Corporate dynamic transparency: the new ICT-driven ethics?

The term “corporate transparency” is frequently used in scholarly discussions of business ethics and corporate social responsibility (CSR); however, it remains a volatile and imprecise term, often defined incompletely as “information disclosure” accomplished through standardized reporting. Based on the results of empirical studies of organizational behaviors, this paper identifies a new set of managerial practices based on the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) and particularly Internet-based tools. These practices are resulting in what can be termed “dynamic transparency.” ICT allows for an informational environment characterized by two-way exchange between corporations and their stakeholders, which fosters a more collaborative marketplace. It is proposed that such dynamic information sharing, conducted by means of ICT, drives organizations to display greater openness and accountability, and more transparent operations, which benefit both the corporations and their constituents. One of the most important outcomes that will accrue to consumers and other individuals is the “right to know,” especially about corporate strategies and activities that might directly affect their quality of life. This paper demonstrates that dynamic transparency is more desirable and more effective than the more common “static transparency” where firms’ information disclosure is one-way, usually in response to government regulation. We present three ethical arguments to justify the implementation by business firms of dynamic transparency and demonstrate that their doing so is related to CSR and to augment and complement stakeholder engagement and dialogue. The paper concludes with a summary of the possible limits to and the problems involved in the implementation of dynamic transparency for corporations, and suggests some strategies to counter them.     

我国转基因技术发展中的利益相关者分析

以利益相关者理论作为依托,从利益视角界定了中国转基因技术发展中的利益相关者,并借鉴权力-利益矩阵,全面分析利益相关者的权力及其利益,在着重分析国家部门、地方政府、科研院所、中资公司、种粮农民、食品消费者的利益关系的基础上,对如何协调这几类利益相关者的利益提出相关的见解及建议。     

利益相关者网络演化视角下CoPS创新风险研究

近年来,中国复杂产品系统（CoPS）快速发展的同时风险事故频发,亟待理论界关注。为打开CoPS创新风险生成的黑箱,本文基于利益相关者网络演化视角,构建了利益相关者网络、机会主义行为和CoPS创新风险的分析框架,对三代AP1000核电自主化依托项目SM核电站2号机组2002-2016年的创新过程进行了嵌入性纵向单案例研究。研究发现：不同的CoPS创新阶段利益相关者网络的结构是不同的,系统集成商和利益相关者的权利对称程度也是不同的;系统集成商和利益相关者追求权利对称状态是利益相关者网络在不同CoPS创新阶段上演化的一种内在驱动力;当利益相关者权利不对称时,有可能通过实施机会主义行为达到权利对称的目的,而机会主义行为容易诱发CoPS创新风险。     

What’s mine is mine; what’s yours is mine: private ownership of ICTs as a threat to transparency

In the face of ubiquitous information communication technology, the presence of blogs, personal websites, and public message boards give the illusion of uncensored criticism and discussion of the ethical implications of business activities. However, little attention has been paid to the limitations on free speech posed by the control of access to the Internet by private entities, enabling them to censor content that is deemed critical of corporate or public policy. The premise of this research is that transparency alone will not achieve the desired results if ICT is used in a one way system, controlled by the provider of information. Stakeholders must have an avenue using the same technology to respond to and interact with the information. We propose a model that imposes on corporations a public trust, requiring these gatekeepers of communication technology to preserve individual rights to criticism and review.     

ICT and an NGO: Difficulties in attempting to be extremely transparent

This paper analyzes the opportunities offered by information and communication technologies (ICTs) and the related ethical issues, within the transparency practices of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Based upon a one-year study of a European NGO, the Italian Association of Blind People, it presents compelling empirical evidence concerning the main ethical, social and economic challenges that NGOs face in the development of more transparent relationships with the public and the related role of ICTs, in particular, the organization’s website. This study shows that, although the attempt to be completely transparent has great ethical value, ICT-enabled information disclosure is limited by privacy and security concerns and by pressure from financial supporters and benefactors and potential NGO competitors who vie for grants and donations. The paper provides some implications and suggestions for managers of NGOs and policy makers.     

The Ignorance Economy 1

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to investigate the concept of ignorance. The article employs ignorance and related writings on the lack of knowledge and new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), education, and on the state of being ignorant with the aim of expounding an ignorant approach to the critique of the knowledge economy. This perspective necessitates a discussion of those subjects and objects apparently lacking in knowledge in addition to deliberations on the nature of new ICTs. Various studies by educators, economists, and management theorists are introduced and examined as instances of an ignorant standpoint on the knowledge economy. The authors argue and find that whilst an ignorant viewpoint regarding the knowledge economy might initially appear as one that is itself founded on a state of ignorance, a deeper investigation reveals its usefulness when considering the knowledge economy. Thus, the value of the article is that it introduces the concept of the ignorance economy and considers it from an original standpoint in the light of ongoing debates over the knowledge economy.     

Rob Kling Remembered: The Early Beginnings of Social Analysis of Computing in the URBIS Project 1

This article challenges conventional policy development and evaluation approaches that emphasize the instrumental side of technology. There is a growing gap between conventional planning and evaluation approaches for rural broadband ICTs that seek to demonstrate a direct link between investments and results on the one hand, and on the other, with evidence that the contribution of ICTs to rural economic, social and cultural wellbeing is increasingly difficult to demonstrate beyond short-term measurable indicators. The article proposes an alternative paradigm based on sociotechnical systems, stakeholder engagement, an acknowledgment of the multiple dimensions at play, and the growing evidence of unpredictability of ICTs. The article emphasizes a perspective based on “contribution,” not attribution; policymaking that is both adaptive and inclusive of multiple perspectives; methodological testing of emerging evaluation methodologies; and projects as learning experiments. This alternative theoretical and policymaking paradigm is encapsulated in a metaphor based on the management of natural resources where stakeholders track their own indicators of impact by reading how the system responds to a project intervention.     

The Ontological Interpretation of Informational Privacy

The paper outlines a new interpretation of informational privacy and of its moral value. The main theses defended are: (a) informational privacy is a function of the ontological friction in the infosphere, that is, of the forces that oppose the information flow within the space of information; (b) digital ICTs (information and communication technologies) affect the ontological friction by changing the nature of the infosphere (re-ontologization); (c) digital ICTs can therefore both decrease and protect informational privacy but, most importantly, they can also alter its nature and hence our understanding and appreciation of it; (d) a change in our ontological perspective, brought about by digital ICTs, suggests considering each person as being constituted by his or her information and hence regarding a breach of one’s informational privacy as a form of aggression towards one’s personal identity.     

Appreciating the Contribution of Broadband ICT With Rural and Remote Communities: Stepping Stones Toward an Alternative Paradigm

This article challenges conventional policy development and evaluation approaches that emphasize the instrumental side of technology. There is a growing gap between conventional planning and evaluation approaches for rural broadband ICTs that seek to demonstrate a direct link between investments and results on the one hand, and on the other, with evidence that the contribution of ICTs to rural economic, social and cultural wellbeing is increasingly difficult to demonstrate beyond short-term measurable indicators. The article proposes an alternative paradigm based on sociotechnical systems, stakeholder engagement, an acknowledgment of the multiple dimensions at play, and the growing evidence of unpredictability of ICTs. The article emphasizes a perspective based on “contribution,” not attribution; policymaking that is both adaptive and inclusive of multiple perspectives; methodological testing of emerging evaluation methodologies; and projects as learning experiments. This alternative theoretical and policymaking paradigm is encapsulated in a metaphor based on the management of natural resources where stakeholders track their own indicators of impact by reading how the system responds to a project intervention.     

Creating value from Social Big Data: Implications for Smart Tourism Destinations

This paper aims to demonstrate how the huge amount of Social Big Data available from tourists can nurture the value creation process for a Smart Tourism Destination. Applying a multiple-case study analysis, the paper explores a set of regional tourist experiences related to a Southern European region and destination, to derive patterns and opportunities of value creation generated by Big Data in tourism. Findings present and discuss evidence in terms of improving decision-making, creating marketing strategies with more personalized offerings, transparency and trust in dialogue with customers and stakeholders, and emergence of new business models. Finally, implications are presented for researchers and practitioners interested in the managerial exploitation of Big Data in the context of information-intensive industries and mainly in Tourism.     

原始性创新的触发机制研究—基于动机性信息处理理论和利益相关者视角

关于原始性创新的研究多集中于其概念、特征、对企业绩效和竞争力的影响等方面,对原始性创新触发机制的研究相对较少。本文以创新理论、利益相关者理论、动机性信息处理理论为基础,从利益相关者视角对触发企业原始性创新的因素及路径进行理论分析,提出原始性创新的触发机制模型。研究结论表明,利益相关者通过内外部两条路径影响原始性创新:其一是,对利益相关者的观点/评价的采纳为创新提供过滤机制,帮助企业筛除新颖但无用的想法,确保创新想法的"有用性",为创新产品的推出和商业化成功提供前提,即从内部触发原始性创新;其二是,利益相关者对企业基于知识的声誉的感知为创新提供信号机制,为创新资金投入提供支持,并有助于用户接受创新产品进而实现创新产品的商业化,即从外部触发原始性创新。研究丰富了原始性创新的相关理论成果,对于促进我国企业的原始性创新提供了理论支持及策略性建议。     

Leveraging Blockchain Technology for Indian Healthcare system: An assessment using value-focused thinking approach

Indian Healthcare system is a complex and distinguished structure due to variety of factors viz. population size it serves, presence of organized and unorganized services of healthcare, economic disparity and governance structure among others. Extant research emphasizes on the aspects like transparency, trust, disintermediation, non-repudiation, benchmarking of processes and practices, traceability and data integrity among others to stimulate the Indian Healthcare system for an improvised and more effective format. Blockchain Technology is recent innovation that offers many of these aforementioned aspects as a feature to the host systems. However, it is critical to understand and articulate the utility of Blockchain Technology specific to the Indian Healthcare system. Further, it is important to gauge the requirement elicitation of key stakeholders for Blockchain Technology adoption in Indian Healthcare system w.r.t any attribute prioritization/customization or design considerations (Consensus mechanism, type of blockchain, smart contracts etc.). There have been some research works on aspects of Blockchain applications in Indian Healthcare but lack a strong perspective of stakeholder requirements. We use Value-Focused Thinking framework based on discussions with the stakeholders to address the above mentioned research premise. We identify Fundamental Objectives and Strategic Objectives from the stakeholder interactions that contribute to the strategic goal. This is a niche work with a significant analytical contribution from the information systems perspective of Blockchain Technology adoption in the Indian Healthcare ecosystem given the light of premises from realms of human agents, behavioural and applications requirement from a stakeholder viewpoint.     

An ethical framework in information systems decision making using normative theories of business ethics

As business environments become more complex and reliant on information systems, the decisions made by managers affect a growing number of stakeholders. This paper proposes a framework based on the application of normative theories in business ethics to facilitate the evaluation of IS related ethical dilemmas and arrive at fair and consistent decisions. The framework is applied in the context of an information privacy dilemma to demonstrate the decision making process. The ethical dilemma is analyzed using each one of the three normative theories—the stockholder theory, stakeholder theory, and social contract theory. The challenges associated with the application of these theories are also discussed.     

企业核心利益相关者共同治理模式

企业中众多利益相关者不是同质的,对企业的生存和发展具有重要意义、绝对不可或缺的是核心利益相关者;核心利益相关者的基本构成是核心股东、管理者、员工三类利益相关者。核心利益相关者共同治理模式的结构特征是核心股东、管理者和员工是企业的物质资本所有者和人力资本所有者,三者共同拥有企业控制权并分享企业剩余。在利益分配方式上,核心利益相关者共同治理模式可以有效防止寄生关系和偏利共生关系,形成具有互惠共生性质的利益相关关系。由于核心利益相关者的内在联系是物质资本与人力资本共生,因此引入共生度和共生系数对核心利益相关者共同治理模式进行定量描述。     

Do you have confidence in how your rolling stock has been maintained? A blockchain-led knowledge-sharing platform for building trust between stakeholders

This study explores the potential of blockchain technology in enhancing trust among the stakeholders responsible for the maintenance of rolling stock. Although the technology has been widely successful in the financial sector, it is still novel in the maintenance field. Given the customized nature of maintenance processes, it is unclear if a suitable consensus protocol can be identified that can enhance trust among stakeholders. This problem is investigated through the lens of the Design Science Research Methodology. First, the theoretical background of blockchain technology and its role in enhancing trust are explained, followed by the analysis of a current case at a Railway company to test the proof of concept. A business network archive is developed for the maintenance management of the sliding step of the train door system. The archive encompasses the business logic and transactional data required to enhance trust among stakeholders in the quality of performed maintenance. The developed archive is deployed on Hyperledger Fabric and the effectiveness of the solution is evaluated through a survey. The results show that the developed business network, deployed on a customized Hyperledger Fabric consensus protocol, enhanced trust among the stakeholders involved.     

社交媒体中商务信息转发行为研究——基于强弱关系理论

基于社交媒体环境,依据强弱关系理论分析了用户关系强度对商务信息转发的影响,并从社会驱动层面和个人驱动层面提取了商务信息转发的影响因素。以典型的社交平台——微博为例,通过建立结构方程模型发现：弱关系对商务信息转发具有直接的影响作用;社会关系强度对社会信任和社会交往产生差异性影响;社会信任、社会交往、经济利益、利他主义和自我效能对商务信息的转发影响显著。本文将强弱关系理论的应用进一步拓展到社会化商务领域中,有利于指导电商企业制定合适的社会化商务营销策略。     

Neither relativism nor imperialism: Theories and practices for a global information ethics

We highlight the important lessons our contributors present in our collective project of fostering dialogues both between applied ethics and computer science and between cultures. These include: critical reflexivity; procedural (partly Habermasian) approaches to establishing such central norms as “emancipation”; the importance of local actors in using ICTs both for global management and in development projects – especially as these contribute the trust essential for the social context of use of new technologies; and pluralistic approaches that preserve local cultural differences alongside shared norms. May Thorseth then contextualizes our work vis-a-vis broader philosophical discussions of deliberation and democracy.     

利益相关者网络视角的企业社会创新过程——案例研究

企业作为社会创新三大主体（政府、社会、企业）之一,日益受到关注。但企业社会创新涉及众多利益相关者的权利关系却被研究者忽略,也造成了实际工作的举步维艰。本文首先阐明了基于权利关系的利益相关者网络概念,进而构建了利益相关者网络视角的企业社会创新过程理论模型,运用社会网络密度、节点度和中心度的计算方法,对浙江九仓再生资源开发公司的垃圾回收社会创新过程的不同阶段进行详细的案例研究,得出的结论是,在企业社会创新过程中,利益相关者有不同的权利诉求,由此形成的权利关系决定的网络密度、节点度、中心性也因不同阶段而演化,其中高管、政府和社区是主要利益相关者,股东、员工、客户、合作者、供应商也是不可或缺的利益相关者,他们在社会创新过程的四个阶段中因不同的权利关系而发挥着不同的作用。     

Trust and multi-agent systems: applying the “diffuse,default model” of trust to experiments involving artificial agents

We argue that the notion of trust, as it figures in an ethical context, can be illuminated by examining research in artificial intelligence on multi-agent systems in which commitment and trust are modeled. We begin with an analysis of a philosophical model of trust based on Richard Holton’s interpretation of P. F. Strawson’s writings on freedom and resentment, and we show why this account of trust is difficult to extend to artificial agents (AAs) as well as to other non-human entities. We then examine Margaret Urban Walker’s notions of “default trust” and “default, diffuse trust” to see how these concepts can inform our analysis of trust in the context of AAs. In the final section, we show how ethicists can improve their understanding of important features in the trust relationship by examining data resulting from a classic experiment involving AAs.     

Transparency and social responsibility issues for Wikipedia

Wikipedia is known as a free online encyclopedia. Wikipedia uses largely transparent writing and editing processes, which aim at providing the user with quality information through a democratic collaborative system. However, one aspect of these processes is not transparent—the identity of contributors, editors, and administrators. We argue that this particular lack of transparency jeopardizes the validity of the information being produced by Wikipedia. We analyze the social and ethical consequences of this lack of transparency in Wikipedia for all users, but especially students; we assess the corporate social performance issues involved, and we propose courses of action to compensate for the potential problems. We show that Wikipedia has the appearance, but not the reality, of responsible, transparent information production. This paper’s authors are the same as those who authored Wood, D. J. and Queiroz, A. 2008. Information versus. knowledge: Transparency and social responsibility issues for Wikipedia. In Antonino Vaccaro, Hugo Horta, and Peter Madsen (Eds.), Transparency, Information, and Communication Technology (pp. 261–283). Charlottesville, VA: Philosophy Documentation Center. Adele has changed her surname from Queiroz to Santana