Digital innovation offers significant societal, economic and environmental benefits but is also a source of profound harms. Prior information systems (IS) research has often overlooked the ethical tensions involved, framing harms as 'unintended consequences' rather than symptoms of deeper systemic problems. In response, this paper presents a problematization review that critiques and revises three widely held assumptions about digital innovations: (1) that they generate net benefits that outweigh the associated harm; (2) that their ethicality can be calculated through utility and (3) that their harms can be mitigated through technological, corporate or regulatory intervention. We argue that compassion provides a pluralistic ethical foundation that integrates the strengths of consequentialism, deontology, and virtue ethics. This framework prioritises serving all stakeholders, especially the most vulnerable, while avoiding harm. It sets a research agenda focused on addressing structural dysfunctions, amplifying marginalised voices, and fostering sustainable systems. By reimagining digital innovation as a force for the common good, this paper contributes to a more just and equitable digital future for all.

Purpose This paper aims to extend the understanding of how impact measurement capability can be fostered among social enterprises. It presents empirical insights from a novel experience of developing a cloud-based outcomes and impact measurement and reporting platform for and with small to medium social enterprises in Australia. Design/methodology/approach The paper is guided by a situated learning theory lens and draws on thematic analysis of data collected from co-design and action research that underpinned the technology development. Findings Learning and practice benefits were observed in the co-design process of the platform development, as participants brought diverse expertise to the process, interacted, shared knowledge and practice and diffused learning from the process to other communities of practice within their organisational and operating settings. At the same time, the technology-led solution acted as a boundary object around which its co-developers interacted and navigated different practices and perspectives among researchers, social entrepreneurs and technologists. Additionally, the development of the platform reinforced the limitations of seeking universalised responses to highly diverse organisational and ecosystem needs. Originality/value The paper contributes to understanding the relational domain of social impact measurement for social enterprises in a learning process and brings empirical insights from co-designing and co-creating technology solutions for social impact measurement with social enterprises.

Impact is the overarching objective of international development (ID) projects, yet many projects struggle to Impact is the overarching objective of international development (ID) projects, yet many projects struggle to attain it. Both academic literature and practical experience highlight the importance of adequate monitoring and attain it. Both academic literature and practical experience highlight the importance of adequate monitoring and evaluation in ensuring ID project impact. There is, however, not enough theoretical clarity on what constitutes evaluation in ensuring ID project impact. There is, however, not enough theoretical clarity on what constitutes adequate monitoring and evaluation and the specific mechanisms through which monitoring and evaluation adequate monitoring and evaluation and the specific mechanisms through which monitoring and evaluation affect ID project impact. This study addresses this important literature gap by applying agency theory to affect ID project impact. This study addresses this important literature gap by applying agency theory to conceptualise ID project impact. We propose that monitoring and evaluation are adequate when they resolve conceptualise ID project impact. We propose that monitoring and evaluation are adequate when they resolve agency issues of goal incongruence and information asymmetry. We test this novel conceptualisation statistically agency issues of goal incongruence and information asymmetry. We test this novel conceptualisation statistically by drawing on a sample of 200 survey responses from ID professionals working in Pakistan. The empirical results by drawing on a sample of 200 survey responses from ID professionals working in Pakistan. The empirical results indicate that project monitoring resolves both goal incongruence and information asymmetry to influence ID indicate that project monitoring resolves both goal incongruence and information asymmetry to influence ID project impact. Project evaluation resolved goal incongruence to affect ID project impact, but it had no effect on project impact. Project evaluation resolved goal incongruence to affect ID project impact, but it had no effect on information asymmetry. This novel theory informed conceptualisation and empirical testing of adequate information asymmetry. This novel theory informed conceptualisation and empirical testing of adequate monitoring and evaluation that resolve agency issues to ensure ID project impact carry substantial implications monitoring and evaluation that resolve agency issues to ensure ID project impact carry substantial implications for both theory and practice. for both theory and practice.

In this study, artificial intelligence (AI) orientation, AI capabilities, as well as process-oriented dynamic capabilities (PDCs) within the realm of AI business value creation, are unpacked through multiple case studies in Hong Kong. We propose a conceptual framework suggesting that AI resources enable organizations to develop PDCs, manifesting in several abilities, thereby contributing to business value. In addition, the case study's findings indicate that AI capabilities developed by organizations correlate with their AI orientation, which is their overall strategic direction and aspiration of employing AI technology. Apart from basic AI capabilities, AI-oriented organizations would develop advanced AI capabilities. The proposed conceptual framework and findings can guide and assist practitioners in utilizing AI resources and building AI capabilities. This study also enriches the growing body of research on AI and contributes to the limited understanding of AI capabilities in the extant literature.

Blackberries, mobile technology with limited functionality, have been adopted rapidly by users. Few studies about the Blackberry technology explore the apparent addiction that users have for this technology. Our study explores users’ perceptions about the device and how it impacts on their day to day life. The participants of the study consist of users currently using Blackberry devices and users that chose to return their Blackberries after a short use period. The study highlights the apparent contradictions inherent in working in an environment with anytime anywhere connectivity. The study highlights the need for future research in the changes that the use of mobile devices such Blackberries has on the day to day life of users.

Purpose A key finding in the extant literature on adopting information systems has been the importance of management support and a champion. Further research has indicated that business managers need to have appropriate IT knowledge and skills to lead adoption adequately. In the context of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), this role is usually assumed by the owner/manager. This research aims to synthesise these two tenets by identifying and understanding the type of business intelligence and analytics (BI&A) leadership skills that owners/managers need to develop during the adoption of BI&A. Design/methodology/approach Five BI&A knowledge areas are identified and connected to different types of BI&A leadership skills through qualitative in-depth case studies of fourteen Australian SMEs. Findings The case studies reveal that several BI&A leadership skills need to be developed to bring SMEs to higher stages of BI&A adoption. Practical implications This study proposes a BI&A leadership skills development framework that allows practitioners to develop progressive BI&A skills concerning managing data, analytical skills, business processes, social and cultural change, and investment decisions to achieve sustainable operational, management and strategic goals. Originality/value The paper takes a unique approach that links five knowledge areas to BI&A leadership skills that owners/managers need to ensure for effective adoption and orchestration of BI&A in their organisations. The BI&A leadership framework includes a developmental approach that relates to the iterative and complex nature of BI&A adoption.

This study seeks to thoroughly understand the organizational context in which Artificial Intelligence (AI) would be implemented, through a systematic review and analysis of articles published (up to 2021) in 31 journals on information systems, business, management, and operations management. Seventy themes are identified from the literature and categorized into organizational, information systems, technological, and people dimensions for the antecedents, challenges, guidelines, and consequences of AI implementation in organizations. A conceptual framework for understanding AI implementation in organizations is also proposed. This study provides a research agenda to guide future research and facilitate knowledge accumulation and creation on AI implementation.

An increasing presence of practitioners with doctoral degrees in Information Systems and related disciplines holds promise to advance Information Systems research. The prospect is to gain more knowledge from the practical experience of developing, using, and managing information systems in context. To scientifically capitalise on this opportunity, this EJIS special issue introduces the research genre of "Information Systems Clinical Research ". The genre presents knowledge generated from practitioner-researcher interventions to achieve desired outcomes in information systems development, use, and management practice contexts. In this editorial, we introduce and conceptualise the genre; we present a research framework that defines its four key elements; and we discuss how to address its key challenges in research projects. As a result, we derive ten criteria for rigorous Information Systems Clinical Research and provide examples on how the articles published in the special issue have addressed these criteria. We conclude with a call to further advance clinical research as an important part of the Information Systems discipline.

This study seeks to thoroughly understand the organizational context in which Artificial Intelligence (AI) would be implemented, through a systematic review and analysis of articles published (up to 2021) in 31 journals on information systems, business, management, and operations management. Seventy themes are identified from the literature and categorized into organizational, information systems, technological, and people dimensions for the antecedents, challenges, guidelines, and consequences of AI implementation in organizations. A conceptual framework for understanding AI implementation in organizations is also proposed. This study provides a research agenda to guide future research and facilitate knowledge accumulation and creation on AI implementation.

In higher education, gender imbalances continue to persist, particularly at senior academic levels and in university leadership. To explore practical ways to address this disparity, a grassroots initiative was established at an Australian University in 2015 and has grown into an ecosystem of mentoring and support for career advancement of academic women. Challenges and successes of the initiative from 8 years of operation are presented through a teaching case accompanied by teaching notes, including different benefits of grassroots initiatives for gender equity to both organisation and individuals. JEL Classification: M14, J16

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the role of project monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in international development (ID) project stakeholders' relationships. This study draws on agency theory to examine the specific role M&E plays in improving ID project impact.Design/methodology/approachQualitative data comprising of in-depth interviews were collected from ID project stakeholders such as project donors, implementing partners and steering committee members.FindingsResults of the study show that project M&E activities can serve multiple purposes including the collection of data for the assessment of inputs, outputs, outcomes and impact. This information is shared with stakeholders to assist in evidence-based decision-making to improve project impact on community. This study shows that M&E activities strengthen the relationship between stakeholders by involving multiple stakeholders at different stages of ID projects to identify community needs and to demonstrate the positive community impact. Agency issues such as goal incongruence, information asymmetry and risk-sharing affect the relationship between the stakeholders. Investing in different M&E activities can reduce these issues, ultimately leading to a positive impact at the community level.Originality/valueThere has been limited research that explores the principal-agent relationship between project stakeholders of ID projects through the lens of agency theory. The role of M&E to collect project data and address agency issues between project stakeholders to improve project impact is the novel contribution of this paper.

Enterprises use Business Analytics (BA) to achieve business value. Although Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) significantly contribute to economic development and constitute a large proportion of enterprises, research into BA has been mostly conducted in large enterprises. In recent years, the interest in technological resources has rapidly expanded, as technological resources are essential in achieving strategic business objectives for SMEs. BA is one type of technological resource that has gained increasing importance. However, there is a lack of understanding of the role BA can play in obtaining competitive advantage in the SME context. This research explores SMEs’ BA resources in 12 SME case studies using Resource-Base View as a theoretical underpinning concept. It provides a richer understanding of how SMEs utilise BA resources, and the findings reveal that the purpose of using BA differs between micro and small-sized SMEs and medium-sized SMEs. Hence, this research provides an in-depth understanding of the role BA plays in different sizes of SMEs.

PurposeMost studies in electronic government (e-government) sustainability focus on the role of specific actors (stakeholders such as government employees or citizens) in sustaining an e-government project. However, such actors may not have sufficient resources to support e-government sustainability by themselves and must collaborate across different departments and stakeholders to sustain e-government projects. This paper aims to take a social systems theory perspective on sustainable local e-government, where actors cooperate and coordinate in a social system to leverage resources for e-government sustainability in local government contexts in developing countries.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is an interpretive study of two local e-government case studies based on in-depth interviews with local government information technology (IT) managers, local leaders and staff. Data analysis based on constructivist grounded theory is used to understand the role of a social system in sustaining e-government systems in local governments in developing countries.FindingsThe original social system theory was developed for industry initiatives and adapted for public organisations in this paper. The unique characteristics of the public sector and e-government innovation are used to identify new components of the social system related to local e-government. Local e-government is sustained through a collaboration between actors in a social system to leverage resources and reduce challenges.Research limitations/implicationsWhile this is an exploratory study, the cases show that the use of a social system theory consisting of institutional, management, social and economic components requires multiple lenses for investigation. This is a challenging process because it requires different areas of knowledge to carry out the research. The challenges may influence the overall outcome of this study. In addition, the two cases may generate limited insight and experiences as this study was carried out within two local governments in Indonesia. The findings may not provide a strong basis for generalization to other contexts.Practical implicationsThis study offers guidance to local government IT departments to improve collaboration in a social system between local actors (such as political, managers and staff) while implementing and using e-government systems.Social implicationsSustainable local e-government requires all actors to coordinate and cooperate in a social system to reduce financial, political and technical challenges.Originality/valueThis paper offers new insight into how a local government collaborates in a social system to realize sustainable e-government systems. Collaborating in a social system reduces common challenges and leverages resources to support e-government sustainability.

This paper provides an in-depth study of how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) use business intelligence and analytics (BI&A) to derive business value and why so many SMEs fail to do so. A qualitative research approach based on semi-structured interviews with five SMEs in Australia was applied with the goal is to understand the process in which SMEs adopt BI&A to derive business value. This involved exploring how owners and managers lead their employees in using data and analytical processes to derive insights to make business decisions. The findings suggest that SMEs which adopt BI&A use a short and simple six-step iterative BI&A process to derive insights for business process application. In addition to the short process, a longer three phase process has been identified which progresses SMEs from solving operational issues to strategic challenges. The resulting short and long BI&A implementation process framework provides a progressive pathway for SME owners and managers to initiate and lead BI&A transformation in their SMEs to derive greater business value. The process model considers dimensions of data, analysis, business process change, social influence, level of information use and financial returns.

Developing information policies and guidelines is a key for information governance (IG) and information management (IM) in any government.However, this task is becoming more difficult to perform in governments where misunderstanding or ambiguity of who are exactly responsible for IG and IM is leading to ineffective control of information assets.This paper investigates where responsibility for IG and IM lies in the context of Gov 2.0 by a quantitative research that explores employees" perceptions and current experiences of these two areas in two different contexts of Gov 2.0 adoption, Australia and Vietnam.This paper"s main contribution is indicating differences in IG and IM responsibilities between Australia and Vietnam as well as expounding these differences.This paper also indicates the role of each employee position in IG and IM of organization, particularly in the context of Gov 2.0 adoption.Future research will examine how to develop IG policies and IM guidelines in the context of Gov 2.0.