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Information Systems in E-business: Digital Transformation and Sustainable Management

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 3204

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Dauphine Researchers in Management (DRM), PSL University, Pl. du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 75016 Paris, France
Interests: e-business; e-government; information system; practical applications of technology in business
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Digital transformation and sustainability are two popular topics attracting the investment of enormous amounts of money and time. They are, in some ways, very different topics, yet there is significant overlap. Digital transformation is not merely an opportunity for financial enrichment, it also opens up prospects for building a better and more sustainable world. The aim of this Special Issue is to further explore how the technologies and processes inherent in digital transformation can support sustainability. Digital transformation can support sustainability in various contexts, from that of a single organisation, to broader contexts such as those of entire cities and countries.

While developments in artificial intelligence (AI) have come to dominate the attention for many, other specific technologies, such as blockchain, advanced virtual reality, 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT), can also support sustainability. In addition to the specific technologies that must be considered, the manner in which whole sectors of the economy are undergoing processes of digital transformation also impacts sustainability. For example, finance is being transformed by fintech, with exciting developments in cryptoassets and decentralised finance (DeFi) (Proskalovich et al, 2023; Yuan et al., 2023).

These is, however, a dark side to the role digital transformation plays in sustainability (Cheng et al., 2022). For every opportunity a new technology offers, there is also a new vulnerability, accompanied by possible unintended consequences. For example, the continuous stream of ransomware attacks certainly causes technical challenges but can also challenge the trust and privacy of consumers (Zarifis etl al. 2022).

This Special Issue welcomes papers related to the issues highlighted here, or similar questions pertaining to the role technology plays in sustainability.

References

Cheng X., Lin X., Shen X., Zarifis A. & Mou J. (2022). ‘The dark sides of AI’, Electronic Markets, pp.1-5. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-022-00531-5.

Proskalovich R., Jack C., Zarifis A., Serralde D.M., Vershinina P., Naidoo S., Njoki D., Pernice I., Herrera D. & Sarmiento J. (2023). ‘Cryptoasset ecosystem in Latin America and the Caribbean’, University of Cambridge - Cambridge Center for Alternative Finance (CCAF). Available from: https://www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/faculty-research/centres/alternative-finance/publications/crypotasset-ecosystem-in-latin-america-and-the-caribbean/.

Yuan H., Cen W. & Du T. (2023). ‘Digital Finance and County Ecological Performance—New Evidence from China Counties’, Sustainability,  vol.15, 16691. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/su152416691.

Zarifis A., Cheng X., Jayawickrama U. & Corsi S. (2022). ‘Can global, extended and repeated ransomware attacks overcome the user’s status quo bias and cause a switch of system?’, International Journal of Information Systems in the Service Sector (IJISSS), vol.14, iss.1, pp.1-16. Available from: https://doi.org/10.4018/IJISSS.289219.

Dr. Alex Zarifis
Guest Editor

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • digital transformation
  • sustainability
  • information systems
  • e-business
  • artificial intelligence
  • fintech
  • trust
  • privacy

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 2611 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Performance of Information Competencies in the Fertilization and Trade Strategies of Small Banana Producers in Ecuador
by Marcela Luzuriaga-Amador, Nibia Novillo-Luzuriaga, Fabricio Guevara-Viejó and Juan Diego Valenzuela-Cobos
Sustainability 2025, 17(3), 868; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17030868 - 22 Jan 2025
Viewed by 825
Abstract
The information perceived by producers plays a crucial role in the efficient management of the agricultural production chain, encompassing both the fertilization and marketing processes of the final product. The ability of farmers to make effective use of this information depends on their [...] Read more.
The information perceived by producers plays a crucial role in the efficient management of the agricultural production chain, encompassing both the fertilization and marketing processes of the final product. The ability of farmers to make effective use of this information depends on their information behavior, the use of information technologies, and the adoption of up-to-date technical knowledge. However, small Ecuadorian producers face information gaps that limit their access to technical and commercial knowledge, which affects productivity and profitability. This study analyzed the informational competencies of small banana producers in the provinces of Guayas and Los Ríos, with the objective of identifying the causes of these gaps and their impact on fertilization and marketing. A structured survey was applied to small producers, evaluating five dimensions of information. In addition, soil analyses were conducted in 20 plantations to determine the correspondence between fertilization practices and banana nutritional requirements. The results showed that producers in Guayas presented more robust informational competencies, with greater recognition of information needs and active use of reliable sources. This was reflected in the fertilization practices more aligned with nutritional standards, where plantations in Guayas presented average values of 1.21 cmol(+)/L aluminum, 8.67 cmol(+)/L magnesium, and 0.87 cmol(+)/L potassium, largely complying with nutritional standards for banana cultivation. In contrast, growers in Los Ríos spent less time searching for information and evidenced deficiencies in soil nutrition. This study highlights the importance of strengthening knowledge transfer and improving agricultural communication systems as tools to close information gaps. It is recommended to implement inclusive public policies and training programs in the use of information technologies and sustainable practices. In addition, promoting the creation of collaborative platforms can optimize access to markets, facilitating the direct and efficient marketing of produce. Full article
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13 pages, 539 KiB  
Article
Leadership in Fintech Builds Trust and Reduces Vulnerability More When Combined with Leadership in Sustainability
by Alex Zarifis
Sustainability 2024, 16(13), 5757; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135757 - 5 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1572
Abstract
Financial technology (Fintech) and sustainability are two of the main drivers in the transformation of many organizations. New innovative technologies create new services for consumers. The focus on sustainability is a necessary reaction to the many challenges faced by organizations and, more broadly, [...] Read more.
Financial technology (Fintech) and sustainability are two of the main drivers in the transformation of many organizations. New innovative technologies create new services for consumers. The focus on sustainability is a necessary reaction to the many challenges faced by organizations and, more broadly, society. The motivation to support these is, therefore, clear, but not all organizations move forward on both with the same enthusiasm. Leaders in Fintech do not always prioritize operating in a sustainable way. It is, therefore, important to explore and identify the synergies between Fintech and sustainability. One important aspect of this transformation is the consumers’ perspective, particularly the trust they have, their personal information privacy concerns, and the vulnerability they feel. It is important to clarify whether leadership in Fintech, with sustainability leadership, is more beneficial than leadership in Fintech on its own. This research evaluates consumers’ trust, privacy concerns, and vulnerability in the two scenarios separately and then compares them. Survey data is analyzed using Partial-Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and Multi-group Analysis (MGA). The findings show that leadership in both Fintech and sustainability builds trust more, which in turn reduces vulnerability more. Privacy concerns are lower when sustainability leadership and Fintech leadership come together; however, their combined impact was not found to be sufficiently statistically significant in this study. Full article
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