IT Decision Makers Research Articles

The Evolution of Identity and Access Management: Integrating Biometric and Behavioral Authentication

This article explores the transformative role of biometric and behavioral authentication in the evolving landscape of Identity and Access Management (IAM). As traditional password-based systems increasingly fail to meet the challenges posed by sophisticated cyber threats, these advanced authentication methods offer a promising solution. The article provides a comprehensive overview of physical and behavioral biometrics, examining their integration into multi-factor authentication systems and their capacity for continuous, passive user verification. It delves into the significant security benefits these technologies offer, including enhanced resistance to phishing, social engineering, and insider threats, while also highlighting the improvements in user experience and convenience. The article critically analyzes the challenges and considerations associated with implementing biometric and behavioral authentication, including privacy concerns, data security, accuracy issues, and scalability. Furthermore, it explores future directions and research opportunities in the field, such as advancements in biometric technologies, the application of machine learning and AI in behavioral analysis, and the development of context-aware authentication systems. By synthesizing current research and industry trends, this article provides valuable insights for cybersecurity professionals, IT decision-makers, and researchers interested in the future of secure and user-friendly authentication methods. It underscores the potential of biometric and behavioral authentication to significantly enhance organizational security postures while improving user satisfaction in an increasingly digital world.

Mastering Microservices Architecture and Cloud Computing : In-Depth Strategies for Domain-Specific Optimization

This comprehensive article explores the intricate landscape of microservices architecture and cloud computing, specifically focusing on domain-specific optimization strategies. It delves into the foundational principles of microservices, examining their synergistic relationship with cloud technologies and their transformative impact on modern software development. The article addresses critical aspects such as service-to-service communication, API management, and data security in distributed environments. It also investigates the role of cloud-native services, including serverless computing and container orchestration, in enhancing microservices performance. Analyzing real-world case studies and emerging trends, the article highlights how organizations can leverage these technologies to drive innovation and maintain a competitive edge. Key challenges in implementing and managing microservices architectures and strategies for overcoming them are discussed. The research emphasizes the importance of tailoring microservices to specific business needs and provides insights into performance tuning for high-traffic systems. This article offers a forward-looking perspective on the evolution of microservices and cloud computing by exploring future trends and considerations, including the potential impact of emerging technologies like edge computing and artificial intelligence. It serves as a valuable resource for IT professionals, architects, and decision-makers seeking to master these technologies and implement domain-specific optimizations effectively in their organizations.

Leveraging Hyperforce for Scalable and Secure Multi-Cloud Solutions: An Architectural and Implementation Guide

Purpose: In today’s fast-paced digital world, businesses are turning to multi-cloud strategies to boost their performance, flexibility, and resilience. This paper aims to provide a straightforward guide on leveraging Salesforce’s Hyperforce in a multi-cloud environment. Hyperforce is designed to work with major public cloud providers, offering unmatched scalability, data residency compliance, and efficiency. The primary objective is to help IT professionals and decision-makers fully leverage Hyperforce in a multi-cloud strategy to drive digital transformation and maintain competitiveness. Methodology: This paper explores the key aspects necessary for a successful Hyperforce and multi-cloud setup, including architectural design, implementation steps, data management, security, performance optimization, and cost management. Through a combination of clear technical insights and real-world examples, the paper illustrates the challenges and best practices associated with implementing Hyperforce in a multi-cloud environment. Findings: By spreading workloads across different cloud platforms, companies can enhance redundancy, avoid vendor lock-in, and optimize resource utilization. The paper identifies critical areas such as architectural design, security, and cost management that are essential for successful multi-cloud adoption using Hyperforce. Additionally, the paper delves into emerging trends and future innovations in the multi-cloud space, providing insights into the evolving landscape and what lies ahead for Hyperforce. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The paper recommends that IT professionals and decision-makers focus on fully understanding and utilizing Hyperforce’s capabilities within a multi-cloud strategy. This involves following best practices in architectural design, implementation, data management, and security to maximize the benefits of Hyperforce. The insights and tools provided in this paper are intended to equip organizations with the knowledge necessary to effectively implement Hyperforce and drive their digital transformation efforts forward.

Is first- or third-party audience data more effective for reaching the ‘right’ customers? The case of IT decision-makers

AbstractOften marketers face the challenge of how to communicate best with the customers who have the right responsibilities, influence or purchasing power, especially in business-to-business (B2B) settings. For example, B2B marketers selling software and IT need to identify IT decision-makers (ITDMs) within organizations. The modern digital environment in theory allows marketers to target individuals in organizations through specifically designed third-party audience segments based on deterministic prospect lists or probabilistic inference. However, in this paper we show that in our context, such ‘off-the-shelf’ segments perform no better at reaching the right person than random prospecting. We present evidence that even deterministic attribute information is flawed for ITDM identification, and that the poor campaign results can be partly linked to incorrect assignment of established prospect profiles to online identifiers. We then use access to our publisher network data to investigate what would happen if the advertiser had used first-party data that are less susceptible to the identified issues. We demonstrate that first-party demographics or contextual information allows advertisers and publishers to outperform both third-party ITDM audience segments and random prospecting. Our findings have implications for understanding the shift in digital advertising away from third-party cookie tracking, and how to execute digital marketing in the context of broad privacy regulation.

An Application of the Analytic Hierarchy Process to the Evaluation of Companies’ Data Maturity

The aim of this study is to evaluate data maturity of a sample of Italian firms of different sectors and sizes, obtained through an online assessment submitted to 261 professionals and entrepreneurs operating in the data/IT domain. The paper's objective is to assess the relative importance of the factors that determine the success of big data initiatives, according to the company structure and managerial perspective. The questionnaire was digitally submitted to IT professionals and decision-makers in Italy through the LinkedIn platform. The assessment was divided into two sections: the first focused on the assessment of 8 critical success factors for big data, whereas the second assigned weights based on an application of the analytic hierarchy process. The result of this process is a weighted-scores system that reflects the relative importance that managers and employees give to different domains. Respondents agreed to the importance of integrated architecture, data-friendly corporate culture, and integrated organization domains. Once the results consider the weights from the AHP, data friendliness becomes the most sought-after characteristic. The findings provide direction for further development of this assessment system.

Perspective of Information Technology Decision Makers on Factors Influencing Adoption and Implementation of Artificial Intelligence Technologies in 40 German Hospitals: Descriptive Analysis

BackgroundNew artificial intelligence (AI) tools are being developed at a high speed. However, strategies and practical experiences surrounding the adoption and implementation of AI in health care are lacking. This is likely because of the high implementation complexity of AI, legacy IT infrastructure, and unclear business cases, thus complicating AI adoption. Research has recently started to identify the factors influencing AI readiness of organizations.ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the factors influencing AI readiness as well as possible barriers to AI adoption and implementation in German hospitals. We also assessed the status quo regarding the dissemination of AI tools in hospitals. We focused on IT decision makers, a seldom studied but highly relevant group.MethodsWe created a web-based survey based on recent AI readiness and implementation literature. Participants were identified through a publicly accessible database and contacted via email or invitational leaflets sent by mail, in some cases accompanied by a telephonic prenotification. The survey responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics.ResultsWe contacted 609 possible participants, and our database recorded 40 completed surveys. Most participants agreed or rather agreed with the statement that AI would be relevant in the future, both in Germany (37/40, 93%) and in their own hospital (36/40, 90%). Participants were asked whether their hospitals used or planned to use AI technologies. Of the 40 participants, 26 (65%) answered “yes.” Most AI technologies were used or planned for patient care, followed by biomedical research, administration, and logistics and central purchasing. The most important barriers to AI were lack of resources (staff, knowledge, and financial). Relevant possible opportunities for using AI were increase in efficiency owing to time-saving effects, competitive advantages, and increase in quality of care. Most AI tools in use or in planning have been developed with external partners.ConclusionsFew tools have been implemented in routine care, and many hospitals do not use or plan to use AI in the future. This can likely be explained by missing or unclear business cases or the need for a modern IT infrastructure to integrate AI tools in a usable manner. These shortcomings complicate decision-making and resource attribution. As most AI technologies already in use were developed in cooperation with external partners, these relationships should be fostered. IT decision makers should assess their hospitals’ readiness for AI individually with a focus on resources. Further research should continue to monitor the dissemination of AI tools and readiness factors to determine whether improvements can be made over time. This monitoring is especially important with regard to government-supported investments in AI technologies that could alleviate financial burdens. Qualitative studies with hospital IT decision makers should be conducted to further explore the reasons for slow AI.

Achieving Strategic Alignment of Big Data Projects in Saudi Firms

Big data projects can fail due to the lack of alignment between the big data project strategy and the overall business strategy. This research considers organizational culture as an enabler of a better alignment between the two. To test the research hypothesis, a questionnaire was collected from several dozen IT decision-makers in Saudi organizations who have implemented big data projects. Statistical analysis using PLS indicates that the alignment of big data projects and overall business strategy is highly influenced by the five dimensions of organizational culture identified by Smit et al. (2008), namely strategy, leadership, adaptability, coordination, and team relationships

What Type of Digital Advertising is Most Effective for B2B Prospecting? The Case of IT Decision-Makers

What Type of Digital Advertising is Most Effective for B2B Prospecting? The Case of IT Decision-Makers

Outsourcing Provider Selection Model in Public Sector

In recent times, decision outsourcing IT activities in the public sector is fast evolving in the world at large. This fact has been considered as a high level of strategic measure used in different industries particularly in the public sector where internal IT expertise is found wanting in the area of implementing IT activities to improve the performance growth of the public sector. Although outsourcing IT activities are beneficial to IT Practitioners, Decision-makers, and heads of departments, but the fact remains that choosing the right IT Provider is still a challenge that is inevitable to be avoided as they continue to make the mistake of choosing the wrong IT Provider during outsourcing provider selection. This study considered mainly the approach undertaken towards achieving the key objective of this paper which is the development of the proposed model that can support IT practitioners in outsourcing selection practices. However, this paper considered an appropriate technique that can be implemented in an uncertain and complex situation. Having reviewed thoroughly five existing techniques used in the prior researchers’ work, in-depth understanding on this justified that, fuzzy logic and its particular tools used Fuzzy Inference Systems (FIS) was found to be considered efficient and suitable for outsourcing selection practices in an uncertain and complex situation. Also, a pilot study and empirical study were conducted to ascertain the validity of the instruments (questionnaire data). The pilot study consists of 33 respondents while the empirical study consists of 133 respondents. Finally, the reliability test was carried out to determine the validity and reliability of the six influential factors selected, thereafter the proposed model was developed. The application of the developed Decision Outsourcing Selection Model (DOSM) will aid the IT Practitioners in their decision outsourcing Selection practices.

Drivers of Cloud Computing Adoption in Small Medium Enterprises of Indonesia Creative Industry

Cloud computing is one of the enablers of Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR.40). IR 4.0 is advantageous as it allows companies to increase performance and productivity. However, there are many enablers of IR 4.0, such as big data analytics, cloud computing, machine learning, and blockchain. However, the readiest to be used technology is cloud computing. While the advantages of cloud computing are well understood from the perspective of the literature and companies' point of view, the empirical evidence is still scarce. The research explores the drivers of cloud adoption between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Indonesia. The study method is a quantitative method through e-survey data collection analyzed using IBM SPSS and Smart PLS software. The recognition of drivers will allow IT decision-makers to design the right platform for SMEs, increasing their company competitiveness. The findings revealed that cloud flexibility, perceived concern, privacy, relative advantage, perceived cost-benefit, quality of service, and top management support are among the top cloud adoption priorities that need to be improved in the creative industry to ensure the adoption of cloud computing more apparent. The study's contribution revealed that cloud computing is no longer at the infant stage in terms of adoption. Thus, the findings paved the way for scholars to undertake future research focusing on cloud computing implementation. Companies, on the other hand, can learn from this research by improving the adoption aspects.

What Stands in the Way of Bigger Internet with Virtually Unlimited IP Address in Cameroon: A Study of IPv6 Stakeholders in Cameroon

The purpose of this case study paper was to identify factors that Internet Protocol stakeholders consider as standing in the way of the transition to bigger, more secure and faster internet with virtually unlimited Internet Protocol address in Cameroon and was completed in two phases. Descriptive method was followed and two study instruments were designed and implemented, namely focus group interviews and questionnaire interviews. Both instruments were validated and implemented on a sample of (6) experts for the interviews and (115) for the questionnaire. The focus group data were analyzed using a thematic analysis technique, leading to the identification of six themes including lack of policies and incentives to promote IPv6 deployment at government level, many organizations are seeing IPv6 as an issue that will only affect them in the distant future and not looking at IPv6 technology as an innovation generation opportunity. Decisions on these issues need to change if IPv6 current status in Cameroon is to change. The findings were then validated in the final phase. This involved the deployment of a survey questionnaire to collect opinions of 115 IPv6 actors working in both public and private institutions in Cameroon. The results revealed that IPv6 was not sufficiently attended to by organizations in Cameroon. The study results may be of practical use for Government IT decision makers. A further and more comprehensive research into the topic is recommended.

Risk Factors in Cloud Computing Relationships: A Study in Public Organizations in Sweden

Abstract Several predictions show an increase in Cloud Computing (CC) in the coming years. The risks in CC relationships can jeopardize the CC services; therefore, this research has looked to find the risk factors in CC relationships in public organizations in Sweden. A survey research strategy has been applied and the data was collected through interviews with IT decision-makers with relevant experience in CC relationships. The study has identified security as a critical risk factor. The CC clients do not trust their providers and therefore, they do not place sensitive data in the cloud. Additionally, we have found other risks in CC that are not critical, like, asset specificity, a small number of suppliers, uncertainty, relatedness, measurement problems, competences. The reason for this result is the low complexity of services in the studied public organizations. The findings of this study are several risk factors that public organizations should be aware of for improving their relationship in CC arrangements.

CRITICAL FACTORS AFFECTING CLOUD COMPUTING ADOPTION IN TURKISH COMPANIES WITH DIFFUSION OF INNOVATION THEORY

Cloud computing provides an effective computing technology in the way IT services such as data storage, network, and application are supplied externally by companies without software and hardware, long implementations, and delayed maintenance to decrease operational expenditures. However, there is an inadequate amount of scholars studying the effects of cloud computing adoption among Turkish companies. In order to fill the gap, this study aims to exhibit the factors affecting cloud computing adoption in Turkish companies. Diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory was developed to understand the critical factors affecting cloud computing adoption, deriving three factors: perceived advantage, cost-saving, and compatibility. Confirmatory factor analysis was applied to assess data. The findings showed that compatibility directly affected cost-savings. Cost-savings directly affected perceived advantage, and perceived advantage directly affected cloud computing adoption. The variance of perceived advantage also explained 15.8% of the proposed model. By adopting DOI theory, this study will intend to contribute to businesses for increasing the awareness of companies’ IT decision-makers about the perception of cloud computing adoption in the cloud computing decision making period in Turkey.

UNDERSTANDING DETERMINANTS OF CLOUD COMPUTING ADOPTION USING AN INTEGRATED DIFFUSION OF INNOVATION (DOI)-TECHNOLOGICAL, ORGANIZATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL (TOE) MODEL

Purpose of the study: This study aims to investigate the internal and external factors for CC adoption decisions of companies in Izmir, Turkey using a combination of DOI and TOE models.
 Methodology: This is a confirmatory survey of businesses, forming a questionnaire for 176 IT decision-makers of non-cloud or cloud user businesses in the city of Izmir in Turkey. SmartPLS 3.0 software is used to assess the determinants affecting cloud computing adoption.
 Main Findings: The study identified relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, and top management support, using security and privacy concerns and cost savings as mediating variables of relative advantage for CC adoption. The survey results indicated that complexity and top management supports are significantly important for efficient CC adoption. The model explained 41.2 percent of CC adoption.
 Applications of this study: The study is believed to be useful in fields including business development for most sectors, computing, cloud providers as well as researchers on business administration, sales, marketing, and IT infrastructure. Particularly this study and the suggested framework will help companies and businesses adopt CC appropriately. Moreover, as suggested in the study, governments can use such frameworks when encouraging cloud providers to support companies in their decision making and transition periods for CC adoption.
 Novelty/Originality of this study: This study will undoubtedly contribute to the decision making processes of the companies for CC adoption. Through the integrated in-depth analysis of the factors that affect the adoption decisions in an industrial region of Turkey, the study will also provide valuable data for the researchers and businesses within similar company personas.

Decision Factors for Outsourcing On-premise Applications of Institutions for Higher Education

In Dutch higher education institutions, IT outsourcing (ITO) is becoming more common. New applications nowadays are executed from the ‘cloud’. But what to do with on premise applications? Can they also be outsourced? If so, what factors does a higher education institution have to consider when making the ITO decision of their on-premise applications? This research starts with finding the factors that are already known in existing ITO literature (in different contexts). Then, these decision factors are validated in four explorative interviews before surveying the factors within a higher education context. In total, fourteen factors are deemed to be important for Dutch higher education institutions. Based upon the survey responses by Dutch IT decision makers, a hierarchy exist in these fourteen factors. Also, this research suggest a relationship between outsourcing decision factors and the sourcing models. Additionally, outsourcing objectives seem to influence this relationship.

Success factors model for green computing implementations

Green computing is quickly rising to the top of the agenda of many organizations. Surveys of the green computing implementations practices in United Arab Emirates (UAE) reveal the awareness level with respect to green computing practices to be 41.23 per cent. This article presents a model that provides IT decision-makers with a set of recommended actions on the implementation of green computing practices. The model is validated empirically through interviews of IT staff from eleven organizations in UAE. The intervention suggests that to reduce the carbon footprint and to become energy efficient, organizations would need to apply policies on printing, procurement and recycling. Implementation of policies is driven by budget allocations for the better utilization of existing IT equipment and for investment in innovative technologies. In addition, this study recommends that organizations encourage a green computing attitude through increased awareness, certifications, penalties or reward systems. The findings of the study are expected to be of great interest to both researchers and IT practitioners.

Mitigating risks in managing cloud-based IT controls

Cloud computing (CC) represents a key tool in the race for innovation across industries. However, organisations are facing constraints in implementing and leveraging cloud technology for development purposes due to a lack of skills, knowledge and talent. To address this concern, this study focuses on the impact of CC on IT staff's roles and responsibilities, within cloud user organisations. Accordingly, this study suggests skills required to mitigate the risks in the accountability and responsibility of managing IT controls. The results were empirically verified by senior IT practitioners. The empirical intervention emphasised on people's business skills, in addition to domain knowledge and the mind-set to adapt to the changed environment. The findings of this study offers new insights for scholars and it will help IT decision makers to assess their staff's capabilities to meet their business needs and to plan appropriate selection, training and hiring policies.

An Analysis of the Factors Affecting the Adoption of Cloud Computing in Higher Educational Institutions

This article aims to examine the main factors that may hinder or facilitate the adoption of cloud computing (CC) services by higher educational institutions in developing countries, exemplified here by Oman. A conceptual model was developed through extending the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework. Data was collected from 387 IT decision makers working in four higher educational institutions in Oman using a cross-sectional survey. Data was analysed using structural equation modelling based on AMOS 22.0. The results show that behavioural intention (BI) towards adopting CC services in higher educational institutions was influenced by top management support, relative advantage, attitudes towards change, technology readiness, complexity, government regulation, peer pressure, and data concerns in their order of influencing power. These all together accounted for 58.3% of the variance in BI. However, compatibility, vendor lock-in and external expertise did not have an influence on BI. This research provides original insight for cloud computing adoption within Oman from a managerial and IT professional perspectives. Specifically, this research would be helpful for government agencies, cloud computing providers and policy makers at higher educational institutions. It will also explain the relatively low penetration rate of cloud computing services at present, which will help in formulating strategies to encourage the adoption and acceptance of CC services by Omani higher educational institutions, where CC is still considered an innovation.

An “agile” approach to develop a crowdsourcing platform: the case of Cre@tive.biz

Globalization has a significant impact over economic and social development, thus it also influences the speed of developing new products, starting from the product idea to the Minimum Viable Product (MVP). The software industry is one of the industries which have to face tough and specific challenges within this highly dynamic context, playing a major role in defining the world’s data for businesses, with a direct impact on the competitiveness of various industries. According to Lynn Holmlund’s survey [1] of IT decision makers across a range of industries, 59 percent of respondents reported that improving the quality of decision making is the primary goal driving investments in data technologies.In a world underpinned by ever-more powerful, affordable, and public digital technology platforms, software is fast becoming the key source of economic value and competitive advantage in business. As a result, software applications are redefining nearly every industry, and Agile methodologies are redefining the software development process.Understanding the demand for developing software applications on time and responding to the users’ needs and expectations are the first steps in using the Agile framework in product development and are even more important within the context of research projects, such as CRE@TIVE.BIZ, an ongoing project within the framework of the Romanian National Plan for Research, Development and Innovation 2014 – 2020 (PNCDI III).The goal of the project is to develop an open collaboration and innovation platform, CRE@TIVE.BIZ, which will be an experimental model dedicated to create a community where all relevant stakeholders can meet, interact, gain access and share information, knowledge and resources.The paper presents the platform development scenario, using a new and “agile” approach, namely Scrum, for product development based on continuous learning and optimization of development process, team involvement, prioritize the features – especially from the users’ perspective – and stakeholder’s involvement in describing the product, testing and acceptance. This new approach improves the delivery time and maximizes the results by using client’s involvement in each step of the process, describing more clearly the platform functionalities and shortening the decision-making process. The tangible result will be the road map for CRE@TIVE.BIZ platform development, specifying tasks, roles, milestones and outcomes.

Exploratory Study of Talent Management and Information Technology in Canadian Nonprofit Sector

We examine talent management in the Canadian nonprofit organizations and explore how talent management is defined and practiced in Canadian nonprofit information technology departments. Individual depth interviews were used to collect data. A critical realist approach to interviewing was used in this explorative study. The results indicate that Canadian nonprofit IT decision makers have a unique view of talent management that differs in many respects to those described in the academic literature. The participants in this study tend to focus on recruiting, identifying, and developing internal pools of talent, rather than trying to compete in a “war for talent” in the external job market. This study contributes a new perspective on talent management by providing empirical insights from outside the US and for-profit context with implications for the broader discussion, conceptualization, and practice in the field.