se

Factors Influencing User’s Intention to Adopt AI-Based Cybersecurity Systems in the UAE

Aim/Purpose: The UAE and other Middle Eastern countries suffer from various cybersecurity vulnerabilities that are widespread and go undetected. Still, many UAE government organizations rely on human-centric approaches to combat the growing cybersecurity threats. These approaches are ineffective due to the rapid increase in the amount of data in cyberspace, hence necessitating the employment of intelligent technologies such as AI cybersecurity systems. In this regard, this study investigates factors influencing users’ intention to adopt AI-based cybersecurity systems in the UAE. Background: Even though UAE is ranked among the top countries in embracing emerging technologies such as digital identity, robotic process automation (RPA), intelligent automation, and blockchain technologies, among others, it has experienced sluggish adoption of AI cybersecurity systems. This selectiveness in adopting technology begs the question of what factors could make the UAE embrace or accept new technologies, including AI-based cybersecurity systems. One of the probable reasons for the slow adoption and use of AI in cybersecurity systems in UAE organizations is the employee’s perception and attitudes towards such intelligent technologies. Methodology: The study utilized a quantitative approach whereby web-based questionnaires were used to collect data from 370 participants working in UAE government organizations considering or intending to adopt AI-based cybersecurity systems. The data was analyzed using the PLS-SEM approach. Contribution: The study is based on the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) framework, widely used in information security research. However, it extends this model by including two more variables, job insecurity and resistance to change, to enhance its predictive/exploratory power. Thus, this research improves PMT and contributes to the body of knowledge on technology acceptance, especially in intelligent cybersecurity technology. Findings: This paper’s findings provide the basis from which further studies can be conducted while at the same time offering critical insights into the measures that can boost the acceptability and use of cybersecurity systems in the UAE. All the hypotheses were accepted. The relationship between the six constructs (perceived vulnerability (PV), perceived severity (PS), perceived response efficacy (PRE), perceived self-efficacy (PSE), job insecurity (JI), and resistance to change (RC)) and the intention to adopt AI cybersecurity systems in the UAE was found to be statistically significant. This paper’s findings provide the basis from which further studies can be conducted while at the same time offering critical insights into the measures that can boost the acceptability and use of cybersecurity systems in the UAE. Recommendations for Practitioners: All practitioners must be able to take steps and strategies that focus on factors that have a significant impact on increasing usage intentions. PSE and PRE were found to be positively related to the intention to adopt AI-based cybersecurity systems, suggesting the need for practitioners to focus on them. The government can enact legislation that emphasizes the simplicity and awareness of the benefits of cybersecurity systems in organizations. Recommendation for Researchers: Further research is needed to include other variables such as facilitating conditions, AI knowledge, social influence, and effort efficacy as well as other frameworks such as UTAUT, to better explain individuals’ behavioral intentions to use cybersecurity systems in the UAE. Impact on Society: This study can help all stakeholders understand what factors can increase users’ interest in investing in the applications that are embedded with security. As a result, they have an impact on economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. Future Research: Future research is expected to investigate additional factors that can influence individuals’ behavioral intention to use cybersecurity systems such as facilitating conditions, AI knowledge, social influence, effort efficacy, as well other variables from UTAUT. International research across nations is also required to build a larger sample size to examine the behavior of users.




se

Medicine Recommender System Based on Semantic and Multi-Criteria Filtering

Aim/Purpose: This study aims to devise a personalized solution for online healthcare platforms that can alleviate problems arising from information overload and data sparsity by providing personalized healthcare services to patients. The primary focus of this paper is to develop an effective medicine recommendation approach for recommending suitable medications to patients based on their specific medical conditions. Background: With a growing number of people becoming more conscious about their health, there has been a notable increase in the use of online healthcare platforms and e-services as a means of diagnosis. As the internet continues to evolve, these platforms and e-services are expected to play an even more significant role in the future of healthcare. For instance, WebMD and similar platforms offer valuable tools and information to help manage patients’ health, such as searching for medicines based on their medical conditions. Nonetheless, patients often find it arduous and time-consuming to sort through all the available medications to find the ones that match their specific medical conditions. To address this problem, personalized recommender systems have emerged as a practical solution for mitigating the burden of information overload and data sparsity-related issues that are frequently encountered on online healthcare platforms. Methodology: The study utilized a dataset of MC ratings obtained from WebMD, a popular healthcare website. Patients on this website can rate medications based on three criteria, including medication effectiveness, ease of use, and satisfaction, using a scale of 1 to 5. The WebMD MC rating dataset used in this study contains a total of 32,054 ratings provided by 2,136 patients for 845 different medicines. The proposed HSMCCF approach consists of two primary modules: a semantic filtering module and a multi-criteria filtering module. The semantic filtering module is designed to address the issues of data sparsity and new item problems by utilizing a medicine taxonomy that sorts medicines according to medical conditions and makes use of semantic relationships between them. This module identifies the medicines that are most likely to be relevant to patients based on their current medical conditions. The multi-criteria filtering module, on the other hand, enhances the approach’s ability to capture the complexity of patient preferences by considering multiple criteria and preferences through a unique similarity metric that incorporates both distance and structural similarities. This module ensures that patients receive more accurate and personalized medication recommendations. Moreover, a medicine reputation score is employed to ensure that the approach remains effective even when dealing with limited ratings or new items. Overall, the combination of these modules makes the proposed approach more robust and effective in providing personalized medicine recommendations for patients. Contribution: This study addresses the medicine recommendation problem by proposing a novel approach called Hybrid Semantic-based Multi-Criteria Collaborative Filtering (HSMCCF). This approach effectively recommends medications for patients based on their medical conditions and is specifically designed to overcome issues related to data sparsity and new item recommendations that are commonly encountered on online healthcare platforms. The proposed approach addresses data sparsity and new item issues by incorporating a semantic filtering module and a multi-criteria filtering module. The semantic filtering module sorts medicines based on medical conditions and uses semantic relationships to identify relevant ones. The multi-criteria filtering module accurately captures patient preferences and provides precise recommendations using a novel similarity metric. Additionally, a medicine reputation score is also employed to further expand potential neighbors, improving predictive accuracy and coverage, particularly in sparse datasets or new items with few ratings. With the HSMCCF approach, patients can receive more personalized recommendations that are tailored to their unique medical needs and conditions. By leveraging a combination of semantic-based and multi-criteria filtering techniques, the proposed approach can effectively address the challenges associated with medicine recommendations on online healthcare platforms. Findings: The proposed HSMCCF approach demonstrated superior effectiveness compared to benchmark recommendation methods in multi-criteria rating datasets in terms of enhancing both prediction accuracy and coverage while effectively addressing data sparsity and new item challenges. Recommendations for Practitioners: By applying the proposed medicine recommendation approach, practitioners can develop a medicine recommendation system that can be integrated into online healthcare platforms. Patients can then utilize this system to make better-informed decisions regarding the medications that are most suitable for their specific medical conditions. This personalized approach to medication recommendations can ultimately lead to improved patient satisfaction. Recommendation for Researchers: Integrating patient medicine reviews is a promising way for researchers to elevate the proposed medicine recommendation approach. By leveraging patient reviews, the approach can gain a more comprehensive understanding of how certain medications perform for specific medical conditions. Additionally, exploring the relationship between MC-based ratings using an improved aggregation function can potentially enhance the accuracy of medication predictions. This involves analyzing the relationship between different criteria, such as medication effectiveness, ease of use, and satisfaction of the patients, and determining the optimal weighting for each criterion based on patient feedback. A more holistic approach that incorporates patient reviews and an improved aggregation function can enable the proposed medicine recommendation approach to provide more personalized and accurate recommendations to patients. Impact on Society: To mitigate the risk of infection during the COVID-19 pandemic, the promotion of online healthcare services was actively encouraged. This allowed patients to continue accessing care and receiving treatment while adhering to physical distancing guidelines and shielding measures where necessary. As a result, the implementation of personalized healthcare services for patients is expected to be a major disruptive force in healthcare in the coming years. This study proposes a personalized medicine recommendation approach that can effectively address this issue and aid patients in making informed decisions about the medications that are most suitable for their specific medical conditions. Future Research: One way that may enhance the proposed medicine recommendation approach is to incorporate patient medicine reviews. Furthermore, the analysis of MC-based ratings using an improved aggregation function can also potentially enhance the accuracy of medication predictions.




se

The Perspectives of University Academics on Their Intention to Purchase Green Smartphones in Sri Lanka

Aim/Purpose: Most people use their phones for work and communication. Businesses today require sustainable mobile phones to limit the environmental impact of mobile phones. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a green product uses less energy. Green smartphones need low radiation emission, are made from recyclable materials, and are designed to last longer than typical smartphones. Further, the manufacturing process needs to have a low environmental impact. The present study aims to identify the influence of variables (such as Green Awareness, Environmental Concern, Altruism, and Willingness to Pay) on green smartphone purchase intention among academics in the Sri Lankan higher education sector. Background: With the swift technological advances, almost everyone has begun to use smartphones. Simultaneously, smartphone manufacturers have begun to release cutting-edge smartphone models to the general public. As a result, it has generated a significant amount of e-waste for the environment. As a result, therefore, the sustainability of green smartphones has become a major societal concern in the developed world, but this is not yet true in the developing world Methodology: The study used a qualitative research method in which the authors attempted to acquire primary data by conducting in-depth interviews with academics from the Sri Lankan higher education sector using a semi-structured interview guide. Eight interviews were conducted, audio recorded, and word-to-word transcribed for content analysis. Researchers used content analysis to determine the presence, meanings, and linkages of specific words, themes, or concepts. Contribution: The findings provide important environmental insights for smartphone makers and society, such as introducing waste reduction programs and energy-saving practices and creating awareness among people to change their consumption patterns. The study will provide valuable insights into the green smartphone phone purchasing intentions of academics in a developing country, especially helping green smartphone producers and marketers construct effective tactics with the insight of the current study based on university faculty members’ viewpoints. Findings: The current study’s findings revealed that academics acknowledge the need for environmental protection with an awareness of the green concept and environmental concerns. According to the interviews, most participants intended to move from their present smartphone to an ecologically friendly phone, as they explained on altruism. This implies that even academics in underdeveloped countries are worried about environmental issues and have shown a more robust understanding of these issues and how environmentally aware individuals’ activities may assist the earth’s sustainability. Further, academics have a willingness to pay for a green smartphone. Recommendations for Practitioners: Academics prioritize environmental conservation when making purchases. This implies that manufacturers and enterprises should focus on developing and in- novating more environmentally friendly products. Recommendation for Researchers: Using only academics as a sample approach is severely limited if the study’s population comprises people with various qualities. Nevertheless, this study presented only four independent variables, and more factors impacting green smartphone purchasing intention may exist. As a result, it is proposed that future research consider other factors. Impact on Society: It was discovered that most participants displayed altruism in their product purchases, implying that policymakers must strengthen the moral practice of concern for the welfare and happiness of other humans, even in developing countries. Future Research: A further in-depth study focusing on many perspectives such as limits and motivations for purchasing green products in various socioeconomic groups with varying moderating factors such as gender, education, rural-urban, and so on would be advantageous. Individual (emotions, habits, perceived behavioral control, trust, values, personal norm, knowledge) and situational (availability, product attributes, subjective norm, brand, eco-labeling) variables should be included in future research.




se

The Influence of COVID-19 on Employees’ Use of Organizational Information Systems

Aim/Purpose. COVID-19 was an unprecedented disruptive event that accelerated the shift to remote work and encouraged widespread adoption of digital tools in organizations. This empirical study was conducted from an organizational-strategic perspective, with the aim of examining how the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak affected employees’ use of organizational information systems (IS) as reflected in frequency. Background. To date, only a limited effort has been made, and a rather narrow perspective has been adopted, regarding the consequences of the adoption of new work environments following COVID-19. It seems that the literature is lacking in information regarding employee use of organizational IS since the outbreak of the pandemic. Specifically, this issue has not yet been examined in relation to employees’ perception about the organization’s digital efforts and technological maturity for remote work. The present study bridges this gap. Methodology. The public sector in Israel, which employs about a third of the Israeli work-force, was chosen as a case study of information-intensive organizations. During the first year of COVID-19, 716 questionnaires were completed by employees and managers belonging to four government ministries operating in Israel. The responses were statistically analyzed using a Chi-Square and Spearman’s Rho tests. Contribution. Given that the global pandemic is an ongoing phenomenon and not a passing episode, the findings provide important theoretical and practical contributions. The period prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and the period of the pandemic are compared with regard to organizational IS use. Specifically, the study sheds new light on the fact that employee perceptions motivated increased IS use during an emergency. The results contribute to the developing body of empirical knowledge in the IS field in the era of digital transformation (DT). Findings. More than half of the respondents who reported that they did not use IS before COVID-19 stated that the pandemic did not change this. We also found a significant positive correlation between the perception of the digital efforts made by organizations to enable connection to the IS for remote work and a change in frequency of IS use. This frequency was also found to have a significant positive correlation with the perception of the organization’s technological maturity to enable effective and continuous remote work. Recommendations for Practitioners. In an era of accelerating DT, this paper provides insights that may support chief information officers and chief digital officers in understanding how to promote the use of IS. The results can be useful for raising awareness of the importance of communicating managerial messages for employees regarding the organizational strategy and the resilience achieved through IS not only in routine, but also in particular in emergency situations. Recommendations for Researchers. Considering that the continual crisis has created challenges in IS research, it is appropriate to continue researching the adaptation and acclimation of organizations to the “new normal”. Impact on Society. The COVID-19 pandemic created a sudden change in employment models, which have become more flexible than ever. The research insights enrich the knowledge about the concrete consequences of this critical change. Future Research. We suggest that researchers investigate this core issue in other sectors and/or other countries, in order to be obtain new and complementary empirical insights on a comparative basis.




se

Analysis of the Scale Types and Measurement Units in Enterprise Architecture (EA) Measurement

Aim/Purpose: This study identifies the scale types and measurement units used in the measurement of enterprise architecture (EA) and analyzes the admissibility of the mathematical operations used. Background: The majority of measurement solutions proposed in the EA literature are based on researchers’ opinions and many with limited empirical validation and weak metrological properties. This means that the results generated by these solutions may not be reliable, trustworthy, or comparable, and may even lead to wrong investment decisions. While the literature proposes a number of EA measurement solutions, the designs of the mathematical operations used to measure EA have not yet been independently analyzed. It is imperative that the EA community works towards developing robust, reliable, and widely accepted measurement solutions. Only then can senior management make informed decisions about the allocation of resources for EA initiatives and ensure that their investment yields optimal results. Methodology: In previous research, we identified, through a systematic literature review, the EA measurement solutions proposed in the literature and classified them by EA entity types. In a subsequent study, we evaluated their metrology coverage from both a theoretical and empirical perspective. The metrology coverage was designed using a combination of the evaluation theory, best practices from the software measurement literature including the measurement context model, and representational theory of measurement to evaluate whether EA measurement solutions satisfy the metrology criteria. The research study reported here presents a more in-depth analysis of the mathematical operations within the proposed EA measurement solutions, and for each EA entity type, each mathematical operation used to measure EA was examined in terms of the scale types and measurement units of the inputs, their transformations through mathematical operations, the impact in terms of scale types, and measurement units of the proposed outputs. Contribution: This study adds to the body of knowledge on EA measurement by offering a metrology-based approach to analyze and design better EA measurement solutions that satisfy the validity of scale type transformations in mathematical operations and the use of explicit measurement units to allow measurement consistency for their usage in decision-making models. Findings: The findings from this study reveal that some important metrology and quantification issues have been overlooked in the design of EA measurement solutions proposed in the literature: a number of proposed EA mathematical operations produce numbers with unknown units and scale types, often the result of an aggregation of undetermined assumptions rather than explicit quantitative knowledge. The significance of such aggregation is uncertain, leading to numbers that have suffered information loss and lack clear meaning. It is also unclear if it is appropriate to add or multiply these numbers together. Such EA numbers are deemed to have low metrological quality and could potentially lead to incorrect decisions with serious and costly consequences. Recommendations for Practitioners: The results of the study provide valuable insights for professionals in the field of EA. Identifying the metrology limitations and weaknesses of existing EA measurement solutions may indicate, for instance, that practitioners should wait before using them until their design has been strengthened. In addition, practitioners can make informed choices and select solutions with a more robust metrology design. This, in turn, will benefit enterprise architects, software engineers, and other EA professionals in decision making, by enabling them to take into consideration factors more adequately such as cost, quality, risk, and value when assessing EA features. The study’s findings thus contribute to the development of more reliable and effective EA measurement solutions. Recommendation for Researchers: Researchers can use with greater confidence the EA measurement solutions with admissible mathematical operations and measurement units to develop new decision-making models. Other researchers can carry on research to address the weaknesses identified in this study and propose improved ones. Impact on Society: Developers, architects, and managers may be making inappropriate decisions based on seriously flawed EA measurement solutions proposed in the literature and providing undue confidence and a waste of resources when based on bad measurement design. Better quantitative tools will ultimately lead to better decision making in the EA domain, as in domains with a long history of rigor in the design of the measurement tools. Such advancements will benefit enterprise architects, software engineers, and other practitioners, by providing them with more meaningful measurements for informed decision making. Future Research: While the analysis described in this study has been explicitly applied to evaluating EA measurement solutions, researchers and practitioners in other domains can also examine measurement solutions proposed in their respective domains and design new ones.




se

Factors Impacting the Behavioral Intention to Use Social Media for Knowledge Sharing: Insights from Disaster Relief Practitioners

Aim/Purpose: The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that impact the behavioral intention to use social media (SM) for knowledge sharing (KS) in the disaster relief (DR) context. Background: With the continuing growth of SM for KS in the DR environment, disaster relief organizations across the globe have started to realize its importance in streamlining their processes in the post-implementation phase. However, SM-based KS depends on the willingness of members to share their knowledge with others, which is affected by several technological, social, and organizational factors. Methodology: A survey was conducted in Somalia to gather primary data from DR practitioners, using purposive sampling as the technique. The survey collected 214 valid responses, which were then analyzed with the PLS-SEM approach. Contribution: The study contributes to an understanding of the real-life hurdles faced by disaster relief organizations by expanding on the C-TAM-TPB model with the inclusion of top management support, organizational rewards, enjoyment in helping others, knowledge self-efficacy, and interpersonal trust factors. Additionally, it provides useful recommendations to managers of disaster relief organizations on the key factors to consider. Findings: The findings recorded that perceived usefulness, ease of use, top management support, enjoyment in helping others, knowledge self-efficacy, and interpersonal trust were critical factors in determining behavioral intention (BI) to use SM-based KS in the DR context. Furthermore, the mediator variables were attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Recommendations for Practitioners: Based on the research findings, it was determined that management should create different discussion forums among the disaster relief teams to ensure the long-term use of SM-based KS within DR organizations. They should also become involved in the discussions for disaster-related knowledge such as food supplies, shelter, or medical relief that disaster victims need. Disaster relief managers should consider effective and adequate training to enhance individual knowledge and self-efficacy since a lack of training may increase barriers and difficulties in using SM for KS during a DR process. Recommendation for Researchers: The conceptual model, further empirically investigated, can be employed by other developing countries in fostering acceptance of SM for KS during disaster relief operations. Impact on Society: Disaster relief operations can be facilitated using social media by considering the challenges DR practitioners face during emergencies. Future Research: In generalizing this study’s findings, other national or global disaster relief organizations should consider, when applying and testing, the research instruments and proposed model. The researchers may extend this study by collecting data from managers or administrators since they are different types of users of the SM-based KS system.




se

Ecommerce Fraud Incident Response: A Grounded Theory Study

Aim/Purpose: This research study aimed to explore ecommerce fraud practitioners’ experiences and develop a grounded theory framework to help define an ecommerce fraud incident response process, roles and responsibilities, systems, stakeholders, and types of incidents. Background: With a surge in global ecommerce, online transactions have become increasingly fraudulent, complex, and borderless. There are undefined ecommerce fraud roles, responsibilities, processes, and systems that limit and hinder cyber incident response to fraudulent activities. Methodology: A constructivist grounded theory approach was used to investigate and develop a theoretical foundation of ecommerce fraud incident response based on fraud practitioners’ experiences and job descriptions. The study sample consisted of 8 interviews with ecommerce fraud experts. Contribution: This research contributes to the body of knowledge by helping define a novel framework that outlines an ecommerce fraud incident response process, roles and responsibilities, systems, stakeholders, and incident types. Findings: An ecommerce fraud incident response framework was developed from fraud experts’ perspectives. The framework helps define processes, roles, responsibilities, systems, incidents, and stakeholders. The first finding defined the ecommerce fraud incident response process. The process includes planning, identification, analysis, response, and improvement. The second finding was that the fraud incident response model did not include the containment phase. The next finding was that common roles and responsibilities included fraud prevention analysis, tool development, reporting, leadership, and collaboration. The fourth finding described practitioners utilizing hybrid tools and systems for fraud prevention and detection. The fifth finding was the identification of internal and external stakeholders for communication, collaboration, and information sharing. The sixth finding is that research participants experienced different organizational alignments. The seventh key finding was stakeholders do not have a holistic view of the data and information to make some connections about fraudulent behavior. The last finding was participants experienced complex fraud incidents. Recommendations for Practitioners: It is recommended to adopt the ecommerce fraud response framework to help ecommerce fraud and security professionals develop an awareness of cyber fraud activities and/or help mitigate cyber fraud activities. Future Research: Future research could entail conducting a quantitative analysis by surveying the industry on the different components such as processes, systems, and responsibilities of the ecommerce fraud incident response framework. Other areas to explore and evaluate are maturity models and organizational alignment, collaboration, information sharing, and stakeholders. Lastly, further research can be pursued on the nuances of ecommerce fraud incidents using frameworks such as attack graph generation, crime scripts, and attack trees to develop ecommerce fraud response playbooks, plans, and metrics.




se

How Students’ Information Sensitivity, Privacy Trade-Offs, and Stages of Customer Journey Affect Consent to Utilize Personal Data

Aim/Purpose: This study aimed to increase our understanding of how the stages of the customer purchase journey, privacy trade-offs, and information sensitivity of different business service sectors affect consumers’ privacy concerns. Background: The study investigated young consumers’ willingness to provide consent to use their personal data at different phases of the customer journey. This study also examined their readiness to provide consent if they receive personal benefits, and how information sensitivity varied between different individuals and business sectors. Methodology: Data was collected by a quantitative survey (n=309) and analyzed with R using the Bayesian linear mixed effect modeling approach. The sample consisted of university students in Finland, who represented a group of young and digitally native consumers. The questionnaire was designed for this study and included constructs with primarily Likert-scale items. Contribution: The study contributed to data privacy and consent management research in information sensitivity, privacy trade-off, and the customer journey. The study underlined the need for a stronger user experience focus and contextuality. Findings: The results showed that readiness to disclose personal data varied at different phases of the customer journey as privacy concerns did not decrease in a linear fashion throughout the purchase process. Perceived benefits affected the willingness to provide consent for data usage, but concerned consumers would be less trade-off oriented. Self-benefit was the most relevant reason for sharing, while customization was the least. There is a connection between the information sensitivity of different business sector information and privacy concerns. No support for gender differences was found, but age affected benefits and business sector variables. Recommendations for Practitioners: The study recommends approaching consumers’ data privacy concerns from a customer journey perspective while trying to motivate consumers to share their personal data with relevant perceived benefits. The self-benefit was the most relevant benefit for willingness to provide consent, while customization was the least. Recommendation for Researchers: The study shows that individual preference for privacy was a major factor directly and via interaction for all three models. This study also showed that consumers’ subjective decision-making in privacy issues is both a situational and a contextual factor. Impact on Society: This study could encourage policymakers and societies to develop guidelines on how to develop privacy practices and consent management to be more user centric as individuals are increasingly concerned about their online privacy. Future Research: This study encourages examining consumers’ motivational factors to provide digital consent for companies with experimental research settings. This study also calls to explore perceived benefits in all age groups from the perspective of different information in various business sectors. This study shows that privacy concern is a contextual and situational factor.




se

Customer Churn Prediction in the Banking Sector Using Machine Learning-Based Classification Models

Aim/Purpose: Previous research has generally concentrated on identifying the variables that most significantly influence customer churn or has used customer segmentation to identify a subset of potential consumers, excluding its effects on forecast accuracy. Consequently, there are two primary research goals in this work. The initial goal was to examine the impact of customer segmentation on the accuracy of customer churn prediction in the banking sector using machine learning models. The second objective is to experiment, contrast, and assess which machine learning approaches are most effective in predicting customer churn. Background: This paper reviews the theoretical basis of customer churn, and customer segmentation, and suggests using supervised machine-learning techniques for customer attrition prediction. Methodology: In this study, we use different machine learning models such as k-means clustering to segment customers, k-nearest neighbors, logistic regression, decision tree, random forest, and support vector machine to apply to the dataset to predict customer churn. Contribution: The results demonstrate that the dataset performs well with the random forest model, with an accuracy of about 97%, and that, following customer segmentation, the mean accuracy of each model performed well, with logistic regression having the lowest accuracy (87.27%) and random forest having the best (97.25%). Findings: Customer segmentation does not have much impact on the precision of predictions. It is dependent on the dataset and the models we choose. Recommendations for Practitioners: The practitioners can apply the proposed solutions to build a predictive system or apply them in other fields such as education, tourism, marketing, and human resources. Recommendation for Researchers: The research paradigm is also applicable in other areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and churn prediction. Impact on Society: Customer churn will cause the value flowing from customers to enterprises to decrease. If customer churn continues to occur, the enterprise will gradually lose its competitive advantage. Future Research: Build a real-time or near real-time application to provide close information to make good decisions. Furthermore, handle the imbalanced data using new techniques.




se

Investigating the Adoption of Social Commerce: A Case Study of SMEs in Jordan

Aim/Purpose: Social commerce is an emergent topic widely used for product and service sourcing. It helps companies to have frequent interaction with their customers and strive to achieve a competitive advantage. Yet there is only little empirical evidence focusing on social commerce and its adoption in SMEs to date. This study investigates the key factors affecting social commerce adoption in SMEs. This research designed a theoretical model using the Technology, Organization, and Environment (TOE) Model Background: Despite its rapid growth and usage, social commerce is still in its evolution phase and its current conception is vague and restricted. Therefore, considering the benefits of social commerce for consumers and businesses, it is important to explore the concept of social commerce. Methodology: The research floated a self-administered questionnaire and surveyed 218 Jordanian SME businesses. The data was analyzed using smart PLS and the results were drawn that covers the detail of the characteristics of respondents, study descriptive, results of regressions assumptions, e.g., data normality, reliability, validity, common method biases, and description of the measurement model, followed by the findings of hypothesis analysis. Contribution: This study has many significant contributions to the existing studies on firms’ adoption of social commerce. It indicates that organizational readiness from the organizational perspective and consumer pressure from the environmental dimension of the TOE model are significant influential elements in the adoption of social commerce in business, followed by high-level management support and trading partner pressure, respectively. This shows that organizational readiness to adopt social commerce and consumer pressure has a vital role in Jordanian SMEs’ adopting social commerce. Findings: The results were drawn from a survey of 218 Jordanian SMEs, indicating that organizational readiness from an organizational dimension and consumer pressure environmental perspective, followed by top management’s support and trading partner pressure, significantly predicts the adoption intentions of social commerce. However, perceived usefulness and security concerns from a technological context do not significantly impact behavioral intentions to utilize social commerce. Recommendations for Practitioners: Lack of awareness about new technology and its potential benefits are not well diffused in the Jordanian context. In short, both organizational and environmental dimensions of the TOE framework significantly influence the behavioral intentions for social commerce adoption in the Jordanian context whereas the third-dimension technological factors do not affect the behavioral intentions of SMEs to adopt social commerce. In the technological context, SMEs need to invest in technology and must spread awareness among Jordanian consumers about the potential benefits of technology and must encourage them to use social commerce platforms to interact because of the high significance of social commerce for businesses as it facilitates the quick completion of tasks, enhances the productivity, and improves the chances of high profitability. Recommendation for Researchers: First, the study is limited in scope as it discusses the direct links between the TOE framework, behavioral intentions to use social commerce, and the actual usage of social commerce in the Jordanian context rather than testing the mediation, and moderation. Future research may examine the mediators and moderators in the conceptual model. Second, the research examined the behavioral intentions of SMEs rather than consumers to adopt social commerce. Further research might consider the consumer perspective on social commerce. Impact on Society: This research aims to identify the key factor that impact the behavioral intentions of SME businesses to practice social commerce. The theoretical underpinning of the study lies in the TOE model, as using its basic assumptions the conceptual grounds and hypothesis of the study are developed. Future Research: The study findings are not generalizable in different contexts as it was specifically conducted by gathering data from the Jordanian population. However future studies may consider different contexts, sectors, cultures, or countries to examine the model. Lastly, the research collected data using convenience sampling from 218 SMEs in Jordan, which may create difficulty in the generalizability of the research, so needs to examine a larger sample in future studies.




se

Factors Affecting Individuals’ Behavioral Intention to Use Online Capital Market Investment Platforms in Indonesia

Aim/Purpose: This study aims to examine the ten factors from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) theories in order to analyze behavioral intentions to use the Indonesian online capital market investment platforms and the effect of behavioral intentions on actual usage. Background: The potential growth of capital market investors in Indonesia is large, and the low use of the Internet for investment purposes makes it necessary for stakeholders to understand the factors that affect people’s intentions to invest, especially through online platforms. Several previous studies have explained the intention to use online investment platforms using the TAM and TPB theories. This study tries to combine TAM, TPB, and UTAUT theories in analyzing behavioral intentions to use an online capital market investment platform in Indonesia. Methodology: The research approach employed is a mixed method, particularly explanatory research, which employs quantitative methods first, followed by qualitative methods. Data were collected by conducting interviews and sending online surveys. This study was successful in collecting information on the users of online capital market investment platforms in Indonesia from 1074 respondents, which was then processed and analyzed using Covariance-Based Structural Equation Modeling (CB-SEM) with the IBM AMOS 26.0 application. Contribution: This study complements earlier theories like TAM, TPB, and UTAUT by looking at the intention to use online capital market investment platforms from technological, human, and environmental viewpoints. This study looks at the intention to use the online capital market investing platform as a whole rather than separately depending on investment instruments. This study also assists practitioners including regulators, the government, developers, and investors by offering knowledge of the phenomena and factors that can increase the capital market’s investment intention in Indonesia. Findings: Attitudes, perceived ease of use, perceived behavioral control, subjective norm, and national pride were found to be significant predictors of the intention to use online investment platforms in Indonesia, whereas perceived usefulness, perceived risk, perceived trust, perceived privacy, and price value were not. Recommendations for Practitioners: All practitioners must be able to take steps and strategies that focus on factors that have a significant impact on increasing usage intentions. The government can enact legislation that emphasizes the simplicity and convenience of investment, as well as launch campaigns that encourage people to participate in economic recovery by investing in the capital market. Meanwhile, the developers are concentrating on facilitating the flow of investment transactions through the platform, increasing education and awareness of the benefits of investing in the capital market, and providing content that raises awareness that investing in the capital market can help to restore the national economy. Recommendation for Researchers: Further research is intended to include other variables such as perceived benefits and perceived security, as well as other frameworks such as TRA, to better explain individuals’ behavioral intentions to use online capital investment platforms. Impact on Society: This study can help all stakeholders understand what factors can increase Indonesians’ interest in investing in the capital market, particularly through online investment platforms. This understanding is expected to increase the number of capital market participants and, as a result, have an impact on economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. Future Research: Future research is expected to investigate additional factors that can influence individuals’ behavioral intention to use an online capital market investment platform, such as perceived benefits and perceived security, as well as the addition of control variables such as age, gender, education, and income. International research across nations is also required to build a larger sample size in order to examine the behavior of investors in developing and developed countries and acquire a more thorough understanding of the online capital market investment platform.




se

Investigating the Determinants of Online Shopping Repurchase Intention in Generation Z Customers in India: An Exploratory Study

Aim/Purpose: This study investigates the factors that affect the repurchase intentions of Generation Z consumers in India’s online shopping industry, focusing on combining the Expectation-Confirmation Model (ECM) and Extended Technology Acceptance Model (E-TAM). The aim is to understand the intricate behaviors that shape technology adoption and sustained usage, which are essential for retaining customers in e-commerce. Background: Social media and other online platforms have significantly influenced daily life and become essential communication tools owing to technological advancements. Online shopping is no exception, offering a range of product choices, information, and convenience compared with traditional commerce. Indian retailers recognize this trend as an opportunity to promote their brands through e-shopping platforms, leading to increased competition. Generation Z comprises 32% of the world’s population and is a significant emerging customer base in India. Numerous studies have been conducted to study customers’ repurchase intention in the online shopping domain, but few studies have explicitly focused on Generation Z as a customer base. This study aims to comprehensively understand the topic and investigate the variables that impact consumers’ online repurchase intention by examining their post-adoption behavioral processes. Methodology: The study employed a quantitative research design with structural equation modeling using AMOS to analyze responses from 410 participants. This method thoroughly examined hypotheses regarding factors affecting repurchase intention (security, ease of use, privacy, and internet self-efficacy) and the mediating role of e-satisfaction. Contribution: This study makes a unique contribution to the field of e-commerce by focusing on Generation Z in India, a rapidly growing demographic in the e-commerce industry. The results on the mediating role of e-satisfaction have significant implications for e-retailers seeking to enhance customer retention strategies and gain a competitive edge in the market. Findings: The research findings underscore the significant influence of security, ease of use, and internet self-efficacy on repurchase intentions, with e-satisfaction playing a pivotal role as a mediating factor. Notably, while privacy concerns did not directly impact repurchase intentions, they displayed considerable influence when mediated by e-satisfaction, highlighting the intricate interplay between these variables in the context of online shopping, which is the unique finding of this study. Recommendations for Practitioners: This study has several significant implications for practitioners. Effectively addressing computer-related individual differences, such as computer self-efficacy, is crucial for boosting online customers’ repurchase intention. For instance, if an e-retailer intends to target Generation Z customers, they should collaborate with IT professionals and develop various computer literacy programs on online streaming platforms, such as YouTube. These programs will enhance target customers’ confidence in online shopping portals and increase their online repeat purchases. Additionally, practitioners should strive to improve the online shopping experience by making the portal user-friendly. Generation Z is accustomed to a fast Internet experience, so they prefer that the process of completing online transactions is swift with fewer clicks. The search for products, payments, and redress should not be tedious. Furthermore, the primary objective of the e-retailer should be to satisfy customers, as satisfied customers repeat their purchases and increase overall profitability. Recommendation for Researchers: The current study was conducted in the Delhi-NCR region of India, and its findings could serve as a basis for future research. For instance, the scale devised in this study could be utilized to examine the impact of cash-on-delivery as a payment method on purchase intention across the country. Alternatively, a comparative analysis could be conducted to compare cash-on-delivery effects in various countries. Impact on Society: The study’s findings enable stakeholders in the online shopping industry to comprehend the post-adoption behavior of Generation Z users and augment existing literature by establishing a correlation between determinants that impact repurchase intention and e-satisfaction, which serves as a mediator. Future Research: This study examines the factors that impact the propensity of Generation Z shoppers to engage in repeat online purchases. This study focuses on India, where the Generation Y (millennial) customer base is also substantial within the online shopping market. Future research could compare the shopping habits of Generation Z and Generation Y customers, as the latter may place greater importance on privacy and security. Additional studies could broaden the scope of this research and explore the comparative viewpoints of both generations. Also, it would be advantageous to conduct in-depth interviews and longitudinal studies to acquire a more in-depth comprehension of the evolving digitalization of shopping.




se

Use of Mobile Health Applications by Lay Users in Kuwait

Aim/Purpose: This study aims to explore the use of mobile health applications (mHealth apps) by lay users in Kuwait. Specifically, it seeks to: (i) identify and highlight the impact of factors that contribute to their use of mHealth apps and (ii) validate a model of these users’ usage of mHealth apps. Background: The advancement of information technologies has paved the way for efficiency and effectiveness in healthcare sectors in developed countries. Kuwait has attempted to revolutionise healthcare systems through mobile applications of information technology solutions to educate users on better methods of receiving customised health services. However, end-user usage of mHealth apps remains in the infancy in developing countries, including Kuwait. Lay users are often vulnerable and frequently overlooked by researchers and health technology providers. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 225 lay users of mHealth apps in Kuwait using an online questionnaire to achieve the study objectives. A purposive sampling method utilising convenience and snowballing sampling techniques was used in which all the respondents were lay users. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and regression analyses were employed to analyse the collected data. Contribution: The study contributes to the extant literature on health informatics and mHealth by providing a comprehensive understanding of how technological, social, and functional factors are related to mHealth apps in the context of developing countries. It identifies key drivers of mHealth app use, suggests expanding the TAM model, and facilitates comparisons with developed countries, addressing gaps in mHealth research. Findings: Four factors (i.e., perceived trust (PT), perceived ease of use (PEU) and behaviour control (PBC), perceived usefulness (PU), and subjective norms (SN)) were identified that influence the use of mHealth apps. These four identified factors also contributed to lay users’ use of these mHealth apps. Among these four factors, perceived trust (PT) was the main contributor to lay users’ use of these mHealth apps. Recommendations for Practitioners: Based on the empirical results, this study provides feasible recommendations for the government, healthcare providers, and developers of mHealth apps. The findings urge developers to enhance app functionality by prioritising privacy and security to build user trust while outlining guidelines for future development focused on user-centric design and compliance with data privacy regulations. Additionally, the government should establish supportive policies and funding, ensure regulatory oversight, and promote public awareness to foster trust. Healthcare providers should integrate mHealth apps into their services, train staff for practical use, gather users’ feedback, and collaborate with developers to create tailored healthcare solutions. Future Research: Additional research is required to apply probability sampling techniques and increase the sample size to generate more reliable and generalisable findings. Additionally, the young age segment must be considered here, and research must be extended to consider the moderating role of demographic factors like age, gender, and educational levels to better understand the adoption of mHealth apps.




se

A Learn-to-Rank Approach to Medicine Selection for Patient Treatments

Aim/Purpose: This research utilized a learn-to-rank algorithm to provide medical recommendations to prescribers. The algorithm has been utilized in other domains, such as information retrieval and recommender systems. Background: Ranking the possible medical treatments according to diagnoses of the medical cases is very beneficial for doctors, especially during the coding process. Methodology: We developed two deep learning pointwise learn-to-rank models within one prediction pipeline: one for predicting the top possible active ingredients from disease features, the other for ranking actual medicines codes from diseases and the ingredients features. Contribution: A new learn-to-rank deep learning model has been developed to rank medical procedures based on datasets collected from insurance companies. Findings: We ran 18 cross-validation trials on a confidential dataset from an insurance company. We obtained an average normalized discounted cumulative gain (NDCG@8) of 74% with a 5% standard deviation as a result of all 18 experiments. Our approach outperformed a known approach used in the information retrieval domain in which data is represented in LibSVM format. Then, we ran the same trials using three learn-to-rank models – pointwise, pairwise, and listwise – which yielded average NDCG@8 of 71%, 72%, and 72%, respectively. Recommendations for Practitioners: The proposed model provides an insightful approach to helping to manage the patient’s treatment process. Recommendation for Researchers: This research lays the groundwork for exploring various applications of data science techniques and machine learning algorithms in the medical field. Future studies should focus on the significant potential of learn-to-rank algorithms across different medical domains, including their use in cost-effectiveness models. Emphasizing these algorithms could enhance decision-making processes and optimize resource allocation in healthcare settings. Impact on Society: This will help insurance companies and end users reduce the cost associated with patient treatment. It also helps doctors to choose the best procedure and medicines for their patients. Future Research: Future research is required to investigate the impact of medicine data at a granular level.




se

Recommendation System for an Online Shopping Pay-Later System Using a Multistage Approach: A Case Study from Indonesia

Aim/Purpose: In this study, we developed a recommendation system model designed to support decision-makers in identifying consumers eligible for pay-later options via consensus-based decision-making. This approach was chosen due to the high and complex risks involved, such as delayed payments, challenges in reaching consumers, and issues of bad credit. Background: The “pay-later” option, which allows consumers to postpone payment for e-commerce purchases, offers convenience and flexibility but also introduces several challenges: (i) by enabling payment deferral, merchants face financial risks, including potential delays or defaults in payment, adversely affecting their cash flow and profitability; and (ii) this payment delay can also heighten the risk of fraud, including identity theft and unauthorized transactions. Methodology: This study initiated a risk analysis utilizing the ROAD process. Considering contemporary economic developments and advancements in neural networks, integrating these networks into risk assessment has become crucial. Consequently, model development involved the amalgamation of three deep learning methods – CNN (Convolutional Neural Networks), RNN (Recurrent Neural Networks), and LSTM (Long Short-Term Memory) – to address various risk alternatives and facilitate multi-stage decision-making recommendations. Contribution: Our primary contribution is threefold. First, our study identified potential consumers by prioritizing those with the smallest associated problem consequence values. Second, we achieved an optimal recall value using a candidate generator. Last, we categorized consumers to assess their eligibility for pay-later rights. Findings: The findings from this study indicate that our multi-stage recommendation model is effective in minimizing the risk associated with consumer debt repayment. This method of consumer selection empowers policymakers to make informed decisions regarding which consumers should be granted pay-later privileges. Recommendations for Practitioners: This recommendation system is proposed to several key parties involved in the development, implementation, and use of pay-later systems. These parties include E-commerce Executive Management for financial analysis and risk evaluation, the Risk Management Team to assess and manage risks related to users utilizing Pay-Later services, and Sales Managers to integrate Pay-Later services into sales strategies. Recommendation for Researchers: Advanced fraud detection mechanisms were implemented to prevent unauthorized transactions effectively. The goal was to cultivate user confidence in the safety of their financial data by ensuring secure payment processing. Impact on Society: Ensuring consumers understand the terms and conditions of pay-later arrangements, including interest rates, repayment schedules, and potential fees, is crucial. Providing clear and transparent information, along with educating consumers about their financial responsibilities, helps prevent misunderstandings and disputes. Future Research: Our future development plans involve the ongoing assessment of the system’s performance to enhance prediction accuracy. This includes updating models and criteria based on feedback and changes in economic or market conditions. Upholding compliance with security and data privacy regulations necessitates the implementation of protective measures to safeguard consumer information. The implementation of such a system requires careful consideration to ensure fairness and adherence to legal standards. Additionally, it is important to acknowledge that algorithms and models may evolve over time through the incorporation of additional data and continuous evaluations.




se

Unveiling the Secrets of Big Data Projects: Harnessing Machine Learning Algorithms and Maturity Domains to Predict Success

Aim/Purpose: While existing literature has extensively explored factors influencing the success of big data projects and proposed big data maturity models, no study has harnessed machine learning to predict project success and identify the critical features contributing significantly to that success. The purpose of this paper is to offer fresh insights into the realm of big data projects by leveraging machine-learning algorithms. Background: Previously, we introduced the Global Big Data Maturity Model (GBDMM), which encompassed various domains inspired by the success factors of big data projects. In this paper, we transformed these maturity domains into a survey and collected feedback from 90 big data experts across the Middle East, Gulf, Africa, and Turkey regions regarding their own projects. This approach aims to gather firsthand insights from practitioners and experts in the field. Methodology: To analyze the feedback obtained from the survey, we applied several algorithms suitable for small datasets and categorical features. Our approach included cross-validation and feature selection techniques to mitigate overfitting and enhance model performance. Notably, the best-performing algorithms in our study were the Decision Tree (achieving an F1 score of 67%) and the Cat Boost classifier (also achieving an F1 score of 67%). Contribution: This research makes a significant contribution to the field of big data projects. By utilizing machine-learning techniques, we predict the success or failure of such projects and identify the key features that significantly contribute to their success. This provides companies with a valuable model for predicting their own big data project outcomes. Findings: Our analysis revealed that the domains of strategy and data have the most influential impact on the success of big data projects. Therefore, companies should prioritize these domains when undertaking such projects. Furthermore, we now have an initial model capable of predicting project success or failure, which can be invaluable for companies. Recommendations for Practitioners: Based on our findings, we recommend that practitioners concentrate on developing robust strategies and prioritize data management to enhance the outcomes of their big data projects. Additionally, practitioners can leverage machine-learning techniques to predict the success rate of these projects. Recommendation for Researchers: For further research in this field, we suggest exploring additional algorithms and techniques and refining existing models to enhance the accuracy and reliability of predicting the success of big data projects. Researchers may also investigate further into the interplay between strategy, data, and the success of such projects. Impact on Society: By improving the success rate of big data projects, our findings enable organizations to create more efficient and impactful data-driven solutions across various sectors. This, in turn, facilitates informed decision-making, effective resource allocation, improved operational efficiency, and overall performance enhancement. Future Research: In the future, gathering additional feedback from a broader range of big data experts will be valuable and help refine the prediction algorithm. Conducting longitudinal studies to analyze the long-term success and outcomes of Big Data projects would be beneficial. Furthermore, exploring the applicability of our model across different regions and industries will provide further insights into the field.




se

The Relationship Between Electronic Word-of-Mouth Information, Information Adoption, and Investment Decisions of Vietnamese Stock Investors

Aim/Purpose: This study investigates the relationship between Electronic Word-of-Mouth (EWOM), Information Adoption, and the stock investment of Vietnamese investors. Background: Misinformation spreads online, and a lack of strong information analysis skills can lead Vietnamese investors to make poor stock choices. By understanding how online conversations and information processing influence investment decisions, this research can help investors avoid these pitfalls. Methodology: This study applies Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to investigate how non-professional investors react to online information and which information factors influence their investment decisions. The final sample includes 512 investors from 18 to 65 years old from various professional backgrounds (including finance, technology, education, etc.). We conducted a combined online and offline survey using a convenience sampling method from August to November 2023. Contribution: This study contributes to the growing literature on Electronic Word-of-Mouth (EWOM) and its impact on investment decisions. While prior research has explored EWOM in various contexts, we focus on Vietnamese investors, which can offer valuable insights into its role within a developing nation’s stock market. Investors, particularly those who are new or less experienced, are often susceptible to the influence of EWOM. By examining EWOM’s influence in Vietnam, this study sheds light on a crucial factor impacting investment behavior in this emerging market. Findings: The results show that EWOM has a moderate impact on the Information Adoption and investment decisions of Vietnamese stock investors. Information Quality (QL) is the factor that has the strongest impact on Information Adoption (IA), followed by Information Credibility (IC) and Attitude Towards Information (AT). Needs for Information (NI) only have a small impact on Information Adoption (IA). Finally, Information Adoption (IA) has a limited influence on investor decisions in stock investment. We also find that investors need to verify information through official sites before making investment decisions based on posts in social media groups. Recommendations for Practitioners: The findings suggest that state management and media agencies need to coordinate to improve the quality of EWOM information to protect investors and promote the healthy development of the stock market. Social media platform managers need to moderate content, remove false information, prioritize displaying authentic information, cooperate with experts, provide complete information, and personalize the experience to enhance investor trust and positive attitude. Securities companies need to provide complete, accurate, and updated information about the market and investment products. They can enhance investor trust and positive attitude by developing news channels, interacting with investors, and providing auxiliary services. Listed companies need to take the initiative to improve the quality of information disclosure and ensure clarity, comprehensibility, and regular updates. Use diverse communication channels and improve corporate governance capacity to increase investor trust and positive attitude. Investors need to seek information from reliable sources, compare information from multiple sources, and carefully check the source and author of the information. They should improve their investment knowledge and skills, consult experts, define investment goals, and build a suitable investment portfolio. Recommendation for Researchers: This study synthesized previous research on EWOM, but there is still a gap in the field of securities because each nation has its laws, regulations, and policies. The relationships between the factors in the model are not yet clear, and there is a need to develop a model with more interactive factors. The research results need to be further verified, and more research can be conducted on the influence of investor psychology, investment experience, etc. Impact on Society: This study finds that online word-of-mouth (EWOM) can influence Vietnamese investors’ stock decisions, but information quality is more important. Policymakers should regulate EWOM accuracy, fund managers should use social media to reach investors, and investors should diversify their information sources. Future Research: This study focuses solely on the stock market, while individual investors in Vietnam may engage in various other investment forms such as gold, real estate, or cryptocurrencies. Therefore, future research could expand the scope to include other investment types to gain a more comprehensive understanding of how individual investors in Vietnam utilize electronic word-of-mouth (EWOM) and adopt information in their investment decision-making process. Furthermore, while these findings may apply to other emerging markets with similar levels of financial literacy as Vietnam, they may not fully extend to countries with higher financial literacy rates. Hence, further studies could be conducted in developed countries to examine the generalizability of these findings. Finally, future research could see how EWOM’s impact changes over a longer period. Additionally, a more nuanced understanding of the information adoption process could be achieved by developing a research model with additional factors.




se

Personalized Tourism Recommendations: Leveraging User Preferences and Trust Network

Aim/Purpose: This study aims to develop a solution for personalized tourism recommendations that addresses information overload, data sparsity, and the cold-start problem. It focuses on enabling tourists to choose the most suitable tourism-related facilities, such as restaurants and hotels, that match their individual needs and preferences. Background: The tourism industry is experiencing a significant shift towards digitalization due to the increasing use of online platforms and the abundance of user data. Travelers now heavily rely on online resources to explore destinations and associated options like hotels, restaurants, attractions, transportation, and events. In this dynamic landscape, personalized recommendation systems play a crucial role in enhancing user experience and ensuring customer satisfaction. However, existing recommendation systems encounter major challenges in precisely understanding the complexities of user preferences within the tourism domain. Traditional approaches often rely solely on user ratings, neglecting the complex nature of travel choices. Data sparsity further complicates the issue, as users might have limited interactions with the system or incomplete preference profiles. This sparsity can hinder the effectiveness of these systems, leading to inaccurate or irrelevant recommendations. The cold-start problem presents another challenge, particularly with new users who lack a substantial interaction history within the system, thereby complicating the task of recommending relevant options. These limitations can greatly hinder the performance of recommendation systems and ultimately reduce user satisfaction with the overall experience. Methodology: The proposed User-based Multi-Criteria Trust-aware Collaborative Filtering (UMCTCF) approach exploits two key aspects to enhance both the accuracy and coverage of recommendations within tourism recommender systems: multi-criteria user preferences and implicit trust networks. Multi-criteria ratings capture the various factors that influence user preferences for specific tourism items, such as restaurants or hotels. These factors surpass a simple one-star rating and take into account the complex nature of travel choices. Implicit trust relationships refer to connections between users that are established through shared interests and past interactions without the need for explicit trust declarations. By integrating these elements, UMCTCF aims to provide more accurate and reliable recommendations, especially when data sparsity limits the ability to accurately predict user preferences, particularly for new users. Furthermore, the approach employs a switch hybridization scheme, which combines predictions from different components within UMCTCF. This scheme leads to a more robust recommendation strategy by leveraging diverse sources of information. Extensive experiments were conducted using real-world tourism datasets encompassing restaurants and hotels to evaluate the effectiveness of UMCTCF. The performance of UMCTCF was then compared against baseline methods to assess its prediction accuracy and coverage. Contribution: This study introduces a novel and effective recommendation approach, UMCTCF, which addresses the limitations of existing methods in personalized tourism recommendations by offering several key contributions. First, it transcends simple item preferences by incorporating multi-criteria user preferences. This allows UMCTCF to consider the various factors that users prioritize when making tourism decisions, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of user choices and, ultimately, more accurate recommendations. Second, UMCTCF leverages the collective wisdom of users by incorporating an implicit trust network into the recommendation process. By incorporating these trust relationships into the recommendation process, UMCTCF enhances its effectiveness, particularly in scenarios with data sparsity or new users with limited interaction history. Finally, UMCTCF demonstrates robustness towards data sparsity and the cold-start problem. This resilience in situations with limited data or incomplete user profiles makes UMCTCF particularly suitable for real-world applications in the tourism domain. Findings: The results consistently demonstrated UMCTCF’s superiority in key metrics, effectively addressing the challenges of data sparsity and new users while enhancing both prediction accuracy and coverage. In terms of prediction accuracy, UMCTCF yielded significantly more accurate predictions of user preferences for tourism items compared to baseline methods. Furthermore, UMCTCF achieved superior coverage compared to baseline methods, signifying its ability to recommend a wider range of tourism items, particularly for new users who might have limited interaction history within the system. This increased coverage has the potential to enhance user satisfaction by offering a more diverse and enriching set of recommendations. These findings collectively highlight the effectiveness of UMCTCF in addressing the challenges of personalized tourism recommendations, paving the way for improved user satisfaction and decision-making within the tourism domain. Recommendations for Practitioners: The proposed UMCTCF approach offers a potential opportunity for tourism recommendation systems, enabling practitioners to create solutions that prioritize the needs and preferences of users. By incorporating UMCTCF into online tourism platforms, tourists can utilize its capabilities to make well-informed decisions when selecting tourism-related facilities. Furthermore, UMCTCF’s robust design allows it to function effectively even in scenarios with data sparsity or new users with limited interaction history. This characteristic makes UMCTCF particularly valuable for real-world applications, especially in scenarios where these limitations are common obstacles. Recommendation for Researchers: The success of UMCTCF can open up new avenues in personalized recommendation research. One promising direction lies in exploring the integration of additional contextual information, such as temporal (time-based) or location-based information. By incorporating these elements, the model could be further improved, allowing for even more personalized recommendations. Furthermore, exploring the potential of UMCTCF in domains other than tourism has considerable significance. By exploring its effectiveness in other e-commerce domains, researchers can broaden the impact of UMCTCF and contribute to the advancement of personalized recommendation systems across various industries. Impact on Society: UMCTCF has the potential to make a positive impact on society in various ways. By delivering accurate and diverse recommendations that are tailored to individual user preferences, UMCTCF fosters a more positive and rewarding user experience with tourism recommendation systems. This can lead to increased user engagement with tourism platforms, ultimately enhancing overall satisfaction with travel planning. Furthermore, UMCTCF enables users to make more informed decisions through broader and more accurate recommendations, potentially reducing planning stress and leading to more fulfilling travel experiences. Future Research: Expanding upon the success of UMCTCF, future research activities can explore several promising paths. Enriching UMCTCF with various contextual data, such as spatial or location-based data, to enhance recommendation accuracy and relevance. Leveraging user-generated content, like reviews and social media posts, could provide deeper insights into user preferences and sentiments, improving personalization. Additionally, applying UMCTCF in various e-commerce domains beyond tourism, such as online shopping, entertainment, and healthcare, could yield valuable insights and enhance recommendation systems. Finally, exploring the integration of optimization algorithms could improve both recommendation accuracy and efficiency.




se

A Smart Agricultural Knowledge Management Framework to Support Emergent Farmers in Developmental Settings

Aim/Purpose: This research aims to develop a smart agricultural knowledge management framework to empower emergent farmers and extension officers (advisors to farmers) in developing countries as part of a smart farming lab (SFL). The framework utilizes knowledge objects (KOs) to capture information and knowledge of different forms, including indigenous knowledge. It builds upon a foundation of established agricultural knowledge management (AKM) models and serves as the cornerstone for an envisioned SFL. This framework facilitates optimal decision support by fostering linkages between these KOs and relevant organizations, knowledge holders, and knowledge seekers within the SFL environment. Background: Emergent farmers and extension officers encounter numerous obstacles in their knowledge operations and decision-making. This includes limited access to agricultural information and difficulties in applying it effectively. Many lack reliable sources of support, and even when information is available, understanding and applying it to specific situations can be challenging. Additionally, extension offices struggle with operational decisions and knowledge management due to agricultural organizations operating isolated in silos, hindering their access to necessary knowledge. This research introduces an SFL with a proposed AKM process model aimed at transforming emergent farmers into smart, innovative entities by addressing these challenges. Methodology: This study is presented as a theory-concept paper and utilizes a literature review to evaluate and synthesize three distinct AKM models using several approaches. The results of the analysis are used to design a new AKM process model. Contribution: This research culminates in a new AKM process framework that incorporates the strengths of various existing AKM models and supports emergent farmers and extension officers to become smart, innovative entities. One main difference between the three models analyzed, and the one proposed in this research, is the deployment and use of knowledge assets in the form of KOs. The proposed framework also incorporates metadata and annotations to enhance knowledge discoverability and enable AI-powered applications to leverage captured knowledge effectively. In practical terms, it contributes by further motivating the use of KOs to enable the transfer and the capturing of organizational knowledge. Findings: A model for an SFL that incorporates the proposed agricultural knowledge management framework is presented. This model is part of a larger knowledge factory (KF). It includes feedback loops, KOs, and mechanisms to facilitate intelligent decision-making. The significance of fostering interconnected communities is emphasized through the creation of linkages. These communities consist of knowledge seekers and bearers, with information disseminated through social media and other communication integration platforms. Recommendations for Practitioners: Practitioners and other scholars should consider implementing the proposed AKM process model as part of a larger SFL to support emergent farmers and extension officers in making operational decisions and applying knowledge management strategies. Recommendation for Researchers: The AKM process model is only presented in conceptual form. Therefore, researchers can practically test and assess the new framework in an agricultural setting. They can also further explore the potential of social media integration platforms to connect knowledge seekers with knowledge holders. Impact on Society: The proposed AKM process model has the potential to support emergent farmers and extension officers in becoming smart, innovative entities, leading to improved agricultural practices and potentially contributing to food security. Future Research: This paper discusses the AKM process model in an agrarian setting, but it can also be applied in other domains, such as education and the healthcare sector. Future research can evaluate the model’s effectiveness and explore and further investigate the semantic web and social media integration.




se

The Influence of Ads’ Perceived Intrusiveness in Geo-Fencing and Geo-Conquesting on Purchase Intention: The Mediating Role of Customers’ Attitudes

Aim/Purpose: This study focuses on two targeting strategies of out-store Location-Based Mobile Advertising (LBMA): the geo-fencing strategy (i.e., targeting customers who are near the focal store) and the geo-conquesting strategy (i.e., targeting those who are near competitors’ stores to visit the focal store). To the authors’ knowledge, no previous studies have compared the perceived intrusiveness of advertisements (ads) in geo-fencing and geo-conquesting settings, despite the accumulating literature on out-store LBMA. Hence, the aim of this study is to determine which targeting strategy is more effective in terms of reducing the perception of ads’ intrusiveness and increasing positive customers’ attitudes and purchase intention. Background: The intrusive nature of LBMA is perceived negatively by some customers, impacting their attitudes toward the ad, purchase intention, and even their perception of the brand. Therefore, identifying the targeting strategy under which ads are perceived as less intrusive is essential. Additionally, brick-and-mortar clothing stores in Jordan are facing challenges due to the rise of online shopping and increased competition from nearby stores. Thus, examining geo-fencing and geo-conquesting might tackle these challenges and encourage local clothing retailers to adopt these strategies. Methodology: A quantitative method was used in this study. A between-subjects experimental design was used to collect the data using a scenario-based survey distributed to Jordanians aged 18 to 45. A total of 531 responses were collected. After excluding those who do not belong to the targeted age group and those who did not pass the manipulation check, 406 responses were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 28 and the Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) software version 26 to conduct Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Contribution: This work offers valuable contributions by investigating the impact of the perceived intrusiveness of ads on purchase intention in the contexts of geo-fencing and geo-conquesting, which has not been studied before. Additionally, it fills a gap by examining this phenomenon in Jordan, a developing country in which attitudes toward LBMA have not been previously explored. Findings: The results revealed that location-based mobile ads sent under a geo-fencing strategy are perceived as less intrusive than those sent under a geo-conquesting strategy. In addition, customers’ attitudes fully mediate the relationship between intrusiveness and purchase intention only under the geo-fencing strategy. Ultimately, neither of the strategies is more effective in terms of increasing positive customer attitudes and purchase intentions in the context of clothing retail stores in Jordan. Recommendations for Practitioners: Clothing retailers in Jordan should consider adopting geo-fencing and geo-conquesting strategies to boost purchase intentions and tackle industry challenges. Additionally, to increase purchase intentions with geo-fencing, practitioners should focus on fostering positive customer attitudes toward ads, as simply perceiving them as less intrusive is not sufficient to drive purchase intention without the mediating effect of positive attitudes. Recommendation for Researchers: This research is crucial for academics and researchers as geolocation technology and LBMA are expected to advance significantly in the future. Researchers can investigate this topic through a randomized field experiment, followed by a research questionnaire to collect data from a real-world setting. Impact on Society: Utilizing LBMA is essential for local clothing retail stores that are trying to effectively reach and connect with their customers because searching the Internet for local goods and services is done primarily on mobile devices. Indeed, this study revealed that customers in both settings (i.e., geo-fencing and geo-conquesting) reported a high intention to visit the promoting store and to purchase from the advertised product category. Future Research: Future research can apply this topic to different industries and cultural contexts, as the results may vary across industries and regions. Moreover, future research could build on this study by investigating additional constructs, such as product category involvement, customization, and content type of the message (e.g., informative, entertaining).




se

Unraveling Knowledge-Based Chatbot Adoption Intention in Enhancing Species Literacy

Aim/Purpose: This research investigated the determinant factors influencing the adoption intentions of Chatsicum, a Knowledge-Based Chatbot (KBC) aimed at enhancing the species literacy of biodiversity students. Background: This research was conducted to bridge the gap between technology, education, and biodiversity conservation. Innovative solutions are needed to empower individuals with knowledge, particularly species knowledge, in preserving the natural world. Methodology: The study employed a quantitative approach using the Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and sampled 145 university students as respondents. The research model combined the Task-Technology Fit (TTF) framework with elements from the Diffusion of Innovation (DOI), including relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, and observability. Also, the model introduced perceived trust as an independent variable. The primary dependent variable under examination was the intention to use the KBC. Contribution: The findings of this research contribute to a deeper understanding of the critical factors affecting the adoption of the KBC in biodiversity education and outreach, as studies in this context are limited. This study provides valuable insights for developers, educators, and policymakers interested in promoting species literacy and leveraging innovative technologies by analyzing the interplay of TTF and DOI constructs alongside perceived trust. Ultimately, this research aims to foster more effective and accessible biodiversity education strategies. Findings: TTF influenced all DOI variables, such as relative advantage, compatibility, observability, and trust positively and complexity negatively. In conclusion, TTF strongly affected usage intention indirectly. However, relative advantage, complexity, and observability insignificantly influenced the intention to use. Meanwhile, compatibility and trust strongly affected the use intention. Recommendations for Practitioners: Developers should prioritize building and maintaining chatbots that are aligned with the tasks, needs, and goals of the target users, as well as establishing trust through the assurance of information accuracy. Educators could develop tailored educational interventions that resonate with the values and preferences of diverse learners and are aligned closely with students’ learning needs, preferences, and curriculum while ensuring seamless integration with the existing educational context. Conservation organizations and policymakers could also utilize the findings of this study to enhance their outreach strategies, as the KBC is intended for students and biodiversity laypeople. Recommendation for Researchers: Researchers should explore the nuances of relationships between TTF and DOI, as well as trust, and consider the potential influence of mediating and moderating variables to advance the field of technology adoption in educational contexts. Researchers could also explore why relative advantage, complexity, and observability did not significantly impact the usage intention and whether specific user segments or contextual factors influence these relationships. Impact on Society: This research has significant societal impacts by improving species literacy, advancing technology in education, and promoting conservation efforts. Species knowledge could raise awareness regarding biodiversity and the importance of conservation, thereby leading to more informed and responsible citizens. Future Research: Future works should address the challenges and opportunities presented by KBCs in the context of species literacy enhancement, for example, interventions or experiments to influence the non-significant factors. Furthermore, longitudinal studies should investigate whether user behavior evolves. Ultimately, examining the correlation between species literacy, specifically when augmented by chatbots, and tangible conservation practices is an imperative domain in the future. It may entail evaluating the extent to which enhanced knowledge leads to concrete measures promoting biodiversity preservation.




se

Learning-Based Models for Building User Profiles for Personalized Information Access

Aim/Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the success of deep learning in building user profiles for personalized information access. Background: To better express document content and information during the matching phase of the information retrieval (IR) process, deep learning architectures could potentially offer a feasible and optimal alternative to user profile building for personalized information access. Methodology: This study uses deep learning-based models to deduce the domain of the document deemed implicitly relevant by a user that corresponds to their center of interest, and then used predicted domain by the best given architecture with user’s characteristics to predict other centers of interest. Contribution: This study contributes to the literature by considering the difference in vocabulary used to express document content and information needs. Users are integrated into all research phases in order to provide them with relevant information adapted to their context and their preferences meeting their precise needs. To better express document content and information during this phase, deep learning models are employed to learn complex representations of documents and queries. These models can capture hierarchical, sequential, or attention-based patterns in textual data. Findings: The results show that deep learning models were highly effective for building user profiles for personalized information access since they leveraged the power of neural networks in analyzing and understanding complex patterns in user behavior, preferences, and user interactions. Recommendations for Practitioners: Building effective user profiles for personalized information access is an ongoing process that requires a combination of technology, user engagement, and a commitment to privacy and security. Recommendation for Researchers: Researchers involved in building user profiles for personalized information access play a crucial role in advancing the field and developing more innovative deep-based networks solutions by exploring novel data sources, such as biometric data, sentiment analysis, or physiological signals, to enhance user profiles. They can investigate the integration of multimodal data for a more comprehensive understanding of user preferences. Impact on Society: The proposed models can provide companies with an alternative and sophisticated recommendation system to foster progress in building user profiles by analyzing complex user behavior, preferences, and interactions, leading to more effective and dynamic content suggestions. Future Research: The development of user profile evolution models and their integration into a personalized information search system may be confronted with other problems such as the interpretability and transparency of the learning-based models. Developing interpretable machine learning techniques and visualization tools to explain how user profiles are constructed and used for personalized information access seems necessary to us as a future extension of our work.




se

Navigating the Future: Exploring AI Adoption in Chinese Higher Education Through the Lens of Diffusion Theory

Aim/Purpose: This paper aims to investigate and understand the intentions of management undergraduate students in Hangzhou, China, regarding the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in their education. It addresses the need to explore the factors influencing AI adoption in the educational context and contribute to the ongoing discourse on technology integration in higher education. Background: The paper addresses the problem by conducting a comprehensive investigation into the perceptions of management undergraduate students in Hangzhou, China, regarding the adoption of AI in education. The study explores various factors, including Perceived Relative Advantage and Trialability, to shed light on the nuanced dynamics influencing AI technology adoption in the context of higher education. Methodology: The study employs a quantitative research approach, utilizing the Confirmatory Tetrad Analysis (CTA) and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) methodologies. The research sample consists of management undergraduate students in Hangzhou, China, and the methods include data screening, principal component analysis, confirmatory tetrad analysis, and evaluation of the measurement and structural models. We used a random sampling method to distribute 420 online, self-administered questionnaires among management students aged 18 to 21 at universities in Hangzhou. Contribution: This paper explores how management students in Hangzhou, China, perceive the adoption of AI in education. It identifies factors that influence AI adoption intention. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the complex nature of technology adoption in the changing educational technology landscape. It offers a thorough comprehension of this process while challenging and expanding the existing literature by revealing the insignificant impacts of certain factors. This highlights the need for an approach to AI integration in education that is context-specific and culturally sensitive. Findings: The study highlights students’ positive attitudes toward integrating AI in educational settings. Perceived relative advantage and trialability were found to impact AI adoption intention significantly. AI adoption is influenced by social and cultural contexts rather than factors like compatibility, complexity, and observability. Peer influence, instructor guidance, and the university environment were identified as pivotal in shaping students’ attitudes toward AI technologies. Recommendations for Practitioners: To promote the use of AI among management students in Hangzhou, practitioners should highlight the benefits and the ease of testing these technologies. It is essential to create communication strategies tailored to the student’s needs, consider cultural differences, and utilize the influence of peers and instructors. Establishing a supportive environment within the university that encourages innovation through policies and regulations is vital. Additionally, it is recommended that students’ attitudes towards AI be monitored constantly, and strategies adjusted accordingly to keep up with the changing technological landscape. Recommendation for Researchers: Researchers should conduct cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural studies with qualitative and longitudinal research designs to understand factors affecting AI adoption in education. It is essential to investigate compatibility, complexity, observability, individual attitudes, prior experience, and the evolving role of peers and instructors. Impact on Society: The study’s insights into the positive attitudes of management students in Hangzhou, China, toward AI adoption in education have broader societal implications. It reflects a readiness for transformative educational experiences in a region known for technological advancements. However, the study also underscores the importance of cautious integration, considering associated risks like data privacy and biases to ensure equitable benefits and uphold educational values. Future Research: Future research should delve into AI adoption in various academic disciplines and regions, employing longitudinal designs and qualitative methods to understand cultural influences and the roles of peers and instructors. Investigating moderating factors influencing specific factors’ relationship with AI adoption intention is essential for a comprehensive understanding.




se

The Influence of Augmented Reality Face Filter Addiction on Online Social Anxiety: A Stimulus-Organism-Response Perspective

Aim/Purpose: This study aims to analyze the factors that influence user addiction to AR face filters in social network applications and their impact on the online social anxiety of users in Indonesia. Background: To date, social media users have started to use augmented reality (AR) face filters. However, AR face filters have the potential to create positive and negative effects for social media users. The study combines the Big Five Model (BFM), Sense of Virtual Community (SVOC), and Stimuli, Organism, and Response (SOR) frameworks. We adopted the SOR theory by involving the personality factors and SOVC factors as stimuli, addiction as an organism, and social anxiety as a response. BFM is the most significant theory related to personality. Methodology: We used a quantitative approach for this study by using an online survey. We conducted research on 903 Indonesian respondents who have used an AR face filter feature at least once. The respondents were grouped into three categories: overall, new users, and old users. In this study, group classification was carried out based on the development timeline of the AR face filter in the social network application. This grouping was carried out to facilitate data analysis as well as to determine and compare the different effects of the factors in each group. The data were analyzed using the covariance-based structural equation model through the AMOS 26 program. Contribution: This research fills the gap in previous research which did not discuss much about the impact of addiction in using AR face filters on online social anxiety of users of social network applications. Findings: The results of this study indicated neuroticism, membership, and immersion influence AR face filter addiction in all test groups. In addition, ARA has a significant effect on online social anxiety. Recommendations for Practitioners: The findings are expected to be valuable to social network service providers and AR creators in improving their services and to ensure policies related to the list of AR face filters that are appropriate for use by their users as a form of preventing addictive behavior of that feature. Recommendation for Researchers: This study suggested other researchers consider other negative impacts of AR face filters on aspects such as depression, life satisfaction, and academic performance. Impact on Society: AR face filter users may experience changes in their self-awareness in using face filters and avoid the latter’s negative impacts. Future Research: Future research might explore other impacts from AR face filter addiction behavior, such as depression, life satisfaction, and so on. Apart from that, future research might investigate the positive impact of AR face filters to gain a better understanding of the impact of AR face filters.




se

Barriers of Agile Requirements Engineering in the Public Sector: A Systematic Literature Review

Aim/Purpose: The objective of this study is to summarize the challenges of Agile Requirements Engineering (Agile RE) in the public sector in republican and constitutional monarchy nations. Additionally, it offers recommendations to address these challenges. Background: Failure of IT projects in the public sector results in financial losses for the state and loss of public trust, often attributed to issues in requirements engineering such as prioritization of user needs and excessive scope of requirements. IT projects can have a higher success rate with Agile RE, but there are also drawbacks. Therefore, this study holds significance by presenting a thorough framework designed to pinpoint and overcome the challenges associated with Agile RE to increase the success rate of IT projects. Methodology: This study employs a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) protocol in the field of software engineering or related domains, which consists of three main phases: planning the review, conducting the review with a snowballing approach, and reporting the review. Furthermore, the authors perform open coding to categorize challenges based on the Agile methodologies adoption factor model and axial coding to map potential solutions. Contribution: The authors assert that this research enriches the existing literature on Agile RE, specifically within the public sector context, by mapping out challenges and possible solutions that contribute to creating a foundation for future studies to conduct a more in-depth analysis of Agile adoption in the public sector. Furthermore, it compares the barriers of Agile RE in the public sector with the general context, leading to the discovery of new theories specifically for this field. Findings: Most challenges related to Agile RE in the public sector are found in the people and process aspects. Project and organizational-related are subsequent aspects. Therefore, handling people and processes proficiently is imperative within Agile RE to prevent project failure. Recommendations for Practitioners: Our findings offer a comprehensive view of Agile RE in the public sector in republican and constitutional monarchy nations. This study maps the challenges encountered by the public sector and provides potential solutions. The authors encourage practitioners to consider our findings as a foundation for adopting Agile methodology in the public sector. Furthermore, this study can assist practitioners in identifying existing barriers related to Agile RE, pinpointing elements that contribute to overcoming those challenges, and developing strategies based on the specific needs of the organizations. Recommendation for Researchers: Researchers have the potential to expand the scope of this study by conducting research in other countries, especially African countries, as this study has not yet encompassed this geographic region. Additionally, they can strengthen the evidence linking Agile RE challenges to the risk of Agile project failure by performing empirical validation in a specific country. Impact on Society: This research conducts a comprehensive exploration of Agile RE within the public sector, serving as a foundation for the successful adoption of Agile methodology by overcoming obstacles related to Agile RE. This study highlights the importance of managing people, processes, projects, and organizational elements to increase the success of Agile adoption in the public sector. Future Research: In the future, researchers should work towards resolving the limitations identified in this study. This study has not provided a clear prioritization of challenges and solutions according to their significance. Therefore, future researchers can perform a Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchical Process (F-AHP) to prioritize the proposed solutions.




se

Continuous Use of Mobile Banking Applications: The Role of Process Virtualizability, Anthropomorphism and Virtual Process Failure Risk

Aim/Purpose: The research aims to investigate the factors that influence the continuous use of mobile banking applications to complete banking monetary transactions. Background: Despite a significant increase in the use of mobile banking applications, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, new evidence indicates that the use rate of mobile banking applications for operating banking monetary transactions has declined. Methodology: The study proposed an integrated model based mainly on the process virtualization theory (PVT) with other novel factors such as mobile banking application anthropomorphism and virtual process failure risk. The study model was empirically validated using structural equation modeling analysis on quantitative data from 484 mobile banking application users from Jordan. Contribution: The study focuses on continuing use or post-adoption behavior rather than pre-adoption behavior. This is important since the maximum and long-term viability, as well as the financial investment in mobile banking applications, depend on regular usage rather than first-time use or initial experience. Findings: The results indicate that process virtualizable and anthropomorphism have a strong positive impact on bank customers’ decisions to continue using mobile banking applications to complete banking monetary transactions. Meanwhile, the negative impact of virtualization process failure risk on continuous use has been discovered. The found factors explain 67.5% of the variance in continuous use. Recommendations for Practitioners: The study identified novel, significant factors that affect bank customers’ decisions to use mobile banking applications frequently, and these factors should be examined, matched, satisfied, or addressed when redesigning or upgrading mobile applications. Banks should provide users with clear directions, processes, or tutorials on how to complete monetary transactions effectively. They should also embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to improve their applications and products with anthropomorphic features like speech synthesizers, Chatbots, and AI-powered virtual bank assistants. This is expected to help bank customers conduct various banking services conveniently and securely, just as if interacting with real people. The study further recommends that banks create and publish clear norms and procedures, as well as promote tolerance and protect consumers’ rights when the process fails or mistakes occur. Recommendation for Researchers: The study provides measurement items that were specifically built for the context of mobile banking applications based on PVT notions. Researchers are invited to reuse, test, and modify existing measurement items, as well as submit new ones if necessary. The study model does not consider psychological aspects like trust and satisfaction, which would provide additional insight into factors affecting continuing use. Researchers could potentially take a different approach by focusing on user resistance and non-adoption. Impact on Society: Financial inclusion is problematic, particularly in underdeveloped nations. According to financial inclusion research, Jordanians rarely utilize mobile banking apps. Continuous usage of mobile banking applications will be extremely beneficial in closing the financial inclusion gap, particularly among women. Furthermore, it could help the country’s efforts to transition to a digital society. Future Research: The majority of study participants are from urban areas. Future studies should focus on consumers who live in rural areas. It was also suggested that the elderly be targeted because they may have different views/perspectives on the continued use of mobile banking applications.




se

Impact of User Satisfaction With E-Government Services on Continuance Use Intention and Citizen Trust Using TAM-ISSM Framework

Aim/Purpose: This study investigates the drivers of user satisfaction in e-government services and its influence on continued use intention and citizen trust in government. It employs the integration of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Information System Success Model (ISSM). Background: Electronic government, transforming citizen-state interactions, has gained momentum worldwide, including in India, where the aim is to leverage technology to improve citizen services, streamline administration, and engage the public. While prior research has explored factors influencing citizen satisfaction with e-government services globally, this area of study has been relatively unexplored in India, particularly in the post-COVID era. Challenges to widespread e-government adoption in India include a large and diverse population, limited digital infrastructure in rural areas, low digital literacy, and weak data protection regulations. Additionally, global declines in citizen trust, attributed to economic concerns, corruption, and information disclosures, further complicate the scenario. This study seeks to investigate the influence of various factors on user satisfaction and continuance usage of e-government services in India. It also aims to understand how these services contribute to building citizens’ trust in government. Methodology: The data were collected by utilizing survey items on drivers of e-government services, user satisfaction, citizen trust, and continuance use intention derived from existing literature on information systems and e-government. Responses from 501 Indian participants, collected using an online questionnaire, were analyzed using PLS-SEM. Contribution: This study makes a dual contribution to the e-government domain. First, it introduces a comprehensive research model that examines factors influencing users’ satisfaction and continuance intention with e-government services. The proposed model integrates the TAM and ISSM. Combining these models allows for a comprehensive examination of e-government satisfaction and continued intention. By analyzing the impact of user satisfaction on continuance intention and citizen trust through an integrated model, researchers and practitioners gain insights into the complex dynamics involved. Second, the study uncovers the effects of residential status on user satisfaction, trust, and continuance intention regarding e-government services. Findings reveal disparities in the influence of system and service quality on user satisfaction across different user segments. Researchers and policymakers should consider these insights when designing e-government services to ensure user satisfaction, continuance intention, and the building of citizen trust. Findings: The findings indicate that the quality of information, service, system, and perceived usefulness play important roles in user satisfaction with e-government services. All hypothesized paths were significant, except for perceived ease of use. Furthermore, the study highlights that user satisfaction significantly impacts citizen trust and continuance use intention. Recommendations for Practitioners: The findings suggest that government authorities should focus on delivering accurate, comprehensive, and timely information in a secure, glitch-free, and user-friendly digital environment. Implementing an interactive and accessible interface, ensuring compatibility across devices, and implementing swift query resolution mechanisms collectively contribute to improving users’ satisfaction. Conducting awareness and training initiatives, providing 24×7 access to online tutorials, helpdesks, technical support, clear FAQs, and integrating AI-driven customer service support can further ensure a seamless user experience. Government institutions should leverage social influence, community engagement, and social media campaigns to enhance user trust. Promotional campaigns, incentive programs, endorsements, and user testimonials should be used to improve users’ satisfaction and continuance intention. Recommendation for Researchers: An integrated model combining TAM and ISSM offers a robust approach for thoroughly analyzing the diverse factors influencing user satisfaction and continuance intention in the evolving digitalization landscape of e-government services. This expansion, aligning with ISSM’s perspective, enhances the literature by demonstrating how user satisfaction impacts continuance usage intention and citizen trust in e-government services in India and other emerging economies. Impact on Society: Examining the factors influencing user satisfaction and continuance intention in e-government services and their subsequent impact on citizen trust carries significant societal implications. The findings can contribute to the establishment of transparent and accountable governance practices, fostering a stronger connection between governments and their citizens. Future Research: There are several promising avenues to explore to enhance future research. Expanding the scope by incorporating a larger sample size could enable a more thorough analysis. Alternatively, delving into the performance of specific e-government services would offer greater precision, considering that this study treats e-government services generically. Additionally, incorporating in-depth interviews and longitudinal studies would yield a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamic evolution of digitalization.




se

IRNN-SS: deep learning for optimised protein secondary structure prediction through PROMOTIF and DSSP annotation fusion

DSSP stands as a foundational tool in the domain of protein secondary structure prediction, yet it encounters notable challenges in accurately annotating irregular structures, such as β-turns and γ-turns, which constitute approximately 25%-30% and 10%-15% of protein turns, respectively. This limitation arises from DSSP's reliance on hydrogen-bond analysis, resulting in annotation gaps and reduced consensus on irregular structures. Alternatively, PROMOTIF excels at identifying these irregular structure annotations using phi-psi information. Despite their complementary strengths, previous methodologies utilised DSSP and PROMOTIF separately, leading to disparate prediction methods for protein secondary structures, hampering comprehensive structure analysis crucial for drug development. In this work, we bridge this gap using an annotation fusion approach, combining DSSP structures with beta, and gamma turns. We introduce IRNN-SS, a model employing deep inception and bidirectional gated recurrent neural networks, achieving 77.4% prediction accuracy on benchmark datasets, outpacing current models.




se

Feature analytics of asthma severity levels for bioinformatics improvement using Gini importance

In the context of asthma severity prediction, this study delves into the feature importance of various symptoms and demographic attributes. Leveraging a comprehensive dataset encompassing symptom occurrences across varying severity levels, this investigation employs visualisation techniques, such as stacked bar plots, to illustrate the distribution of symptomatology within different severity categories. Additionally, correlation coefficient analysis is applied to quantify the relationships between individual attributes and severity levels. Moreover, the study harnesses the power of random forest and the Gini importance methodology, essential tools in feature importance analytics, to discern the most influential predictors in asthma severity prediction. The experimental results bring to light compelling associations between certain symptoms, notably 'runny-nose' and 'nasal-congestion', and specific severity levels, elucidating their potential significance as pivotal predictive indicators. Conversely, demographic factors, encompassing age groups and gender, exhibit comparatively weaker correlations with symptomatology. These findings underscore the pivotal role of individual symptoms in characterising asthma severity, reinforcing the potential for feature importance analysis to enhance predictive models in the realm of asthma management and bioinformatics.




se

Alzheimer's disease classification using hybrid Alex-ResNet-50 model

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a leading cause of dementia and mortality, presents a growing concern due to its irreversible progression and the rising costs of care. Early detection is crucial for managing AD, which begins with memory deterioration caused by the damage to neurons involved in cognitive functions. Although incurable, treatments can manage its symptoms. This study introduces a hybrid AlexNet+ResNet-50 model for AD diagnosis, utilising a pre-trained convolutional neural network (CNN) through transfer learning to analyse MRI scans. This method classifies MRI images into Alzheimer's disease (AD), moderate cognitive impairment (MCI), and normal control (NC), enhancing model efficiency without starting from scratch. Incorporating transfer learning allows for refining the CNN to categorise these conditions accurately. Our previous work also explored atlas-based segmentation combined with a U-Net model for segmentation, further supporting our findings. The hybrid model demonstrates superior performance, achieving 94.21% accuracy in identifying AD cases, indicating its potential as a highly effective tool for early AD diagnosis and contributing to efforts in managing the disease's impact.




se

International Journal of Bioinformatics Research and Applications




se

TRACC: tiered real-time anonymised chain for contact-tracing

Epidemiologists recommended contact-tracing as an effective control measure for the global infection like COVID-19 pandemic. Despite its effectiveness in infection containment, it has many limitations such as labour-intensive process, prone to human errors and most importantly, user privacy concerns. To address these shortcomings, we proposed location-aware blockchain-based hierarchical contact-tracing framework for anonymised data collection and processing. This infectious disease control framework serves both the infected users with localised alerts as well as stakeholders such as city officials and health workers with health statistics. Our proposed solution uses hierarchical network design that offloads individual infection block data to create hospital and city-level 'chains' for generating macro-level infection statistics. Results demonstrate that our system can represent the dynamic complexities of contract tracing in highly infection situations. Overall, our design emphasises on data processing and verification mechanism for large volume of infection data over a significant period of time for active risk assessment.




se

A study of internet public opinion leaders with COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan as a case

The novel coronavirus pandemic ravaged the world in 2020, making the world fall into an unprecedented period of stagnation. This research used the Sol-Idea internet public opinion analysis platform to collect, and analyses online public opinion data associated with novel coronavirus. This research finds the following situations: 1) COVID-19 online opinion leaders are more likely to post in major discussion boards. However, opinion leaders of replies but use PTT forum as the main discussion channel; 2) According to the analysis of the content and behaviour of the account 'ebola01', it is found that the content of the posts are mostly news praising the ruling party government or mocking the opposing parties, with the sources mostly coming from media considered to be more pro-ruling party. Therefore, it can be inferred that 'ebola01' may be part of cyber army with a particular political spectrum.




se

Ethical pitfalls of technologies enabling disruption and fostering cyber ethical mindset in management curriculum

There is a need to emphasise and educate future business leaders on emerging technologies' disruptive and transformative impact on business processes. Allen (2020) suggests the need for a digital mindset and tech literacy in business management education. In our study, we define cyber literacy and cyber ethical mindset emphasising the importance of informing future leaders in business schools about the ethical dilemmas arising while using these emerging technologies. Additionally, we highlight various ethical pitfalls of using technologies enabling disruption (TED). Further, we contribute to the understanding of cyber literacy, cyber ethics and business ethics, how to incorporate cyber ethics into the management curriculum, and why there is a need to integrate cyber ethics into management education.




se

Hybrid encryption of Fernet and initialisation vector with attribute-based encryption: a secure and flexible approach for data protection

With the continuous growth and importance of data, the need for strong data protection becomes crucial. Encryption plays a vital role in preserving the confidentiality of data, and attribute-based encryption (ABE) offers a meticulous access control system based on attributes. This study investigates the integration of Fernet encryption with initialisation vector (IV) and ABE, resulting in a hybrid encryption approach that enhances both security and flexibility. By combining the advantages of Fernet encryption and IV-based encryption, the hybrid encryption scheme establishes an effective and robust mechanism for safeguarding data. Fernet encryption, renowned for its simplicity and efficiency, provides authenticated encryption, guaranteeing both the confidentiality and integrity of the data. The incorporation of an initialisation vector (IV) introduces an element of randomness into the encryption process, thereby strengthening the overall security measures. This research paper discusses the advantages and drawbacks of the hybrid encryption of Fernet and IV with ABE.




se

To be intelligent or not to be? That is the question - reflection and insights about big knowledge systems: definition, model and semantics

This paper aims to share the author's vision on possible research directions for big knowledge-based AI. A renewed definition of big knowledge (BK) and big knowledge systems (BKS) is first introduced. Then the first BKS model, called cloud knowledge social intelligence (CKEI) is provided with a hierarchy of knowledge as a service (KAAS). At last, a new semantics, the big-and-broad step axiomatic structural operational semantics (BBASOS) for applications on BKS is introduced and discussed with a practical distributed BKS model knowledge graph network KGN and a mini example.




se

Map reduce-based scalable Lempel-Ziv and application in route prediction

Prediction of route based on historical trip observation of users is widely employed in location-based services. This work concentrates on building a route prediction system using Lempel-Ziv technique applied to a historical corpus of user travel data. Huge continuous logs of historical GPS traces representing the user's location in past are decomposed into smaller logical units known as trips. User trips are converted into sequences of road network edges using a process known as map matching. Lempel-Ziv is applied on road network edges to build the prediction model that captures the user's travel pattern in the past. A two-phased model is proposed using a map reduce framework without losing accuracy and efficiency. Model is then used to predict the user's end-to-end route given a partial route travelled by the user at any point in time. The objective of the proposed work is to build a Route Prediction system in which model building and prediction both are horizontally scalable.




se

Characteristics of industrial service ecosystem practices for industrial renewal

The emergence of service ecosystems can accelerate the industrial renewal required because of urgent global challenges. However, existing research has not sufficiently grasped the social dynamics of coevolution in ecosystems that enhance industrial renewal. This study aimed to advance ecosystem research through a practice lens and to present the key characteristics of industrial service ecosystem practice involved in industrial renewal. Consequently, its three characteristics - <i>accomplishment</i>, <i>attractiveness</i> and <i>actionability</i> - were configured based on an abductive study derived from the ecosystem literature, three practice-oriented approaches to learning, and two case ecosystem examinations. These features created the logic for resource integration and enhanced ecosystems to evolve as units, thus exceeding the actors' independent avenues of renewal. The findings of this study provided a deeper understanding of the coevolution in ecosystems needed to accelerate industrial renewal as well as a novel conceptualisation of an <i>ecosystem-as-practice</i> for further studies.




se

Perceived service process in e-service delivery system: B2C online retailers performance ranking by TOPSIS

Significant work in service domain has focused on customer journey within e-service delivery system process (e-SDSP). Few studies have focused on process-centric approach to customer journey during delivery of e-services. This study aims to investigate the performance assessment of three online retailers (alternatives) using perceived service process during different stages of e-SDSP as a criterion for decision-making. TOPSIS is used in this paper to rate and evaluate multiple online retailers. Based on perceived service process as the criterion, results show that online retailer-2 outperforms other two online retailers. This study is one of the first to rate online retailers by utilising customer-perceived service process (latent variables) as a decision-making criterion throughout e-SDSP. The finding suggests that perceived searching process is the most essential criterion for decision-making, followed by the perceived after-sales service process, the perceived agreement process, and the perceived fulfilment process. Implications, limitations, and future scope are also discussed.




se

International Journal of Services Technology and Management




se

Modeling the Organizational Aspects of Learning Objects in Semantic Web Approaches to Information Systems




se

Developing Learning Objects for Secondary School Students: A Multi-Component Model




se

Learning Objects, Learning Object Repositories, and Learning Theory: Preliminary Best Practices for Online Courses




se

Practical Guidelines for Learning Object Granularity from One Higher Education Setting




se

Scoping and Sequencing Educational Resources and Speech Acts: A Unified Design Framework for Learning Objects and Educational Discourse




se

Producing Reusable Web-Based Multimedia Presentations




se

The OSEL Taxonomy for the Classification of Learning Objects




se

Clicker Sets as Learning Objects




se

A Cognitive and Logic Based Model for Building Glass-Box Learning Objects




se

The Present and Future of Standards for E-Learning Technologies