Information Technology Environment Research Articles

An Integrated Framework for Addressing the Challenges and Strategies of Technology Adoption: A Systematic Review

While the rapid growth of information technology (IT) adoption has not lessened, insufficient attention has been directed towards the major themes and sub-themes of IT adoption challenges. Consequently, this study consists of a systematic literature review of the challenges of technology adoption based on a total of 235 peer-reviewed articles from the business and management literature between 2012-2022. Our longitudinal study provides an integrated framework for matching IT challenges to organizational strategies for transforming IT practices and processes. The results of the review broaden scholarly understanding of the importance of strategic IT agility, the need to keep pace with competitive information systems and IT environments. The findings enhance understanding of the pre-change and post-change processes of IT adoption, expanding knowledge on adoption success and organizational strategies for achieving IT strategic agility. Three key contributions include closing gaps not explored in comparative studies, adopting a unified approach with an integrated research model, and strategies to enhance an organization's absorptive IT capacity and agility. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2024-08-03-025 Full Text: PDF

Empowering Inclusivity: Navigating the Transformative Landscape of ICT in Cultivating Inclusive Classroom Environments Amidst Challenges

In recent years, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has emerged as a pivotal tool in fostering inclusivity within school and classroom settings. This conceptual paper delves into the dynamic intersection of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and inclusive classroom environments, exploring ICT's transformative potential amidst the multifaceted challenges and issues. By analyzing the evolving role of ICT in fostering inclusivity, addressing accessibility barriers, and promoting diverse learning experiences, this paper aims to provide a nuanced understanding of how educators and stakeholders can navigate challenges to create truly inclusive educational spaces. Through critical examination, innovative strategies, and practical insights, this paper offers a roadmap for leveraging ICT as a catalyst for inclusive education in the face of complex challenges.

An Analysis of The Effects of Monitoring, Information and Communication Technology, Risk Assessment, Control Activity, And Control Environment on Organizational Internal Control: The Case of Mongolia

The aims of our study to look at how different aspects like the control environment, risk assessment, control activity, information technology, and monitoring affect internal control in organizations. While many scholars worldwide have explored this, there hasn't been much research on this topic specifically in Mongolia's public sector. Given the current trends, it's become crucial for most large organizations to have strong internal control systems in place. In our study, we used data collected online in the first quarter of 2023 and analyzed it using SMART PLS 3.0 software. We also assessed the reliability of our questionnaire using Cronbach's alpha index. Unlike many other studies, we examined five hypotheses. One of these hypotheses showed a positive relationship with the impacts we considered. However, the other four hypotheses did not show a positive relationship with these impacts. Our research highlighted significant factors such as experience that influence organizational internal control.

Data Skills for Everyone! (?) – An Approach to Assessing the Integration of Data Literacy and Data Science Competencies in Higher Education

The proficient handling of data can undoubtedly be regarded as a key skill for the future. However, the need for data competencies is not limited to traditional professions in the information technology environment but is rather necessary across industries and work fields. Consequently, there is a call to integrate such Data Literacy and Data Science competencies into higher education teaching across the breadth of study programs. This study, descriptive in nature, sheds light for the first time on the status quo of this integration. For this purpose, a “Data Science Dictionary” has been developed, that structurally maps a corresponding curriculum of the German Informatics Society (GI). Using quantitative content analysis, more than 13,950 distinct modules from three German study programs (Business Administration, Business & Information Systems Engineering, Computer Science) at two different types of universities are examined. As a result of this comparative study, concise “teaching portfolios” are compared between disciplines, whereby the prevalence, proportion, and depth of the competencies integrated into the study programs become transparent. Thus, this approach can provide a basis for discourse on the future integration of data competencies into, e.g., business study curricula; furthermore, it can track the resulting progress in a longitudinal study.

DATA PRIVACY AND SECURITY IN IT: A REVIEW OF TECHNIQUES AND CHALLENGES

In today's interconnected digital world, data privacy and security have emerged as paramount concerns for individuals, organizations, and governments alike. This review provides a comprehensive review of techniques and challenges surrounding data privacy and security in information technology (IT) systems. The review begins by outlining the significance of data privacy and security in IT, emphasizing the proliferation of sensitive information stored and transmitted across various digital platforms. With the exponential growth of data collection, storage, and processing, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data has become imperative. Next, the review delves into the techniques employed to safeguard data privacy and security in IT environments. Encryption techniques, such as symmetric and asymmetric cryptography, play a crucial role in protecting data from unauthorized access and interception. Additionally, access control mechanisms, including authentication and authorization protocols, help manage user privileges and restrict unauthorized entry into sensitive data repositories. Furthermore, anonymization and pseudonymization techniques are utilized to conceal personally identifiable information (PII) and mitigate the risk of identity theft and privacy breaches. Moreover, the review discusses the challenges associated with data privacy and security in IT ecosystems. These challenges include the evolving nature of cyber threats, such as malware, ransomware, and social engineering attacks, which constantly test the resilience of IT defenses. Additionally, compliance with regulatory frameworks, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), presents significant challenges for organizations striving to adhere to stringent data protection standards while maintaining operational efficiency. Furthermore, emerging technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI), introduce novel security risks and privacy concerns due to their interconnected nature and reliance on vast amounts of data. In conclusion, the review underscores the critical importance of continuously evaluating and enhancing data privacy and security measures in IT systems to mitigate risks, comply with regulations, and foster trust among stakeholders in an increasingly digitalized world.
 Keywords: Data, Privacy, Security, IT, AI.

Sustainable IT practices in Nigerian banking: Environmental perspectives review

This review paper aims to critically analyze sustainable information technology (IT) practices in the Nigerian banking sector, focusing on environmental perspectives. The primary objective is to identify and evaluate the extent to which Nigerian banks have integrated sustainable IT practices and the impact of these practices on environmental sustainability. The methodology involves a comprehensive review of existing literature, including academic journals, industry reports, and case studies, to gather insights into the current state of sustainable IT in Nigerian banking. Key findings reveal that while some Nigerian banks have begun to adopt green IT initiatives, such as paperless operations, energy-efficient data centers, and electronic banking services, the overall adoption rate is relatively low compared to global standards. The study identifies barriers to adoption, including lack of awareness, limited regulatory frameworks, and inadequate infrastructure. Despite these challenges, the paper highlights the potential benefits of sustainable IT practices, such as reduced carbon footprint, operational cost savings, and enhanced corporate reputation. The paper concludes that for Nigerian banks to fully embrace sustainable IT practices, there needs to be a concerted effort involving policy formulation, awareness campaigns, and investment in green technologies. It recommends that stakeholders, including government, regulatory bodies, and the banks themselves, collaborate to create an enabling environment for sustainable IT. This review contributes to the understanding of sustainable IT in the Nigerian banking sector and provides a foundation for future research and policy development in this area.

Factors influencing the formation of adolescents’ personal readiness to resist the negative influences of Internet socialization

Importance. The active use of modern technologies by schoolchildren in everyday life, providing access to the virtual space of the Internet, which contains a large number of threats to the normal development of minors, contributed to the emergence of interest in the scientific community in the problem of forming the adolescents’ personal readiness to resist the negative effects of Internet socialization, as well as the identification of factors influencing this process. The purpose of the study is to research the factors influencing the formation of adolescents’ personal readiness to resist the negative influences of Internet socialization.Research Methods. This study is carried out on the basis of integrative, axiological, personalactivity and environmental approaches. The following research methods are used: analysis of scientific literature on the research topic, comparison, generalization, systematization, structuring of information.Results and Discussion. It is proved that the formation of adolescents’ personal readiness to resist the negative effects of Internet socialization is influenced by a set of factors that can be conditionally divided into two groups: external (information technology environment, natural and sociocultural factors) and internal (biological and individual psychological characteristics).Conclusion. The practical application of the obtained results is possible for the development of technology for the formation of adolescents’ personal readiness to counteract the negative effects of Internet socialization.

Nonmarket strategy and innovation performance in pharmaceutical industry: the moderating effect of internal capability and external IT environment

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between nonmarket strategy and innovation performance, as well as the boundary factors that influence this relationship in the context of the pharmaceutical industry in emerging markets. Design/methodology/approach This study analyzed matched data of 227 Chinese pharmaceutical firms and two secondary databases with SPSS to examine the hypotheses. Findings Nonmarket strategy promotes the innovation performance. High level of firm internal knowledge utilization ability and strategic flexibility strengthens the effect of nonmarket strategy in promoting innovation performance, while information technology (IT) environment weakens the effect of nonmarket strategy in promoting innovation performance. Originality/value The research studies the positive impact of nonmarket strategy on innovation performance in the specific context of Chinese pharmaceutical industry, and it introduces the internal capabilities and external IT environment of the firm as moderators of the relationship between nonmarket strategy and innovation performance. More importantly, this research echoes the call for research on moderator of nonmarket strategy and identifies important boundary conditions. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, it also explores the impact of the IT environment on the implementation of nonmarket strategy for the first time, which deepens the research on nonmarket strategy’s effect on innovation.

Exploring current solutions against DDoS attacks in SDN environment

Software Defined Networking (SDN) offers a novel approach to network management, with the potential to simplify administration and enhance security. However, as with any emerging technology, it comes with vulnerabilities that may impact its availability and functionality. A prevalent attack on SDN controllers is Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS), which, while not entirely preventable, can have its effects mitigated. This study explores the factors influencing the performance of industry solutions in defending SDN against DDoS attacks and evaluates their efficiency. It investigates various security challenges associated with DDoS attacks in both Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) environments and contrasts the effects of distinct DDoS attack types on multiple levels of SDN communication, such as Northbound-Southbound and East-West. Lastly, the applicable solution’s effectiveness was assessed based on the controller’s hardware utilization and response time.

Advancing Cyber Resilience: Bridging the Divide Between Cyber Security and Cyber Defense

The field of cyber security is characterized by its diverse range of techniques, tools, and concepts, and it is closely interconnected with the security of information and operational technology. The distinguishing characteristic of cyber security is in the adoption of offensive information technology strategies with the intention of achieving adversarial objectives. Nevertheless, the broad and unrestricted utilization of the word "cyber security," frequently used interchangeably with information security or IT security, has the potential to create misunderstandings among both consumers and professionals in the security field. The merging of these disciplines obscures important differences between them, notwithstanding their interconnectedness. This paper advocates for a significant suggestion aimed at security leaders: to limit the usage of the word "cyber security" to refer specifically to security practices that are closely intertwined with and dependent on information technology and operational technology environments and systems, solely for defensive objectives. In the context of computer network security, cyber defense plays a crucial role as a mechanism that addresses adversary acts, protects key infrastructure, and ensures information assurance for a wide range of enterprises, government agencies, and interconnected networks [3]. This study primarily examines the interplay between cyber security and cyber defense, emphasizing the development of the notion of cyber resilience. This paper presents a new conceptual framework for understanding cyber resilience, shedding light on the complex interplay between these several domains. Furthermore, in this model, the authors critically examine the tactics and measures necessary to enhance the resilience of cyber security and cyber defense in the face of escalating cyber threats. The article examines CRRT and MACS history, purpose, and future directions. At EU level, through the policy of innovation there is opportunity for more robust resilience and joint defense against ever-changing landscape of threat.

Edge of Enterprise Architecture in Addressing Cyber Security Threats and Business Risks

Enterprise Architecture plays a critical role in reducing business risks holistically and ensuring a company's resilience to cyber security threats. This abstract emphasizes the significance of Enterprise Architecture in contemporary organizational structures and its influence on these matters, particularly at a time when cybersecurity threats are becoming more prevalent in the global business arena. By integrating Human Resources, Governance Frameworks, Technology, and Processes, Enterprise Architecture offers a holistic perspective of the Information Technology environment within an organization. By means of a methodical governance framework, Enterprise Architecture conducts comprehensive examinations of interdependencies among components, detects susceptibilities, and establishes robust groundwork for enhanced threat prevention. Enterprise Architecture is not only a proactive risk management tool, but it also contributes significantly to the overall business strategy. The integration of cybersecurity and enterprise architecture entails not only fortifying the technological infrastructure but also integrating it into the overarching business strategy. This enables the correlation of cybersecurity endeavors with the objectives of the organization, thereby connecting technological aspirations with business strategy. This study emphasizes the potential of incorporating adaptive and agile responses to threats into corporate culture to foster innovation. By functioning as a strategic catalyst, it assists organizations in adjusting to cyber threats, safeguarding business interests, and optimizing operations within an ever-evolving digital environment. By integrating governance and enterprise architecture frameworks, organizations can proactively mitigate business risks and cybersecurity threats, thereby fostering resilience and sustainability in the dynamic digital environment.

Protection path of personal data and privacy in China: Moving from monism to dualism in civil law and then in criminal law

The relationship between privacy protection and personal data protection is legally and academically challenging. The PRC's civil law has evolved from the traditional monism of privacy right provision (protecting personal information) to the dualism of separating privacy protection and personal information protection. But when the private information within the privacy sphere involves personal information, the dualism protection is not absolute, but more delicate than it has been suggested.More importantly, there is little in the existing literature analysing the noteworthy divergence of the protection path of privacy and personal information in civil law and criminal law – or considering the reasonable convergence of the protection path under the civil and criminal law. China's Criminal Law has sought to protect privacy with personal information provision for more than a decade. But it is presently difficult to convert privacy content into private information for personal information protection purposes. Given the multifaceted forms of contemporary privacy invasion and comparative law trends and thoughts, we seek to build a protection framework for privacy in the information age under the criminal law – and continually updating it – so as to make use of the expression function of coherence law theory to nurture a culture of respecting individual privacy and trusting legal protection in the information technology environment. The eventual convergence of dualism protection of personal data and privacy in both civil law and criminal law corresponds to the doctrinal coherence in the information age and to policy considerations in the digital economy and society. Privacy is by default an inalienable right to protect dignity and liberty – while personal information can be a comprehensive interest, which values and balances security and purpose, in accordance with law, in a specific jurisdiction such as contemporary China. The dualism exemplifies criminal law's coordination with civil law in protection.

Smart City Approaches to Public Spaces and Services during and after COVID-19: Case Studies in Four Capital Cities

COVID-19 pandemic was reported to modify people’s behaviour in using public spaces and accessing services. This fact has become a critical input related to future city development strategies, space arrangements, and the implementation of smart city. Therefore, this study aims to 1) Identify efforts in several cities during COVID-19 pandemic, specifically concerning the use of public spaces and services, and 2) Compile the outlines of future urban planning strategies after the pandemic. The aspects related to the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), space arrangement, and urban environment are discussed. The analysis is based on case studies in four capital cities, namely Jakarta, Paris, Bucharest, and Canberra. Furthermore, field observations and in-depth interviews are used to emphasize changes in the function and use of public spaces and services during and after the pandemic. The result shows that differences and common elements configure the transformations of urban spaces since changes in the use of public spaces are closely connected to efforts to combat the pandemic. Meanwhile, in public services, changes are associated with the increasing use of ICT and Internet of Things (IoT). In the future, cities need to show their visions according to the local conditions supporting better spatial arrangement and management of urban environment due to ICT and IoT prominence.

VARIANTS OF RANGANATHAN’S FIVE LAWS: AN ANALYTICAL STUDY

The Five Laws of Dr. Ranganathan are the fundamental laws of library science which were propounded in the year 1931. Though more than 80 years have passed they are as useful as they were in their starting time but with some modifications. Various variants of Dr. Ranganathan’s Laws have been made in the changing environment of information and communication technology, this article explores most of them and discusses their implications in new era.

Vulnerability Exploitation Risk Assessment Based on Offensive Security Approach

Security incidents targeting control systems and the industrial internet of things (IIoT) are on the rise as attackers gain a better understanding of the nature of these systems and their increasing connectivity to information technology (IT). Every year, the number of vulnerabilities associated with these incidents increases, making it impractical to apply timely patches for all of them. The current vulnerability assessments, which are the basis for vulnerability patching, have limitations in that they do not adequately reflect the risk of exploitation in the real world after discovery and do not consider operational technology (OT) and industrial control system (ICS) environments other than IT environments. This study proposes to evaluate exploit risk in real-world environments by considering OT/ICS environments and calculating three metrics, including exploit chain risk, exploit code availability, and exploit use probability based on cyber threat information, including IIoT vulnerability data, used in OT/ICS environments. In addition, we construct exploitation scenarios in a control system environment to prioritize vulnerabilities with a high risk of exploitation based on the three metrics. We show that by assessing the risk of attackers’ intentions and exploited technologies for attacks against IIoT devices in a control system environment, we can provide defenders with comprehensive attack risk information for proactive defense.

The intervention of library service quality and administrators’ mental health anxiety under behavioral psychology

BackgroundIn the current information network era, librarians face more and more competitive pressure. The main reason is that some librarians’ ideas, knowledge structure, quality, and ability cannot adapt to the library work in the information technology environment. As a result, it is challenging to grasp various uncertain factors correctly, opportunities, and risks in the social environment change and its future development, resulting in different psychological anxiety problems.Subjects and MethodsBehaviorism is widely used in managing various social institutions. It has penetrated multiple fields of human social activities and daily life, such as psychological counseling, education, artistic creation, etc. Therefore, the research uses behavioral psychology to reform library service quality management. It is used to intervene in the anxiety of library managers. A total of 70 anxious librarians were randomly selected, 35 in each group. The general intervention group received conventional psychological intervention treatment, and the management innovation group used research methods to intervene based on traditional treatment. SPSS23.0 software was used for data statistical processing.ResultsBefore the intervention, the baseline data of all managers were not statistically significant (P>0.05). After the intervention, the anxiety of the management innovation group was significantly improved compared with the ordinary intervention group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).ConclusionsThe innovation of library service quality management based on behavioral psychology can effectively relieve administrators’ psychological anxiety.

EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE VIEWED FROM WORK DISCIPLINE, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AND WORK ENVIRONMENT (STUDY ON DUKCAPIL SERVICE, KLATEN DISTRICT)

The objective of this study is to assess the impact of work discipline, information technology, organizational culture, and work environment on employee performance at the Dukcapil Office of Klaten Regency, both collectively and individually. The present study employs a quantitative research design. The study population consisted of 65 individuals who were operators employed at the Dukcapil Office of Klaten Regency. The provided sample is a subset that is indicative of the larger population under investigation (Arikunto, 2019: 109). The study utilized a census sampling technique to collect data from a total of 65 respondents. The process of gathering data through the utilization of a questionnaire. The data analysis technique employed in this study involved the application of statistical analysis methods, specifically the utilization of multiple linear regression test, F test, t test, and the coefficient of determination. The findings of the study indicate that work discipline, information technology, organizational culture, and work environment have a partial influence on the performance of employees at the Dukcapil Office of Klaten Regency. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that the Klaten Regency Dukcapil Office enhance work discipline, information technology, organizational culture, and the prevailing work environment. These improvements are expected to result in an increase in employee performance, surpassing previous levels.

Национальное стратегическое планирование цифровой экономики: конкурентный анализ на материале Китая и России

At present, the wave of digital economy is sweeping the world. Countries all over the world are competing for the strategic commanding height in digital economy. In order to firmly seize this major historical opportunity and to transform and upgrade its economic structure faster, Russia keeps on strengthening the core capabilities of the digital economy such as information infrastructure, new generation information technology, ICT industry, human resources, information security, and digital environment supervision. Research purpose: a competitive analysis of the national strategic planning for the digital economies in China and Russia. Research objectives: 1) to provide definition for the digital economy; 2) to show the current improvement of the digital economy; 3) to study Russia’s digital economy; 4) to explore China’s digital economy. Research methodology: study of theoretical literature, data collection and analysis. Research results. “Strategy of the Information Society Development in the Russian Federation for 2017–2030” (2017) implies creating conditions for developing large companies in the information and communications technology industry in order to protect national interests in the digital economy. In 2021, Russia’s investment in the development of the digital economy reached the total of 4.094 trillion rubles. It represents an increase of 7.8 % compared to 2020 and amounts to 3.7 % of GDP. Over the past decade, China’s digital economy has made world-renowned development achievements. The overall scale has been the second best in the world for many years. The construction of information and communication networks is a global leader in terms of scope. The "Broadband China" strategy has been diligently implemented. The country has built the world’s largest fiber optic and mobile broadband network. The length of optical cable lines increased 2.7 times from 14.79 million km in 2012 to 54.81 million km in 2021. By June 2022, the total number of data center racks in China exceeded 5.9 million standard racks, and 153 national green data centers were built. Key core technologies have experienced breakthroughs. Investment in research and development of digital technologies is increasing every year. The level of digitalization in the service sector has increased significantly. The digital transformation of agriculture is making steady progress. In China, the deep implementation of the development strategy focused on innovation, promoting key technology research, accelerating the forging of long boards, making up for short boards, and building an independent and controlled industrial ecology.

Impact of smart city system on the construction industry in Sri Lanka

Purpose One prominent force behind sustainable growth is the growth of smart cities. Governments worldwide are beginning to concentrate on the Smart City System (SCS) towards a sustainable future. The construction sector plays a significant role in the development projects for smart cities. Hence, paying attention to research initiatives for smart cities is necessary because of the need for cooperation between the construction industry and SCS in developing countries. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of the SCS on the construction industry in Sri Lanka. Design/methodology/approach This study used a mixed approach comprising a series of expert interviews and two rounds of a questionnaire survey. Content and statistical analyses were used to analyse and validate the empirical data collected during the study. Findings The five most significant smart city elements affecting the construction industry were identified: technology and information technology infrastructure, environment, people, economy and governance, along with 15 significant enablers and 17 significant barriers of those smart city elements. Further, 18 significant strategies that can be adopted to overcome the barriers and enhance the enablers of those smart city elements were identified. Originality/value This study’s findings reveal that the synergy between the construction industry and the SCS would be a valuable reference for future studies in similar contexts. The construction industry in Sri Lanka will also benefit from the study findings, as the findings would help to improve the link between construction and smart cities. This study significantly benefits the society by revealing cost-effective ways to accelerate construction processes and develop cities sustainably.

PEDAGOGICAL DESIGN IN PROFESSIONAL TRAINING OF DESIGNERS

The article is devoted to the digitalisation of professional training of designers caused by the need to create a specific digital educational environment and application of modern digital and information technologies, contributing to the formation of digital competence of future design professionals at different stages of training. The relevance of the research is caused by fundamental innovative changes in the educational process, characterised by new requirements for professional training, aimed to improve the quality of training of highly qualified specialists. The authors emphasise that the solution of this problem largely depends on the development of educational content based on modern teaching technologies, one of which is pedagogical design. The scientific novelty of the article consists in a brief analysis of 124 Научное мнение № 1-2 (2023) the concept “pedagogical design” and its interpretation by the author as applied to professional training of designers. Particular attention is paid to the models of pedagogical design, as well as the process of designing and implementing educational content in the conditions of digitalisation of design education.