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Introduction
Societal sustainability and growth are pressing issues that require the collective efforts of individuals, organizations, and governments. In recent years, information systems (IS) and information technology (IT) have been recognized as key enablers of sustainable development (Fosso Wamba et al., 2024; Johnson et al., 2023; Singh et al., 2006), with the potential to drive economic, social, and environmental progress (Singh et al., 2023). Digital transformation can drive organizational innovation and growth and contribute significantly to societal sustainability and the betterment of humanity (Dennehy et al., 2021; Harfouche et al., 2022). Digital transformation is widely recognized as a critical catalyst for socioeconomic progress, offering significant enhancements in both the social and economic realms for individuals, businesses, and entire economies (Dabbous et al., 2024). The technological advancements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution have permeated into everyday life, encompassing cloud computing, artificial intelligence, mobility, analytics, and the Internet of Things (Collins et al., 2021; Patyal et al., 2022; Tarhini et al., 2022). These technologies are already demonstrating their potential to facilitate digital transformation efforts to address and adapt to the latest challenges for a better and sustainable society (Dabbous et al., 2023; Wamba-Taguimdje et al., 2020; Harfouche et al., 2019).
This special issue aims to explore how digital transformation strategies can be harnessed to address pressing societal challenges, promote sustainability, and enhance human wellbeing. It aims at finding answers to questions like:
- What are the critical success factors in fostering community engagement and social impact through digital platforms, and how can such initiatives be scaled or replicated?
- How can digital platforms and crowdsourcing mechanisms be utilized for effective disaster response, humanitarian aid, and community resilience-building efforts?
- What ethical considerations and best practices should guide the development and deployment of AI technologies for social good, and how can potential biases and risks be addressed?
- What role can digital technologies play in monitoring and mitigating the impacts of climate change, and how can they facilitate the transition to a more sustainable and resilient society?
- How can digital financial services contribute to economic empowerment, poverty reduction, and financial inclusion for marginalized or underprivileged populations?
The objective of this special issue is to collect, process, examine, and circulate diverse issues related to the above questions.
List of Topic Areas
- Digital Solutions for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Civic Tech and E-Governance for Inclusive Societies
- Digital Health and Telemedicine for Improved Healthcare Access
- Education Technology (EdTech) for Lifelong Learning and Skill Development
- Smart Cities and Urban Innovation for Sustainable Living
- Digital Financial Inclusion and Economic Empowerment
- Climate Change Mitigation and Environmental Sustainability through Digital Technologies
- Ethical and Responsible AI for Social Good
- Digital Humanitarianism and Disaster Response
- Community Engagement and Digital Platforms for Social Impact
- Emerging Technologies and Their Role in Digital Transformation (e.g., AI, IoT, Blockchain)
- Big Data and Social Media Analytics for Business Intelligence and Digital Marketing Strategies
- Innovative applications of IS for sustainable agriculture, energy, transportation, water management, and other domains.
- Designing IS artifacts for sustainability, such as green software engineering, eco-feedback systems, and circular economy platforms.
Submissions Information
Submissions are made using ScholarOne Manuscripts. Registration and access are available here.
Author guidelines must be strictly followed. Please see here.
Authors should select (from the drop-down menu) the special issue title at the appropriate step in the submission process, i.e. in response to ““Please select the issue you are submitting to”.
Submitted articles must not have been previously published, nor should they be under consideration for publication anywhere else, while under review for this journal.
Key Deadlines
Submissions Open: June 1st 2024
Submissions Close: Sept 1st 2024
Guest Editors
Abbas Tarhini, Lebanese American University, Lebanon, [email protected]
Amal Dabbous, Saint Joseph University, Lebanon, [email protected]
Antoine Harfouche, University Paris Nanterre, France, [email protected]
Twinomurinzi Hossana, University of Johannesburg, South Africa, [email protected]
Samuel Fosso Wamba, TBS Education, France, [email protected]
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