Digital technologies are transforming operations, products and services in organisations large and small. The digital transformation of organisations is extolled as a solution to organisational challenges related to both efficiency and effectiveness. To date, there has been limited consideration of the challenges of successfully operationalising a transformative digital transformation approach. This article examines some of the common dilemmas facing managers that may be relevant across a range of organisational scenarios. Seven factors are analysed to provide a starting point for creating successful digital transformations in business. To begin to tackle these challenges, this research-in-progress paper proposes a digital transformation decision support guide for managers. This tool may be utilised by managers, supporting them to move from an ad hoc technology-driven approach to a more systematic integrated approach to digital transformation.

Wearing face masks is recommended as part of personal protective equipment and as a public health measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Their use, however, is deeply connected to social and cultural practices and has acquired a variety of personal and social meanings. This article aims to identify the diversity of sociocultural, ethical, and political meanings attributed to face masks, how they might impact public health policies, and how they should be considered in health communication. In May 2020, we involved 29 experts of an interdisciplinary research network on health and society to provide their testimonies on the use of face masks in 20 European and 2 Asian countries (China and South Korea). They reflected on regulations in the corresponding jurisdictions as well as the personal and social aspects of face mask wearing. We analyzed those testimonies thematically, employing the method of qualitative descriptive analysis. The analysis framed the four dimensions of the societal and personal practices of wearing (or not wearing) face masks: individual perceptions of infection risk, personal interpretations of responsibility and solidarity, cultural traditions and religious imprinting, and the need of expressing self-identity. Our study points to the importance for an in-depth understanding of the cultural and sociopolitical considerations around the personal and social meaning of mask wearing in different contexts as a necessary prerequisite for the assessment of the effectiveness of face masks as a public health measure. Improving the personal and collective understanding of citizens' behaviors and attitudes appears essential for designing more effective health communications about COVID-19 pandemic or other global crises in the future. To wear a face mask or not to wear a face mask? Nowadays, this question has been analogous to the famous line from Shakespeare's Hamlet: “To be or not to be, that is the question.” This is a bit allegorical, but certainly not far from the current circumstances where a deadly virus is spreading amongst us... Vanja Kopilaš, Croatia.

Check: I accept the terms and conditions and privacy policy statements associated with this technological artefact! The informed consent process is becoming more of a challenge with the emergence of Internet of Things (IoT) as data may be collected without the digital health citizen being aware. It is argued in this paper that the first phase for universal usability of IoT within the smart health domain is to ensure that digital health citizens (i.e. user of technology) are fully aware of what they are consenting to when they register an account with such technological artefacts. This point is further reinforced by the proposed ‘Privacy by Design’ requirements associated with the forthcoming General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This paper proposes some practical approaches which should be considered when designing and developing IoT for data collection and data sharing within the health domain

Searches of the Web using Google, and database searches of the academic and practitioner literature, return a large number of differing and varied definitions of the concept of business analytics. This article reviews the growing literature on Business Analytics (BA) using traditional and qualitative research tools. Our searches included using Google Search to identify examples of business analytics applications, and a focused keyword search of the available practitioner and academic literatures. Text analytics techniques identified frequently used terms in prior definitions of business analytics. Our empirical, inductive approach provides a basis for proposing and explaining a formal sentence definition for Business Analytics. The analysis provides a starting point for operationalising a measure for the business analytics construct. Additionally, understanding business analytics can help managers assess skill deficiencies and evaluate claims about relevance of tools and techniques. Finally, carefully defining the Business Analytics concept should provide stimulus for new research ideas.

The right to privacy has been discussed by scholars in multiple disciplines, yet privacy issues are increasing due to technological advances and lower costs for organisations to adopt smart surveillance. Given the potential for misuse, it seems prudent for stakeholders to critically evaluate Surveillance Analytics (SA) innovations. To assist in balancing the issues arising from SA adoption and the implications for privacy, we review key terms and ethical frameworks. Further, we prescribe a two-by-two Surveillance, Privacy, and Ethical Decision (SPED) Process Guide. SPED recommends the use of one or more of three ethical frameworks, Consequence, Duty, and Virtue. The vertical axis in the SPED matrix is the sophistication of an organisation’s SA and the horizontal axis is an assessment of the current privacy level and the rights afforded to the target(s) of surveillance. The proposed decision process guide can assist senior managers and technologists in making decisions about adopting SA.

Background: Illicit substance misuse is a growing public health problem, with misuse peaking among 18–25 year-olds, and attendance at third-level education identified as a risk factor. Illicit substance misuse has the potential to harm mental and physical health, social relationships, and impact on academic achievements and future career prospects. Digital interventions have been identified as a vehicle for reaching large student populations and circumventing the limited capacity of student health services for delivering face-to-face interventions. Digital interventions have been developed in the area of alcohol and tobacco harm reduction, reporting some effectiveness, but the evidence for the effectiveness of digital interventions targeting illicit substance misuse is lacking. This review aims to systematically identify and critically appraise studies examining the effectiveness of digital interventions for illicit substance misuse harm reduction in third-level students. Methods: We systematically searched ten databases in April 2018 using keywords and database specific terms under the pillars of “mHealth,” “substance misuse,” and “student.” To be eligible for inclusion, papers had to present a measure of illicit substance misuse harm reduction. Included articles were critically appraised and included in the qualitative synthesis regardless of quality. Results: A total of eight studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. Studies reported harm reduction in terms of substance misuse or initiation, as consequences or problems associated with substance misuse, or as correction of perceived social norms. Overall, five out of the eight studies reported at least one positive outcome for harm reduction. The critical appraisal indicated that the study quality was generally weak, predominantly due to a lack of blinding of study participants, and the use of self-reported substance misuse measures. However, results suggest that digital interventions may produce a modest reduction in harm from illicit substance misuse. Conclusions: The results of this review are positive, and support the need for further high-quality research in this area, particularly given the success of digital interventions for alcohol and tobacco harm reduction. However, very few studies focused solely on illicit substances, and those that did targeted only marijuana. This suggests the need for further research on the effectiveness of this type of intervention for other illicit substances. Trial registration: This review is registered on PROSPERO, ID number: CRD42018097203.