Information Management and Disruptive Technologies

Dear Colleagues,

Digital transformations are the norm. New business models based on disruptive technologies are evolving at pace. Managing technology has never been more complicated and is expected to be more challenging in the foreseeable future. This elevates the need for advanced information management. How can disruptive technologies, such as artificial intelligence, block chain, Internet of Things and quantum computing, be assessed and managed properly? 

The engagement of the organization and its business units with information management needs to be transformed into an equal partnership. The demands from the organization need to be supplemented with the information management technology push. The technology push role of information management assesses disruptive technologies and presents to, as well as jointly explores with, the organization’s opportunities, originating from embracing emerging technologies. In short, digital transformations require a more advanced collaboration model.

In most organisations, many professionals in information management still have a predominantly technical profile. This is beneficial in accessing the potential of emerging disruptive technologies and in managing the implementation of disruptive technologies. Nevertheless, advanced information management professionals should supplement their capabilities with business acumen to stay relevant in today’s digital transformation era.  

Finally, information management professionals need to understand legal implications. These implications will not become less complex, as the increasing legal requirements and their complexity is a true barrier for digital transformations and the adoption of disruptive technologies. Information management must be able to engage with the legal representatives in the risk assessment of disruptive technologies, as well as in implementing and managing the disruptive technologies. For implementing and managing disruptive technologies, information management is responsible for compliance and plays an important role in risk management.

Research exploring information management and disruptive technologies is sparse. This Special Issue seeks to publish contributions that help to improve this situation. Topics may include:

• The evolving role of Information Management in digital transformations and Disruptive Technologies
• The role and effectiveness of Information Management
• The required capabilities of Information Management to manage digital transformations
• Mechanisms to improve and maintain Information Management capabilities
• Overcoming the challenges of innovation and the adoption of Disruptive Technologies
• Risk assessment of Disruptive Technologies
• The role of Information Management in managing ethical implications and potential consequences of Disruptive Technologies
• The contribution of Information Management to the adoption of Disruptive Technologies
• The reporting on status of digital transformations and Disruptive Technology adoption and implementation
• The role of Information Management in resolving IT legacy issues
• The role of Information Management in addressing legal and compliance issues related to the introduction of Disruptive Technologies
• The role of Information Management in influencing the adoption of Disruptive Technologies
• Sector-specific Information Management perspectives on the adoption of Disruptive Technologies
• Regionally specific Information Management perspectives on the adoption of Disruptive Technologies
• Regionally specific Information Management perspectives on the adoption of Disruptive Technologies
• HR and the role of people in digital transformation
• Legal implications of digital transformation
• Case Studies of digital transformation

Prof. Dr. Erik Beulen
Dr. Francesco Lelli
Prof. Dr. Heikki Topi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Information is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• digital disruption
• digital transformation
• information management
• artificial intelligence
• Blockchain
• Internet of Things and quantum computing
• IT management
• security
• resilience
• change management
• requirement engineering
• Cloud–Edge computing and business process