Towards Informing Human-centricICT Standardizationfor Data-driven Societies

Digital development for a progressive networked society

Climate change remains one of the world’s significant threats today, and thus Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 prioritizes countries to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change by 2030. Recent studies have scrutinized the impact of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) on the environment. However, the majority of these studies assumed that the environmental impact of ICT is homogenous across countries. This study, therefore, investigated the impact of ICT on environmental degradation, considering the difference in ICT quality among countries. Applying a panel dataset of 110 countries between 2000 to 2018 and the instrumental variable generalized method of moments (IV-GMM) technique, the findings revealed that ICTs improve environmental sustainability in countries with high ICT quality while degrading the environment in countries with moderate and low ICT quality. The results of the causality analysis also showed bi-directional causality between ICT and carbon emissions in countries with high and moderate ICT quality, while there is a uni-directional causality running from carbon emissions to ICT in countries with low ICT quality. Policies that enhance ICT usage through low pricing were recommended for moderate and low ICT quality countries to help mitigate environmental degradation.

Global Competition for Leadership Positions in Standards Development Organizations

With the aim of becoming a cyber island and making Information and Communications Technology (ICT) one of the main pillars of the economy, the government of Mauritius has been investing huge sums of money in ICT projects. For instance, in 2009 ICT investments accounted for 5.7% of the total share of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Given this situation, it becomes crucial to evaluate ICT investments, and as such, the main aim of this paper is to investigate the existing methods used in the evaluation of ICT investments in the public sector and propose a framework for the evaluation process. The main contribution of this work lies in the fact that evaluation of ICT projects in the public sector has remained an unexplored area, and even in the context of the private sector, most studies have concentrated on developed countries. The main results from the survey carried out in the 22 ministries reveal that Payback Period (PB) and Accounting Rate of Return (ARR) are the main financial criteria used for the evaluation. The survey also shows that the major factors, which are prioritised during evaluation process, are the relevant costs, risks, and benefits. Based on the research findings, this chapter also proposes a framework for evaluating investments in ICT projects by the public sector.

In 1819, Benjamin Constant gave a speech at the Athenee Royal in Paris on how conceptions of liberty changed from the time of the Athenian polis to 1819. After a period of revolutionary upheaval in the United States and France, observed that in the ancient world citizens defined liberty in terms of their positive participation in the affairs of government, while in the modern world, citizens define liberty in terms of the freedom to secure the desires of their private lives. Constant (1988, p. 325) argued that “in the kind of liberty of which we are capable, the more the exercise of political rights leaves us time for our private interests, the more precious will liberty be to us.” The additional point that can be inferred from Constant (1988) is that democracy is an unfinished and on-going project that needs constant and continuous attention (Habermas, 1996). Others challenge Constant’s (1988) positive outlook and argue that the legitimacy of modern governments is in critical decline, citing falling public confidence and flagging interest in the democratic process (indices which include the low percentage of the electorate that votes; mistrust of politicians; cynicism about the political process and public scandals). Certainly one modern day determinant that will influence the shape and identity of democracy is the regeneration of information and communication technologies (ICT). The information era is based on the pivotal role of ICT, which now pervades all sectors of society—the public sector as well as the commercial and voluntary sectors (van Dijk, 2001). ICT-based applications provide a new way for citizens to participate in the democratic process through improved • Interactivity: Two-way communication/debate between citizen and government • Speed of Communication: Offering the possibility for politicians to rapidly obtain impressions of citizen’s opinions • Reach of Scope: Providing links from politicians to groups with which they were not previously in contact On the positive side, ICT enthusiasts foresaw the Internet creating a public space free of interference, both from government control and commercialism. They proposed that new “information highways” facilitated by ICT will open alternate pathways to democratic participation, namely electronic democracy comparable with Jefferson’s (1984) vision of 1834, involving a network of highways which would open new lines of communication between the American States cementing their union by “new and indestructible ties.” The Jeffersonian vision is captured by today’s “amplification theory” of technology, holding that ICT enables citizen participation, inducing qualitative changes in society (Agre, 2002). However, ICT also poses threat, a new form of control. Electronic surveillance of the work place is particularly effective because it is reflexive—“management” monitors workers as well as itself (Whitaker, 1999, p. 40). At the societal level, it creates and re-creates new structures and new futures. These newly emerging structures, although variously named as “Virtual Feudalism” (Mowshowitz, 1997); “Post-National State” (Whitaker, 1999); “New Serfdom”; “IT-Harems” (Korac-Kakabadse, Korac-Kakabadse, & Kouzmin, 2000) or “New Shoguns,” all depict increasingly invisible, all-seeing, all powerful control mechanisms, first envisaged by Bentham’s 1 Eighteenth-Century (1787/1995) “Panopticon,” depicting citizens loss of freedom. The Panopticon vision of totalitarian, electronic control, is a compelling metaphor because it represents the architecture of modern power (Whitaker, 1999, p. 28). In the information age, the global political economy (globalizing markets) and its major tenants—corporate business and its representatives and lobby groups, exert unprecedented power on sovereign states to introduce “business-friendly policies” which, in turn, lead to (Korac-Kakabadse et al, 2000; Mowshowitz, 1997): • A retreat of the State (via privatization, outsourcing, and the hollowing out of public functions) and an increase delivery of public services by private parties which exercise authority in their own name rather than in the name of the law which transcends their own power • A blurring of lines between public and private sectors • Growing disparities between wealth and poverty and between and within regions and communities (e.g., fortress and affluent suburbia versus desolated quarters) • A growth of private security and “private justice” These increasingly business-friendly policies lead to corporate control over impoverished, sovereign governments and the transformation of “citizens” into “customers.” The process of being rendered a “client,” diminishes the value of citizen rights and equity, as clients with higher disposable incomes can afford to procure higher levels of rights and opportunities. A growing literature highlights that ICT-mediated democratic relationships are not challenging the fundamental ordering of democratic processes but, rather, traditional bureaucracies are being replaced by “infocracies” as explained by technology “reinforcement” or “enactment” theory emphasising how ICT further reinforces existing power and social control structures (Agre, 2002; Fountain, 2001; Korac-Kakabadse, 2000). New ICT reproduces and strengthens institutionalised socio-structural mechanisms, “even when such enactments lead to seemingly irrational and ostensibly sub-optimal use of technology” (Fountain, 2001, p. 5).

This article explores the European Commission goal of improving the quality and level of accessibility in mainstream information and communication technology (ICT) goods and services available in Member States through the use of public procurement legislation and performance standards. Over the past two decades, the Commission has encouraged Member States to adopt common requirements for accessibility and to strengthen efforts to use these requirements in public procurement. In the absence of significant improvements in the level of accessibility over this time, the Commission has more recently committed to bringing forward legislative proposals to harmonize the accessibility requirements used by Member States. A new procurement directive package contains stronger obligations on public bodies to include accessibility as mandatory requirements in Technical Specifications. In parallel to this, a standardization mandate by the Commission to the European Standards Organizations (ESOs) concluded in March 2014 with the publication of the first European standard on ICT accessibility. In light of these developments, this article analyses the trajectory of European policy in the field of accessibility over the last two decades, and the interplay between European public procurement, standardization and law. It examines how far these developments have succeeded in bringing into being a public procurement eco-system that will nudge the market in Europe to producing affordable and accessible ICT products and services for persons with disabilities.

Although the importance of innovation and standardization (I&S) of technology is well understood in the information and communications technology (ICT) community, there is a lack of awareness of the definitions of I&S, the relationship between I&S, and popular theories of I&S. The IEEE Communications Society's Emerging Technical Subcommittee on Innovations and Standards in Information and Communication Technology (ISICT) recently conducted a survey that captures the current state of awareness of I&S theories in the ICT community. The survey is intended to help understand the problems that hinder popular adoption of I&S theories in mainstream industry and academic research processes. This paper analyzes the results of the survey to achieve two goals, namely, to quantify the problems and challenges encountered in understanding and studying I&S in ICT and to identify potential solutions to address the problems.

The main aim of this research is to find out the contribution of information and communications technology (ICT) in the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the Ministry of Interior in Bahrain by measuring the impact of dependent variable that is SDGs and independent variables that fall under material capabilities, software and employee skills. The questionnaire was submitted to 220 employees of the Ministry of Interior, and the online questionnaire was completed by 162 recipients, representing 73.6% of the recipients. Results have indicated that software has no significant impact on SDGs, while material capabilities and employee skills have significant impact on SDGs. It is recommended that the Ministry of Interior in the Kingdom of Bahrain must develop appropriate policies that would help in solving the expected technical problems. The role of the Ministry of Interior in providing modern equipment and financial support necessary for digital transformation, and considering the provision of materials that contributes to energy conservation and the environment to reach the goals of sustainable development. In addition, the Ministry of Interior in the Kingdom of Bahrain should encourage and facilitate the process of communication between employees at a personal level and a higher level on an individual basis and working groupsKeywordsSustainable development goalsInformation and Communication TechnologyMaterial capabilitiesSoftwareEmployee skills

An organization's safety culture encompasses the values, perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors of its members. This culture forms a shared bond among individuals within the organization, influencing every facet of life. As a result, the safety ethos of a company plays a crucial role in nurturing a more expansive safety culture in society. Key components of a safety culture include leadership commitment, occupational health and safety (OHS) policies, meticulous planning, resource management, active participation across all levels, seamless integration, regular review processes, well-defined procedures, comprehensive documentation, and effective risk management. The amalgamation of these elements contributes to cultivating a work environment where prioritizing workplace safety becomes paramount. This commitment not only enhances the safety of the workplace but also addresses a crucial aspect of social sustainability, directly linked to human well-being. This study investigates the correlation between the successful execution of an occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS) and the level of involvement of both internal and external stakeholders in promoting safety practices within the organization, evaluates the mediation effect of work engagement and social sustainability on OHSMS implementation and safety behavior and examines the safety standards and actual implementation of these standards in information and communication technology (ICT) industry in India.

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Purpose This paper examines the impact of digitalization, innovativeness, capital formation, unemployment and sustainable development on entrepreneurship in European countries. By analyzing data from 42 European Council countries between 2000 and 2021, the study aims to uncover the relationships between these factors and entrepreneurship, with a focus on upper-middle-income and high-income countries. Design/methodology/approach The research uses panel cointegration, panel ARDL and panel Granger causality to examine the data across three panels. This methodological approach allows for a comprehensive assessment of relationships between the variables of interest. Findings In all countries and high-income countries, information and communication technology (ICT), unemployment (UNE) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) positively and significantly influence entrepreneurship, while R&D expenditure (RDE) and gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) negatively and significantly influence entrepreneurship. In upper-middle-income countries, ICT has no statistical significance, but RDE, GFCF, UNE and SDG have a significant negative impact on entrepreneurship. In terms of causality, there is bidirectional causality between all variables in all countries and high-income countries, while there are mixed causal relationships in the upper-middle-income group. Originality/value This paper contributes to the literature by focusing on the macroeconomic determinants of entrepreneurship, with particular emphasis on ICT, R&D and sustainable development. The study offers new insights into how these factors influence entrepreneurship in different income levels of European countries. By examining the interaction between entrepreneurship and all considered variables, this research provides a deeper understanding of the dynamics of entrepreneurship and possible policy implications.

China has made notable advancements in innovation, particularly in technology and industrial development; however, these improvements have not significantly translated into progress toward its decarbonization goals, as outlined in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 9, 11, and 13. This disconnect can be attributed to underlying challenges in financialization, the integration of information and communication technology (ICT), and the complexities surrounding the implementation of sustainable urbanization. Despite technological advancements and industrial innovations, the expected reduction in CO 2 emissions has been limited, hindering China’s progress in achieving its climate objectives. Addressing this issue may require a reorientation of policies to better align innovation with decarbonization efforts. This study introduces time‒varying frequency quantile regression to investigate this connection. The results show that ICT, economic growth, and urbanization increase emissions across quantiles, whereas financial market access and financial institutions have negative or mixed short-term impacts. In the medium-term (mid-frequency) band, ICT, economic growth, and urbanization continue to drive emissions, whereas financial market access remains negative and financial institutions neutral. Over the long run (low-frequency), economic growth and urbanization again reinforce CO₂, financial institutions switch to a clear positive effect, ICT rebounds to net positive, and financial market access displays mixed signs at the tails. The study formulates policies on the basis of these findings.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can play a major role in mitigating different challenges of the energy and environmental sectors faced by many countries of the world. For example, ICT helps both the developed and developing countries to face many challenges associated with climate change, waste management, energy scarcity and loss of biodiversity. For the future energy security in Bangladesh, the government needs to ensure that the influence of ICT on the energy sector is maximised along with the other energy policies. United Nations has listed 12 ICT-based innovations for the potential impact of ICT in the energy sector and achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Bangladesh should consider all these innovations in the energy policy. The young people in Bangladesh are very much enthusiastic about the ICT, and government should capitalise it by providing stable power and electricity in ICT applications such as grid management, load analysis, sensors for remote measuring, chips and controllers for monitoring, smart meters and automated dispatch software.

In an increasingly digital world, understanding the relationship among information and communication technologies (ICTs), gender, marital status, and employability is crucial for advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly, gender equality. Disruptive crises, such as the COVID‐19 pandemic, pose significant challenges to this goal. This study examines the impact of ICT use and gender on low perceived employability during the pandemic, as well as the moderating effects of gender and marital status. Using data from 586 respondents in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), including students and workers, this study reveals that ICT use reduces low perceived employability, whereas being a woman is associated with greater perceived employability challenges. However, neither gender nor marital status was found to moderate the relationship between ICT use and perceived employability. This study contributes to research on gender equality, digitalization, and employability, providing evidence that while ICT use can enhance perceived employability during crises, women continue to face greater obstacles. These findings support the SDGs and provide valuable insights for managers, human resource management practitioners, and policymakers in promoting more inclusive and equitable workplaces.

Technology and ICT have been drivers that have re-engineered our society and commerce in recent years. The creative use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in primary education has the capacity to increase the quality of stakeholder's lives by enhancing teaching and learning. This needs a shift within the delivery and pedagogy employed in the present primary education system. The aim of this paper is to put forth benefits of Information and Communication technologies (ICT) in standards of primary education.. In this context, individual teachers have exploited the potential of ICT to complement their own pedagogical practices, and to extend their children's learning. The Primary School Curriculum promotes the use of ICT to enhance teaching and learning across the curriculum. The curriculum integrates ICT into the teaching and learning process and provides children with opportunities to use modern technology to enhance their lives