Is internet freedom good for society?

The Internet was founded as a technology of freedom ‘for the benefit of scientists, engineers, and their students, with no direct military application in mind’ (Castells, 2001). An analysis of the literature from 2000 to today shows substantial growth in the number of published papers relating to Internet Freedom and Digital Rights, reflecting an emerging field of research. Such papers illustrate that many western societies work on the assumption that a free internet is a ‘good thing’ - but is it? This research analyses how to examine the relationship between the level of the internet ‘freedom’ and a set of ‘good life’ indices – indicators of the welfare of society. We propose a methodology for analysing both correlation and possible causation between freedom of the internet (FOTN) and indicators of the welfare of society, as well as initial hypotheses on the correlations

Information Systems And Hospital Work: A Structuralist Investigation

This study aims to examine the way routine organisational work processes are transformed through the introduction of a new information system in an emergency department. By conducting a 9-month longitudinal case study in one of the major Australian emergency and trauma centres, we investigate the process of organisational work routine transformation in detail. A structuralist investigation perspective based on Structuration theory and the concept of IT duality is adopted to enable a detailed examination of the dynamic interplay between work routine and IS throughout the transformation process. We propose a three-phased development model which facilitates better understanding of the consequences of IS implementation and management by highlighting different transformational focii at different stages of evolution. This three phase perspective is a unique and novel way of analysing the impact of the introduction of an information system in an organisational setting. These findings help introduce a sense of order and actionability into the usually abstract nature of structuralist investigations to produce a detailed picture of how the introduction of an information system can trigger changes in work routines, and in turn, changes in the IS

The impact of information systems on work structure and culture in an emergency department

This paper describes a study where consultants in an emergency department will be observed and interviewed with the aim of evaluating the impact of the progressive implementation of an information system in an emergency department in a metropolitan hospital in Australia. The study is the third stage of a 3-stage longitudinal study which is building on data from two previous studies that were conducted in the same setting in 2008 and 2012. The evaluations will be based on predefined task categories to investigate how information systems in health settings affect time and prioritisation of tasks. The study aims to understand how the changes brought by information systems implementation can be managed to fit in with the structure and culture of work in the hospital setting. The outcome of this research will inform guidelines for how information systems for hospitals can be designed and implemented

Organisational culture and organisational impacts of information systems: A review of the empirical literature

Organisational culture is an important influence in shaping the organisational impacts of Information Systems. However, the conceptualisation and operationalisation of culture in empirical studies does not reflect the richness of the theoretical literature. In particular, our review finds that the dynamic, emergent and reciprocal nature of the IS-culture relationship has not been adequately examined in the empirical literature. This is partly due to the methodologies employed in existing research. Suggestions for enriching empirical research into the ISculture relationship are discussed

Individually tailored client-focused reports for ubiquitous devices : an experimental analysis

We describe results of a test of a method for tailoring communications based on the recipient&rsquo;s preferred information processing style and dominant motivational attitude. Results indicate that the greater the match between the style of the report and the individual&rsquo;s attributes, the more informed the reader feels about the subject of the report. This research has been conducted as part of a study into methods to design patient-centred medical using diabetic patients as an exemplar of chronic disease. The long term aim is to use reports personalised to the recipient to better inform patients about their disease and strengthen their motivation to follow the treatment plan.<br /

Human Sources:The Journalist and the Whistle-blower in the Digital Era

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Association for Information Systems AIS Electronic Library (AISeL) Information Systems And Hospital Work: A Structuralist Investigation Recommended Citation INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND HOSPITAL WORK: A STRUCTURALIST INVESTIGATION

Abstract This study aims to examine the way routine organisational work processes are transformed through the introduction of a new information system in an emergency department. By conducting a 9-month longitudinal case study in one of the major Australian emergency and trauma centres, we investigate the process of organisational work routine transformation in detail. A structuralist investigation perspective based on Structuration theory and the concept of IT duality is adopted to enable a detailed examination of the dynamic interplay between work routine and IS throughout the transformation process. We propose a three-phased development model which facilitates better understanding of the consequences of IS implementation and management by highlighting different transformational focii at different stages of evolution. This three phase perspective is a unique and novel way of analysing the impact of the introduction of an information system in an organisational setting. These findings help introduce a sense of order and actionability into the usually abstract nature of structuralist investigations to produce a detailed picture of how the introduction of an information system can trigger changes in work routines, and in turn, changes in the IS

The relationship between transparency, whistleblowing, and public trust

This chapter uses empirical evidence of public attitudes toward a specific type of transparency reform – facilitation and protection of ‘whistleblowing’ – to seek out a more complete picture of the role of transparency in sustaining trust

Whistleblower protection laws in G20 countries

This report analyses the current state of whistleblower protection rules in each of the G20 countries, applying to the identification of wrongdoing in both the public and private sectors. Executive summary Background The G20 countries committed in 2010 and 2012 to put in place adequate measures to protect whistleblowers, and to provide them with safe, reliable avenues to report fraud, corruption and other wrongdoing. While much has been achieved as a result of the G20 commitment, on the whole much remains to be done to meet this important goal. Many G20 countries’ whistleblower protection laws continue to fail to meet international standards, and fall significantly short of best practice. Lacking strong legal protections, government and corporate employees who report wrongdoing to their managers or to regulators can face dismissal, harassment and other forms of retribution. With employees deterred from coming forward, government and corporate misconduct can be perpetuated. Serious wrongdoing such as corruption, fraud, financial malpractice, public health threats, unsafe consumer products and environmental damage can persist without remedy. Objective This report analyses the current state of whistleblower protection rules in each of the G20 countries, applying to the identification of wrongdoing in both the public and private sectors. It is the first independent evaluation of G20 countries’ whistleblowing laws for both the private and public sectors, having been researched by an international team of experts drawn from civil society and academia. While G20 countries do self-reporting on implementation, to date this reporting has been “broad brush”, and tends towards a more flattering and less useful picture of progress than may really be the case (see Appendix 1). By contrast, this report uses recognised principles to provide a more in-depth picture of the state of progress, and whether a case for continued high-level cooperation remains. Each country’s laws were assessed against a set of 14 criteria (see Table below), developed from five internationally recognised sets of whistleblower principles for best legislative practice. The report is based on a public consultation draft released in June 2014. Earlier draft findings and the consultation draft were distributed to a wide range of experts and whistleblowing-related NGOs in G20 countries. The consultation draft was also submitted to all G20 governments for comment, through the T20 (Think20) engagement group and the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group. We are grateful for the valuable comments and suggestions received (see Acknowledgements), many of which led to refinements and improvements in this final report. This report only analyses the content of laws related to whistleblower protection in each country. This written law is only part of what is necessary to ensure those who reveal wrongdoing are protected in practice, with actual implementation of any law representing a different and ongoing challenge for G20 countries. We stress that positive assessment of the presence and comprehensiveness of legal provisions in this report is not a measure of the extent or quality of actual whistleblower protection in any country. Further, in countries with lower scores, there may be cultural or other norms that in fact indirectly assist in practical protection of whistleblowers