Data Science for Social Good

2023 | Journal of the Association for Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Abbasi, Ahmed; Chiang, Roger; Xu, Jennifer

Abstract: Data science has been described as the fourth paradigm of scientific discovery. ... Expand

Abstract: Data science has been described as the fourth paradigm of scientific discovery. The latest wave of data science research, pertaining to machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), is growing exponentially and garnering millions of annual citations. However, this growth has been accompanied by a diminishing emphasis on social good challenges-our analysis reveals that the proportion of data science research focusing on social good is less than it has ever been. At the same time, the proliferation of machine learning and generative AI has sparked debates about the sociotechnical prospects and challenges associated with data science for human flourishing, organizations, and society. Against this backdrop, we present a framework for "data science for social good" (DSSG) research that considers the interplay between relevant data science research genres, social good challenges, and different levels of sociotechnical abstraction. We perform an analysis of the literature to empirically demonstrate the paucity of work on DSSG in information systems (and other related disciplines) and highlight current impediments. We then use our proposed framework to introduce the articles appearing in the JAIS special issue on data science for social good. We hope that this editorial and the special issue will spur future DSSG research and help reverse the alarming trend across data science research over the past 30-plus years in which social good challenges are attracting proportionately less attention with each passing day. Collapse

Topics: societal evaluation criteria digital dashboard productivity social media pandemic

Methods: word embedding literature study literature sample longitudinal research design science

Is it possible to establish the link between drug busts and the cryptocurrency market? Yes, we can

2023 | International Journal of Information Management | Citations: 1

Authors: Almaqableh, Laith; Wallace, Damien; Pereira, Vijay; Ramiah, Vikash; Wood, Geoffrey; Veron, Jose Francisco; Moosa, Imad; Watson, Alastair

Abstract: Following the rampant increase in Bitcoin prices, there has been a proliferation ... Expand

Abstract: Following the rampant increase in Bitcoin prices, there has been a proliferation of cryptocurrencies, which have become a major way of doing business across national boundaries. This paper investigates the link between cryptocurrency markets and drug trafficking activities. More specifically, we explore the impact of the announcement of 24 major drug busts on the systematic risk and return of the world cryptocurrency market. We deploy an event study methodology to estimate the abnormal returns associated with drug trafficking activities in the cryptocurrency market. We find that the relationship between the two is quite strong in the case of some cryptocurrencies, albeit weaker in others. However, we show that drug bust news tends to create uncertainty, and accordingly impart risk into cryptocurrency markets. This study confirms the predictions of convenience theories of crime as to the relative attractiveness of cryptocurrencies to criminals, and the extent to which not only general, but also their own future interests, sacrificed readily on the altar of accessibility. We highlight how when social and regulatory foundations are weak, criminal behaviour may overwhelm virtual spaces, margin­ alizing more orthodox businesses, no matter how altruistic the intentions of their founders. Collapse

Topics: cryptocurrency Bitcoin criminality price management Ethereum

Methods: event study longitudinal research robustness check literature study econometric modeling

Towards Open Data Impact Evaluation Framework - An Empirical Analysis of the Demand-side Response

2023 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Ahmadi Zeleti, F.; Kerins, R.; Campbell, H.

Abstract: Open data is widely presumed to have a social, environmental, political, and ec ... Expand

Abstract: Open data is widely presumed to have a social, environmental, political, and economic impact; however, the evidence to that impact has remained scarce. The impacts must be explored and quantified to give a reasonable insight into the supply-side activities and demand-side responses. Collapse

Topics: open data online review data governance societal evaluation criteria decision making

Methods: case study survey survey design product review

Give me 3W1H: A Bibliometric View on Accountable AI

2023 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Bartsch, Sebastian; Schmidt, Jan-Hendrik

Abstract: Accountability is crucial to make stakeholders of Artificial Intelligence (AI)- ... Expand

Abstract: Accountability is crucial to make stakeholders of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based systems justify their actions, thereby explaining the harm such systems cause to AI users. Due to the importance of accountability in the context of AI, accountability was introduced into IS research through literature reviews. Therefore, while IS research's understanding of accountability covers the necessary depth, it comes at the expense of its essential breadth. Using a bibliometric analysis with 19,978 English-language papers, we shed light on the essential breadth posing three W-and one H-questions (When, What, Whereof, and How). Therefore, we contribute to IS research by highlighting the urgent need to revise existing definitions of accountability in the context of AI and establish them in IS research. We argue that a missing revision leads to non-transferrable findings within IS research. Accordingly, this study serves as a starting point for adapting definitions and creating a shared understanding in IS research. Collapse

Topics: artificial intelligence explainable artificial intelligence legal context database system IT security

Methods: word embedding word2vec bibliometric analysis machine learning supervised learning

Reconceptualizing users: The roles and activities of people as they engage with digital technologies

2023 | Journal of Information Technology | Citations: 0

Authors: Baskerville, Richard L; Myers, Michael D

Abstract: The concept of the user has persisted in information systems research and practi ... Expand

Abstract: The concept of the user has persisted in information systems research and practice since the field’s inception in the 1950s. However, the roles that people play and the activities they perform have changed considerably over time. People now engage with digital technologies for all kinds of activities and in all kinds of ways, including for both personal and professional purposes. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to reconceptualize the term “user.” We discuss the various activities that people engage in with digital technologies, the myriad roles they play, and an essential shift in what the term “user” means. Users might be active in shaping how a particular information system is used, they might be partners with an information system, they might be used by an information system, and they may spend sizable parts of their lives living essentially within information systems. We conclude by discussing the implications for the IS discipline of reconceptualizing the term “user.” Collapse

Topics: IS discipline mobile application societal evaluation criteria IT workforce organizational context

Methods: usage data

Theories: sociotechnical systems theory socio technical theory

Save Our Souls: Study of Twitter Use during India’s COVID-19 Pandemic

2023 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Bhattacharyya, Samadrita; Mojumder, Probal

Abstract: Twitter is a commonly used social platform for communication during disasters. ... Expand

Abstract: Twitter is a commonly used social platform for communication during disasters. Tweets by citizens during disasters to share information, seek, and offer help create a body of spontaneous, decentralized, emergent social media communication. Users' exploit Twitter's reach-enabling technological functionalities (hashtags (#), mentions (@), and 'reply-to') to draw attention to the messages. Set in context of the second wave of COVID-19 in India, that saw a surge in citizen-driven tweets seeking healthcare resources from fellow citizens and officials (i.e., SOS tweets), our paper empirically analyses the effects of Twitter's reach-enabling functionalities on online responses (i.e., retweets and replies) to these SOS tweets. We investigate the effects of inclusion of hashtags, mentions, and 'reply to' SOS tweets. We also examine the moderating effect of how the effects of the reach-enabling functionalities change as the social platform gets crowded with SOS tweets. The study offers various academic and practical implications. Collapse

Topics: Twitter pandemic social media Python societal evaluation criteria

Methods: propensity score method machine learning propensity score matching econometric modeling robustness check

Design Theory for Societal Digital Transformation: The Case of Digital Global Health

2023 | Journal of the Association for Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Braa, Jørn; Sahay, Sundeep; Monteiro, Eric

Abstract: With societal challenges, including but not limited to human development, equit ... Expand

Abstract: With societal challenges, including but not limited to human development, equity, social justice, and climate change, societal-level digital transformation (SDT) is of imminent relevance and theoretical interest. While building on local-level efforts, societal-level transformation is a nonlinear extension of the local level. Unfortunately, academic discourse on digital transformation has largely left SDT unaccounted for. Drawing on more than 25 years of intensive, interventionist research engagement with the digital transformation of public healthcare information management and delivery in more than 80 countries in the Global South, we contribute to theorizing SDT in the form of a design theory consisting of six interconnected design principles. These design principles articulate the interplay and tensions of accommodating over time increased diversity and flexibility in digital solutions, while simultaneously connecting local, national, and regional/ global efforts. inception in three townships in post-apartheid South Africa, different versions and configurations of the DHIS have been adopted by more than 80 countriesincluding all but two African countries south of the Sahara, Norway, and other "developed" countriesthrough the efforts of universities, ministries of health, international organizations, funding, and various other agencies. Its ambition highlights the concerns of equity, inclusiveness, and ideology-that is, making design "that matters" (Bødker & Kyng, 2018) for society.According to Markus and Rowe (2021), the study of SDT to date remains underresearched (cf. also Vial, 2019), despite its tremendous significance in the different facets of social life globally. This mirrors the general critique that Jørn Braa is a professor at the University of Oslo, Norway, where he has spent much of his professional career initiating, cultivating, and promoting interventionist research on and around the DHIS2/ HISP efforts. He is the "father" of the project. His work has been published in outlets including the MIS Quarterly, The Information Society, Information Technology for Development, and in books.Sundeep Sahay is a professor at the University of Oslo, Norway and for the last couple of decades has been engaged in the DHIS2/ HISP project, with a main focus on Asia in general and India in particular. His work has been published in outlets including MIS Quarterly, Information and Organization, Information Systems Research, and in books.Eric Monteiro is a professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and an adjunct professor at the University of Oslo. He has a long-term, low-intensity engagement with DHIS2/ HISP spanning more than two decades. His work has been published in outlets including MIS Quarterly, European Journal of Information Systems, Journal of the Association for Information Systems, and a recent book. Collapse

Topics: public good digital transformation digital innovation information management health information system

Methods: design theory synthesis theory development theoretical contribution longitudinal research

DO NEGATIVE EXTERNALITIES AFFECT PLATFORM MEMBERSHIP CONDITIONS? THE IMPACT OF MORAL AND REGULATORY LEGITIMACY ON PLATFORM GOVERNANCE

2023 | European Conference On Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Brandwijk, Noah; Reuver, Mark de

Abstract: When allowing third parties to join their platforms, platform owners run the ri ... Expand

Abstract: When allowing third parties to join their platforms, platform owners run the risk of attracting harmful third-party complements. Existing literature considers that low-quality offerings negatively affect crossside user satisfaction and attractiveness, ultimately harming the platform's reputation and stability. However, recent events show that negative externalities from third-party offerings can also motivate platform sponsors to adapt their membership conditions. Existing platform literature does not explain the underlying theoretical mechanisms. In this paper, we examine why platform sponsors adjust the conditions that govern third parties joining their platforms in response to negative externalities. We apply legitimacy theory to a critical case on a payment transaction platform. We find that negative externalities affect both moral and regulatory legitimacy, which in turn motivate the platform sponsor to adjust the conditions under which third parties may join the platform. Collapse

Topics: platform governance digital ecosystem digital platform user satisfaction network effect

Methods: qualitative interview case study theory development single case study

Why it Remains Challenging to Assess Artificial Intelligence

2023 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Brecker, Kathrin; Lins, Sebastian; Sunyaev, Ali

Abstract: Artificial Intelligence (AI) assessment to mitigate risks arising from biased, u ... Expand

Abstract: Artificial Intelligence (AI) assessment to mitigate risks arising from biased, unreliable, or regulatory non-compliant systems remains an open challenge for researchers, policymakers, and organizations across industries. Due to the scattered nature of research on AI across disciplines, there is a lack of overview on the challenges that need to be overcome to move AI assessment forward. In this study, we synthesize existing research on AI assessment applying a descriptive literature review. Our study reveals seven challenges along three main categories: ethical implications, regulatory gaps, and technical limitations. This study contributes to a better understanding of the challenges in AI assessment so that AI researchers and practitioners can resolve these challenges to move AI assessment forward. Collapse

Topics: artificial intelligence societal evaluation criteria IS impact systems design problem solving

Methods: literature study literature sample qualitative content analysis computational algorithm

Welcome to the second issue of Volume 32 of the Journal of Strategic Information Systems

2023 | Journal of Strategic Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Chan, Yolande E.

Abstract: EditorialWelcome to the second issue of Volume 32 of the Journal of Strategic I ... Expand

Abstract: EditorialWelcome to the second issue of Volume 32 of the Journal of Strategic Information Systems I am very pleased to introduce this 2nd Journal of Strategic Information Systems issue of 2023. It contains a series of thoughtprovoking articles.The 1st research article, "The influence of project initiators' person-to-person followership on project popularity in open source communities: The role of reach and importance," is by Qin Weng (University of Arkansas, Fayetteville) and Franck Soh (University of North Carolina at Greensboro). The authors write: Person-to-person (P2P) followership is an important aspect of major open source software (OSS) development platforms. In this age of social media platforms, P2P followership has significantly shaped the way users engage in OSS development by facilitating the establishment of connections among OSS users. Despite the prevalence of P2P followership, less is known about the impact of OSS project initiators' P2P followership nodes on their project popularity. This is a particularly important gap considering the low rate of OSS project success. We posit that OSS project initiators derive information and influence benefits from the quantity and connectivity of their P2P followership nodes … To test the hypotheses, we use a large panel dataset collected over 24 months from GitHub. The findings indicate that the quantity of OSS project initiators' P2P followership nodes including followers and followees has a positive effect on their project popularity. Moreover, such an effect is mostly dependent on the connectivity of the OSS project initiators' P2P followership nodes in such a way that highly connected P2P followership nodes do not impact influence benefits but they increase information benefits. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications.The 2nd research article, "Business-IT alignment as a coevolution process: An empirical study," is by Fabrizio Amarilli (Politecnico di Milano), Bart van den Hooff (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), and Mario van Vliet (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam). The authors write:We provide detailed insight into the complex coevolution dynamics that shape the alignment process by analyzing how different mechanisms and factors are mutually related in complex networks of feedback loops. We combine insights from the literature on alignment as a (coevolution) process with literature on alignment as a state to identify the different components of the organization's socio-technical system that influence alignment, the relationships between these components, and the role that different factors play. In our empirical analysis (based on multiple case studies) we focus on the actual interplay between relevant factors. Using a causal loop diagramming approachbased on system dynamicswe analyze how these factors mutually influence each other through various feedback loops and thus shape the alignment process. We extend previous literature on the alignment process.The 3rd research article, "Can ICT enhance workplace inclusion? ICT-enabled workplace inclusion practices and a new agenda for inclusion research in information systems," is by Monideepa Tarafdar (University of Massachusetts Amherst), Irina Rets (The Open University) and Yang Hu (Lancaster University). The authors write: Workplace inclusion (WI) is a strategic concern for organizations, yet is challenging to achieve. We investigate how ICT use can enhance WI. Based on qualitative data from a leading UK recruitment organization, we conceptualize five ICT-enabled practices -Expanding, Orienting, Enculturating, Leading, and Reflecting. Each practice entails the use of ICT to enhance WI through a distinct set of organizational activities. We highlight the Reflecting practice as key in enhancing other practices, thus developing a framework for ICT-enabled WI that constitutes inter-related ICT-enabled practices. We contribute to the literature on the strategic role of ICT for organizational and social good, an area of priority and focus for the IS discipline.The 4th and final article is a viewpoint article. "Responsibly strategizing with the metaverse: Business implications and DEI opportunities and challenges," is authored by Marco Marabelli (Bentley University) and Sue Newell (University of Warwick). Their article aims to lay out the foundations for IS research on the strategic implications as well as DEI opportunities and challenges of the metaverse, a sociotechnical system providing users with immersive, synchronous 3D experience of (virtual) reality through interoperable platforms and sensor devices. The authors write: We first examine the metaverse's technologies and its underlying business models, which hold immense strategic implications for Collapse

Topics: virtual reality IS discipline societal evaluation criteria information system use peer-to-peer model

Methods: literature sample statistical hypothesis test multiple case study

Theories: co-evolution theory socio technical theory