Personalized Ranking at a Mobile App Distribution Platform

2023 | Information Systems Research | Citations: 0

Authors: Mao, Shengjun; Dewan, Sanjeev; Ho, Yi-Jen (Ian)

Abstract: The ease of customer data collection has enabled the widespread personalization ... Expand

Abstract: The ease of customer data collection has enabled the widespread personalization of content and services in digital platforms. We examine personalization in a hitherto unaddressed context: that of mobile app distribution. Specifically, we develop a comprehensive framework for the personalized ranking of app impressions, leveraging revealed preferences embedded in consumer clickstream data. To improve platform revenues, the framework jointly accounts for consumer utility and cost per action (CPA) margin, which is the revenue earned by the platform per app installation. To this end, we specify a structural model of click and installation choices, jointly estimated as a function of a comprehensive set of numerical (screen rank, quality, and popularity) and textual (titles, descriptions, and reviews) covariates. Our novel data set is at the granular user-impression level and uniquely includes app CPA margins paid to the platform. We conduct a series of policy experiments to quantify the value of personalization. Specifically, we show that a personalized hybrid margin and utility margin ranking scheme outperforms other personalized methods, including those based on utilities alone or a combination of utilities and margins. Overall, our analysis demonstrates how platforms can leverage routine consumer clickstream data to personalize the ranking of app impressions, thereby more effectively monetizing mobile app distribution.History: Param Singh, Senior Editor; Juan Feng, Associate Editor.Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2022.1156. Collapse

Topics: mobile application personalization usability search engine accounting

Methods: experiment mathematical model robustness check latent dirichlet allocation Markov chain Monte Carlo

Theories: utility theory

A Taxonomy for Risk Assessment of Cyberattacks on Critical Infrastructure (TRACI)

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

Authors: Plachkinova, Miloslava; Vо, Ace

Abstract: Cybercrime against critical infrastructures such as nuclear reactors, power pla ... Expand

Abstract: Cybercrime against critical infrastructures such as nuclear reactors, power plants, and dams has been increasing in frequency and severity. Recent literature regarding these types of attacks has been extensive but due to the sensitive nature of this field, there is very little empirical data. We address these issues by integrating Routine Activity Theory and Rational Choice Theory, and we create a classification tool called TRACI (Taxonomy for Risk Assessment of Cyberattacks on Critical Infrastructure). We take a Design Science Research approach to develop, evaluate, and refine the proposed artifact. We use mixed methods to demonstrate that our taxonomy can successfully capture the characteristics of various cyberattacks against critical infrastructure. TRACI consists of three dimensions, and each dimension contains its own subdimensions. The first dimension comprises hacker motivation, which can be financial, socio-cultural, thrill-seeking, and/or economic. The second dimension represents the assets such as cyber, physical, and/or cyber-physical components. The third dimension is related to threats, vulnerabilities, and controls that are fundamental to establishing and maintaining an information security posture and overall cyber resilience. Our work is among the first to utilize criminological theories and Design Science to create an empirically validated artifact for improving critical infrastructure risk management. Collapse

Topics: IT security risk management usability data security strategic management

Methods: qualitative interview survey design science personal interview design artifact

Theories: rational choice theory activity theory information systems theory utility theory

Replication of design theories: Reflections on function, outcome, and impact

2022 | Information Systems Journal | Citations: 0

Authors: Brendel, Alfred Benedikt; Muntermann, Jan

Abstract: The replication of existing research studies and theories is considered a founda ... Expand

Abstract: The replication of existing research studies and theories is considered a foundational pillar of knowledge accumulation and an important instrument of discourse across research disciplines. Although replication has a long tradition in natural and behavioural science research, the design science research (DSR) community is yet to adopt it, especially the replication of design theories. However, it is unclear how the DSR community could benefit from the replication of design theories. Similarly, the goal of design theories is to obtain utility instead of truth raises questions regarding the transferability of replication into the DSR domain. Against this background, this study reflects on the function, outcome, and impact of replications, to understand whether the replication of design theories is possible and necessary. The study proposes that replication can be an important catalyst for reuse and knowledge accumulation in DSR because it provides evidence on the boundaries of design theory. Specifically, replication can increase or decrease the level of confidence and projectability associated with design theory. Collapse

Methods: design theory literature study

Theories: utility theory

Workgroup Embeddedness and Professionalism among IT Professionals: Impacts on Work-Life Conflict and Organizational Citizenship

2022 | Journal of the Association for Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Dinger, Michael; Thatcher, Jason; Grover, Varun; Tripp, John

Abstract: Over the course of their careers, IT professionals become embedded in their wor ... Expand

Abstract: Over the course of their careers, IT professionals become embedded in their workplace. In the organizational behavior literature, research has found that job embeddedness provides direct, positive benefits for employers, including lower turnover intention, lower levels of withdrawal behaviors, lower actual turnover, and more. In this paper, we present a more nuanced view, namely that embeddedness among IT professionals may influence the development of professionalized mindsets, which, in turn, has a mix of positive and negative consequences. To understand these relationships, we introduce a concept called workgroup embeddedness (WGE). WGE captures how IT professionals become embedded in their organizational workgroup or unit. We report a multiphase study that (1) developed a measure of WGE, (2) established the validity of WGE, and (3) evaluated the implications of WGE among 150 IT professionals using data collected at two points in time. We found that WGE drives an increase in professionalism, which, in turn, increases work-life conflict. Also, we found that both WGE and professionalism positively influence organizational citizenship behaviors. These findings indicate that WGE may play a role in socializing and driving more professionalized mindsets among IT professionals, such as professional identification, which leads to positive outcomes like citizenship behaviors but may come at the expense of negative consequences in professionals' nonwork lives. Post hoc findings highlight that belief in public service and identification with the IT profession influence work-life conflict and organizational citizenship. We conclude with implications for research and practice. , where he enjoyed the mountain life and beach life. Jason's research examines topics such as technology use, IT strategy, cybersecurity, and IT human resource management. Collapse

Topics: IT workforce IT work human resource management IT career IT manager

Methods: post-hoc analysis psychometrics partial least squares path modeling survey meta analysis

Theories: organizational behavior theory utility theory attachment theory

Personalized Recommendation through Disentangled Representation Learning of Consumers’ Multiple Digital Footprints

2022 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Shi, Yansong; Wang, Cong; Guo, Xunhua; Chen, Guoqing

Abstract: The pervasiveness of multiple types of digital footprints recorded on e-commerc ... Expand

Abstract: The pervasiveness of multiple types of digital footprints recorded on e-commerce platforms have added fuel to the design of personalized recommender systems. Despite the abundance, consumers' digital footprints can be confounded with many causes, both internally and externally. To disentangle the causes driving consumers' behaviors, a causal recommendation method, i.e., DIPC, based on cause disentanglement at various consumption stages is proposed in the paper. Referring to related theories, interest and item popularity are recognized as causes driving consumer behaviors in the need recognition stage, while behaviors in the pre-purchase and purchase stages are assumed to be motivated by interest and conformity. To rigorously evaluate the performance of DIPC, extensive experiments are conducted on a real-world dataset with carefully designed intervention in terms of modeling multiple digital footprints and causality learning. The results show that DIPC outperforms all baselines significantly and possesses good interpretability, demonstrating the superiority of the proposed causal recommendation method. Collapse

Topics: recommender system consumer behavior social influence pandemic

Methods: experiment computational algorithm digital trace data ablation analysis descriptive statistic

Theories: utility theory social influence theory

On the Effectiveness of Overt and Covert Interventions in Influencing Cookie Consent: Field Experimental Evidence

2021 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Mager, Stefan; Kranz, Johann

Abstract: Cookie consent notices (CCNs) became ubiquitous on websites ever since authorit ... Expand

Abstract: Cookie consent notices (CCNs) became ubiquitous on websites ever since authorities, including the EU, adopted comprehensive privacy regulations. Empirical studies have demonstrated that, with decreasing permission to use consumer data, website operators increasingly choose CCN design architectures that nudge users unwittingly into giving extensive consent. We investigate in a field experiment a viable alternative to these practices that induces a more deliberate user choice. Employing the theoretical lens of Dual Process Cognition Theory, we compare the effects of a covert nudge (System 1 intervention) on consent decisions to more overt incentives (System 2 intervention). Our field data from 613 participants reveal that CCNs using an overt monetary incentive increase a consent rate more than a covert digital nudge. Beyond that, combined interventions yielded strongest effects. The results underscore that pricing cookie placement might lead to more satisfying outcomes for firms, users and regulators than a sole right to deny tracking. Collapse

Topics: website privacy electronic commerce internet technology fake news

Methods: experimental group field experiment survey experiment descriptive statistic

Theories: cognitive theory cognitive dissonance theory behavioral economics expectancy theory of motivation privacy calculus theory

Mobile Consumer Scanning Technology: A Replacement for Interorganizational Information Systems for Demand Information Learning in Supply Chains?

2021 | Information Systems Research | Citations: 5

Authors: Shi, Ye; Alwan, Layth C.; Raghunathan, Srinivasan; Yu, Yugang; Yue, Xiaohang

Abstract: Upstream firms in supply chains have shown a growing interest in deploying consu ... Expand

Abstract: Upstream firms in supply chains have shown a growing interest in deploying consumer scanning technology (CST), which relies on consumers scanning the purchased products with their mobile devices, as a novel alternative to conventional interorganizational information technology (IOIT) to learn downstream consumer demand information. However, there is limited understanding in the literature on (i) how CST helps improve upstream firms’ performances and (ii) whether CST will replace IOIT. This paper develops a theoretical model to examine the value of CST to a supplier that bypasses a retailer and employs CST to directly collect scan information from consumers who are incentivized with a reward for their scanning effort. Our theoretical analysis demonstrates that CST offers both operational and strategic value to the supplier. On the operational level, recognizing that the scan information gathered by CST is a censored version of the realized demand, we develop a simple and effective approach for the supplier to learn the realized demand from the censored scan information. We then investigate the learning efficiency of our approach, the optimal reward decisions, and the savings in the supplier’s inventory overage and underage costs arising from CST. On the strategic level, we examine the choice of IOIT and CST within supply chains in equilibrium. Contrary to the conventional view, we find that the availability of CST may expand (instead of suppress) the use of IOIT within supply chains. Using an extensive simulation analysis based on real-world data from a manufacturer that has implemented a CST program, we show that the value of CST to a manufacturer can be substantial and provide insights into how market conditions affect the value. Collapse

Topics: supply chain management mobile application organizational value information exchange WeChat

Methods: longitudinal research autocorrelation analysis simulation computational algorithm theory development

Theories: utility theory game theory

User values and the development of a cybersecurity public policy for the IoT

2021 | International Journal of Information Management | Citations: 0

Authors: Smith, Kane J.; Dhillon, Gurpreet; Carter, Lemuria

Abstract: Public administrators, entrusted to develop public policy to manage the growing ... Expand

Abstract: Public administrators, entrusted to develop public policy to manage the growing complexities of the IoT, face significant challenges. The challenges exist because of three reasons; First, there is a lack of policy direction. Second, user values related to cybersecurity are not well understood. Third, there is a lack of clarity as to how IoT public policy should be developed. In this paper we argue that new IoT policy should be guided by key stakeholder values (i.e. what users think to be important). We utilize the Public Value Forum to elicit public values to inform decision-making surrounding IoT policy by public administrators, conceptually informed by Rational choice theory. We use a five-phase process to introduce the decision context (i.e. the policy problem), define fundamental objectives, rank these objectives, identify value-based trade-offs between them and construct a multi-attribute utility model. The findings indicate several key themes for IoT security from the citizens themselves and decision-making administrators in diverse public agencies developing IoT cybersecurity public policy. Collapse

Topics: internet of things mobile system decision making IT security information management

Methods: archival research qualitative interview personal interview expert evaluation design artifact

Theories: rational choice theory utility theory

How Far are You Gonna Go? Understanding Pedestrian Catchment Areas in Shared Mobility Systems

2021 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Willnat, Mathias; Lembcke, Tim-Benjamin; Harnischmacher, Christine; Prinz, Christoph; Klumpp, Matthias

Abstract: Bikesharing systems constitute a pivotal pillar to foster sustainable urban mob ... Expand

Abstract: Bikesharing systems constitute a pivotal pillar to foster sustainable urban mobility. To leverage this potential, information systems (IS) research addresses both (a) decision support systems for operators to increase access to vehicles and (b) mobile app designs for end-users. However, the salient question of situational factors determining when users utilize bikesharing or decide for alternative modes has received limited attention. We present results of a large-scale stated choice experiment analyzing the shape and size of situational catchment areas, the role of vehicle pickup detours, and the perception of spatial versus time-dimensional visualizations. Our results challenge established assumptions of uniform circular catchment areas. Moreover, while map visualizations of detours lower the willingness to engage in bikesharing, they do not significantly increase the perceived information quality. We conclude with theoretical and practical implications for both decision support and user engagement to promote sustainable shared mobility. Collapse

Topics: data quality decision support system user interface usability decision making

Methods: experiment survey statistical hypothesis test simulation experimental group

Theories: cognitive fit theory utility theory

Distance and Local Competition in Mobile Geofencing

2020 | Information Systems Research | Citations: 5

Authors: Ho, Yi-Jen (Ian); Dewan, Sanjeev; Ho, Yi-Chun (Chad)

Abstract: This research studies the performance of geofencing, a practice where mobile use ... Expand

Abstract: This research studies the performance of geofencing, a practice where mobile users are targeted within a predefined virtual geographic boundary around an advertiser’s establishment. We argue the significance of distance (i.e., the mileage from a consumer to a focal establishment) and local competition (i.e., the number of alternatives in consumer vicinity) in ad responses. Drawing on the notion of the purchase funnel, we develop a two-stage hierarchical Bayesian model to examine consumer click and conversion choices. A unique data set of geofencing ad impressions is collected from one of the largest location-based marketing agencies in the United States. The results suggest that local competition matters in the click stage, whereas distance influences the propensity of conversion. Quantitatively, one additional competitor in the consumer vicinity zone lowers the click-through rate by 1.03%, whereas a 1-mile increase in distance results in a 17.64% decrease in the conversion rate. We also find a significant interactive effect, whereby a higher degree of local competition amplifies the negative impact of distance on the likelihood of conversions. Additionally, product differentiation ameliorates the effects of distance and local competition, whereas these effects are found to be more prominent during office working hours. This study discovers the stage-varying roles of distance and local competition along the customer journey and offers new directions for more effective location-based targeting. Collapse

Topics: advertising management product differentiation mobile application marketing management mobile system

Methods: descriptive statistic robustness check longitudinal research Bayesian analysis simulation

Theories: utility theory