by an insider. Countering the insider threat is a difficult and daunting task. Organizations concerned with the problem usually train their employees on security-related matters, rules of behavior policies, and the consequences of committing criminal activities. More technically-oriented solutions include enhanced credentialing and access control, and the use of monitoring tools that provide insight into the health and status of systems. This paper addresses the deficiency of widely-used monitoring tools and strategies. It discusses the difference between traditional security approaches and autonomic-based self-protection. The paper then proposes a solution that equips a system with innate self-defense mechanisms that relieve the system from having to rely on human intervention. The paper introduces the Insider Threat Minimization and Mitigation Framework. This framework equips systems with self-defense mechanisms such that a system can instantaneously respond to potential threats and defend itself against users who have unfettered access to it. The framework employs the autonomous demotion of power users’ access privileges based on analysis and evaluation of the user’s risk level. The paper presents the details of the proposed framework and simulates its effectiveness within a data center environment of mission-critical systems.

16
MISSION STATEMENT ACCOMPLISHED: PROMISES AND CHALLENGES IN USING E-PARTICIPATION FOR MISSION STATEMENT DEVELOPMENT

Authors: Jonas Fegert, Carolin Stein, Christian Peukert and Christof Weinhardt

Abstract

View in PDF

Number of views: 77

Mission statements are written declarations that summarize and communicate an organization’s core values and strategies and present managerial tools that can be used to motivate employees by creating a common self-understanding of an organization. With politics aiming to become ever more inclusive and participative ranging from the local to the global level, new technologies and findings about possibilities of self-determined, collaborative work from the field of e-participation emerge, which can be transferred onto organizational participation. We therefore present a procedure for incorporating e-participation approaches in mission statement creation processes to make place for more collaborative and open processes. This paper presents an eight-step nominal group process for the participative online creation of a mission statement. The process was tested and evaluated within three consecutive studies that surrounded different stages of a mission statement development, which relied on an existing e-participation platform. Our core findings show that (1) the participants of this initiative considered the use of e-participation to be helpful for mission statement creation and generally support the proposed process structure, (2) the platform’s suitability for developing mission statements was reviewed critically, making suggestions for important criteria of digital mission statement creation tools that should be met, and (3) participants could identify themselves with the final mission statement more strongly because of their own participation in the development process. While observing overall support for the suggested mission statement creation procedure, we build on the results of our studies to make suggestions for the design of e-participation platforms that will make them even more suitable for mission statement development.

17
ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE ARTIFACTS FACILITATING THE STRATEGY PLANNING PROCESS FOR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATIONS: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW AND MULTIPLE CASE STUDY

Authors: Frank Grave, Rogier van de Wetering and Rob J. Kusters

Abstract

View in PDF

Number of views: 96

The exploitation of new value propositions enabled by disruptive digital technologies—also known as digital transformations—influences the configuration of people, processes, and technology in a firm and must be considered in the enterprise’s strategy. Strategy planning, i.e., the process that determines strategy, is facilitated by enterprise architecture (EA). Hence, strategic plans are reflected in EA documents called artifacts. Our research identified fifteen EA artifacts that facilitate digital transformations’ strategy planning process through a systematic literature review. Furthermore, a multiple case study in the financial services sector was carried out to verify our theoretical findings. The case organizations show a fragmented implementation of EA artifacts, with each organization having established its own, almost unique, way of using them. Only four of the theoretically conceptualized artifacts were found in all organizations. Moreover, two EA artifacts used in all case organizations were not included in our theoretical conceptualization. In combination with the empirical research, the systematic literature review leads to an improved understanding of EA artifacts and their use in the strategy planning process for digital transformations.

18
DEVISING INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY EVOLUTIONARY PATHS WITH IT-CMF

Authors: Fábio Longo De Moura and Filipe De Sá-Soares

Abstract

View in PDF

Number of views: 93

The importance of Information Systems and Technology (IST) for organizations has been recognized numerous times, whether in facilitating the achievement of strategic goals, or in overcoming operational challenges, in addition to assisting managers in decision-making processes. The sustainable extraction of value from IST requires organizations to make efforts to maintain the use of IST aligned with the organization’s objectives. IT-CMF consists of a comprehensive framework to guide the evolution of an organization’s exploitation of IST in 36 management areas. Based on this framework, several evolutionary paths for the improvement of the IST capability can be derived. The prioritization and selection among the available paths may pose a problem for organizations, especially due to the intricate relationships between the different areas of intervention. In this study, we resort to Graph Theory to conduct a network analysis of IT-CMF, in order to assist organizations choosing the evolutionary path with the greatest potential for improving their use of IST, taking into account their strengths, weaknesses, and priorities.