Special Issue "E-business, Information Systems Management and Sustainable Strategy Development in the Digital Era"

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 November 2021.

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Martin Wynn
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Computing and Engineering, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 2RH, UK
Interests: Information systems strategy; e-business; knowledge management; sustainability
Prof. Dr. Robert Home
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Economics, Finance and Law, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge Campus, East Rd, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK
Interests: Law and urban planning; both in the UK and developing countries; Africa; sustainability

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The new “disruptive” technologies are having a significant impact on organisations and society across the world. The term “digital transformation” is regularly used to indicate the impact of a range of technologies on business models and societal activities and functions. These technologies include social media, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, mobile computing, Internet of Things, Big Data, analytics, blockchain, robotics and augmented reality. This Special Issue focuses on how these technologies are impacting electronic business (e-business, including e-governance), the management of IT in organisations and in society at large, the development of sustainability strategies, and the possible linkages between these concepts.  It aims to explore how e-business is operating in the digital technology era, how the IT management function is changing to accommodate these new technologies in both developed and developing world environments, and how sustainability strategy is changing in this evolving technology and business environment. We welcome empirical work of every variety, including case studies, comparative case studies (in both developed and developing world environments), surveys and other more quantitative approaches. We also invite conceptual papers that reveal new aspects of how e-business, IT management and sustainability are responding to this rapidly evolving technology environment. This Special Issue will supplement the existing literature on digital transformation through detailed cases studies and analysis of their impact on existing technology related business functions and sustainability practices, both in industry and in the wider environment.

Dr. Martin Wynn
Prof. Dr. Robert Home
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1900 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

  • e-business
  • IT management
  • sustainability
  • circular economy
  • digital technologies
  • business improvement
  • societal change
  • digital transformation

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

Article
Investigating the Impact of Critical Factors on Continuous Usage Intention towards Enterprise Social Networks: An Integrated Model of IS Success and TTF
Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 7619; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147619 - 07 Jul 2021
Viewed by 476
Abstract
Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, many people have to accept remote working. However, as COVID-19 has been effectively controlled in China, remote office services provided by enterprise social networks (ESNs) is no longer a necessary choice of users. There has not yet [...] Read more.
Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, many people have to accept remote working. However, as COVID-19 has been effectively controlled in China, remote office services provided by enterprise social networks (ESNs) is no longer a necessary choice of users. There has not yet been any referential research for ESN enterprises concerning how to encourage users willing to use ESNs continuously. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to identify the critical factors of ESN continuous usage intention to make up the research gap of ESN continuous usage intention and to help enterprises address the issue of sustained growth. This research combines elements of the task technology fit (TTF) model and D&M information systems success (ISS) model, explaining the continuous usage intention of ESN users. The empirical analysis results are based on the sample data of 668 Chinese respondents with experience in ESNs use and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results show that task technology fit, performance expectancy and the satisfaction degree have a significant influence on continuous usage intention of ESNs. The research findings can provide the theoretical basis for sustained development and follow-up research of the ESN industry. Full article
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Article
E-Business Strategy in Developing Countries: A Framework and Checklist for the Small Business Sector
Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7356; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137356 - 30 Jun 2021
Viewed by 498
Abstract
Since the turn of the century, there has been a growth in the use of e-business by both large and small companies worldwide, a trend that has been given further impetus by the move to online trading in the COVID-19 pandemic era. For [...] Read more.
Since the turn of the century, there has been a growth in the use of e-business by both large and small companies worldwide, a trend that has been given further impetus by the move to online trading in the COVID-19 pandemic era. For small companies, there are the potential benefits of increased efficiencies and market share gain, associated with the re-engineering of selling and marketing processes; but in developing countries, such as Nigeria, research into how small businesses are using e-business systems and technologies is limited. This article builds upon earlier case study research in the Nigerian small business sector to develop a framework for e-business strategy development, implementation and review. Using an inductive approach, data was collected from six small businesses, using interviews and questionnaires, to profile the e-business operations of these companies. This study found that e-business strategy was generally lacking in these companies, but interview material was used to support the development and validation of the strategy framework, which provides a process and a checklist for small businesses pursuing e-business initiatives in developing world environments. Full article
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Article
The Leading Digital Technology Companies and Their Approach to Sustainable Development
Sustainability 2021, 13(12), 6612; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126612 - 10 Jun 2021
Viewed by 543
Abstract
The increasingly stellar attraction of the digital technologies and the growing, though not universal, consensus of the need to build a sustainable future, are two powerful trends within society. The aim of this article is to offer an exploratory review of how the [...] Read more.
The increasingly stellar attraction of the digital technologies and the growing, though not universal, consensus of the need to build a sustainable future, are two powerful trends within society. The aim of this article is to offer an exploratory review of how the leading companies within the digital transformation market have addressed sustainable development. As such, the article’s originality and value lie in offering a review of current corporate thinking within that market. The study adopts an inductive, qualitative approach based on an examination of published company reports, and identifies six major sustainability themes being actively promoted and supported. The article concludes that the current sustainability objectives of the technology companies are driven as much by commercial reality as any altruistic motives, and that support and promotion of the circular economy may offer the best opportunity for digital technologies to meaningfully impact sustainable development. Full article
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Article
Mobile Augmented Reality in Electronic Commerce: Investigating User Perception and Purchase Intent Amongst Educated Young Adults
Sustainability 2020, 12(21), 9185; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12219185 - 04 Nov 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1121
Abstract
Even though the presence and use of mobile augmented reality (MAR) technology has become increasingly popular in the field of marketing and advertising in recent years, it has largely been neglected in the study of consumer behavior research. This paper utilizes a single-group [...] Read more.
Even though the presence and use of mobile augmented reality (MAR) technology has become increasingly popular in the field of marketing and advertising in recent years, it has largely been neglected in the study of consumer behavior research. This paper utilizes a single-group posttest-only quasi-experimental design to investigate how the feature of mobile augmented reality application influences consumers’ attitude and purchasing intention as explained by the dimensions of persuasion (i.e., consumers’ cognitive, affective, and conative dimensions). Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with SPSS and AMOS is used to analyze the psychometric survey data collected from 179 participants. The results supported the prediction that MAR application’s real-time interactivity and entertainment increase cognition and affection, respectively; while irritation with MAR application decreases affection. The unsupported hypothesis, which predicted a positive relationship between informativeness and cognition, came as a surprise. The overall result of the study demonstrates the positive influence of MAR application in enhancing consumers’ purchasing intention. Finally, implications and future research directions are discussed. Full article
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