scholarly journals Online social network security awareness: mass interpersonal persuasion using a Facebook app

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 1276-1300
Author(s):  
Ehinome Ikhalia ◽  
Alan Serrano ◽  
David Bell ◽  
Panos Louvieris
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Online Social Network ◽  
Social Engineering ◽  
Security Awareness ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Paired Samples ◽  
Mip Model ◽  
System Usability Scale

Purpose Online social network (OSN) users have a high propensity to malware threats due to the trust and persuasive factors that underpin OSN models. The escalation of social engineering malware encourages a growing demand for end-user security awareness measures. The purpose of this paper is to take the theoretical cybersecurity awareness model TTAT-MIP and test its feasibility via a Facebook app, namely social network criminal (SNC). Design/methodology/approach The research employs a mixed-methods approach to evaluate the SNC app. A system usability scale measures the usability of SNC. Paired samples t-tests were administered to 40 participants to measure security awareness – before and after the intervention. Finally, 20 semi-structured interviews were deployed to obtain qualitative data about the usefulness of the App itself. Findings Results validate the effectiveness of OSN apps utilising a TTAT-MIP model – specifically the mass interpersonal persuasion (MIP) attributes. Using TTAT-MIP as a guidance, practitioners can develop security awareness systems that better leverage the intra-relationship model of OSNs. Research limitations/implications The primary limitation of this study is the experimental settings. Although the results testing the TTAT-MIP Facebook app are promising, these were set under experimental conditions. Practical implications SNC enable persuasive security behaviour amongst employees and avoid potential malware threats. SNC support consistent security awareness practices by the regular identification of new threats which may inspire the creation of new security awareness videos. Social implications The structure of OSNs is making it easier for malicious users to carry out their activities without the possibility of detection. By building a security awareness programme using the TTAT-MIP model, organisations can proactively manage security awareness. Originality/value Many security systems are cumbersome, inconsistent and non-specific. The outcome of this research provides organisations and security practitioners with a framework for designing and developing proactive and tailored security awareness systems.

scholarly journals Social networks, corruption and institutions of accounting, auditing and accountability

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 508-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Phiri ◽  
Pinar Guven-Uslu
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Wealth Distribution ◽  
Network Activity ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
African Context

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate institutions of accountability in Zambia in order to understand how social networks may influence such institutions not to discharge their mandates as expected from time to time. The study equally seeks to explore how social networks may perpetuate corrupt activities and compromise the functioning of institutions of accountability. Design/methodology/approach The conceptual framework adopted in this study draws on insights from social network theory (SNT) and Bourdieu’s ideas of capital to devise a critical lens for investigating network activity and its influence on the functioning of institutions of accountability. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with respondents drawn from different institutions of accountability. Social network analysis was conducted through content analysis. Findings Research findings highlight the presence of networks of a corrupt nature operating within government structures and some institutions of accountability. Manifested in the form of systemic and familial archetypes, these networks appear to be championed and propelled by senior government officials like controlling officers and other actors of a political nature including ministers and presidents. Most of these corrupt activities are organised through brokerage mechanisms that interface internal and external networks. Research limitations/implications Due to the clandestine nature of corruption activities, however, the study was unable to determine measures of centrality and density since these details were not forthcoming during interviews. Such information could only become available if willing individuals involved in corruption could be identified so that they explain who they conduct their corruption with together with the number of connections involved and the most influential individuals in those networks. Social implications This study helps us to understand that activities of a corrupt nature are often undertaken through well-connected groups and networks that make it difficult for institutions of accountability to detect and untangle such activity. The study also suggests that accountants and other accountability actors may have forgotten that accounting is not just a technical discourse for enhancing one’s economic status but is an ethical profession as well. There is a great need to put institutions in place which should hold everyone, including the president and ministers, accountable to the Zambian people in the light of wrongdoing. Dismantling the corrupt network activities inferred from the data entails a complete top-down change in systems of politics, governance, wealth distribution and social values. Originality/value This study contributes towards filling the gap of undertaking accounting research of a critical nature focussed on African contexts (Rahaman, 2010). The paper is equally an attempt at providing empirical flesh to Laughlin’s (1991) framework on organisational transformations through complementing that framework with SNT. The study is also among the first to draw on the experiences and insights of actors working within institutions of accountability to highlight accountability challenges within an African context.

The role of individual-social-technology fit in online social network value development: an empirical study

Info ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 66-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
ChienHsing Wu ◽  
Shu-Chen Kao ◽  
Hsin-Yi Liao
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Online Social Network ◽  
Social Software ◽  
Social Technology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Features ◽  
Individual Features ◽  
The Individual

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to reveal the role of individual–social–technology fit in online social network (OSN) value development. The social software features (e.g. communication and interaction), social features (e.g. privacy and trust) and individual features (e.g. sense of belonging and self-disclosure) are considered fitting forms to describe the OSN value. Implications and suggestions are addressed. Design/methodology/approach – The literature review on social software, the social and individual characteristics and the research gap with respect to OSN value is presented. The research arguments are then hypothesized, and research model used to describe the proposed role is examined empirically. The research targeted mobile phone users as the subjects, and the extent of the activities of these users on OSN for both work and studies. A salient investigation explores the moderation effect of gender. The research results are obtained, and the findings are revealed on the basis of 468 social software users. Findings – The significant effect of individual–social–technology fit on OSN value development is presented through the satisfaction of both participation and sharing information, and knowledge about this fit is verified. The interplay of social software, social and individual features contributes significantly to individual–social–technology fit development, implying that OSN value development is not a single issue. OSN value development should be considered concurrently with technological, personal and social issues. Research limitations/implications – The empirical study confirms that fitness analysis produces a systematic outcome, in which all elements (e.g. social, technology and individual) are required to cooperate with one another to maximize the OSN value. An individual adopts online channels to communicate with others; thus, the benefits may be a multidimensional issue instead of only a single information service issue. They also consider building an equal social relationship to be important, as it enables diverse propositions, maintains acceptable privacy and behaves on faith to enhance the fit of technology features and individual features to value development. The subjects also likely accepted the fact that emotion generation is important for the advantage of fit of technology features and social features, thereby likely benefitting OSN value development. Originality/value – The OSN does not only add new values to the society but also brings new effects on social development, especially in terms of social cognition from virtual community formation, development and creation. Although existing studies in the literature present the important aspects and antecedents linked significantly to OSN value development, these studies also insufficiently discuss the effect of fit of these facets on OSN value development. This exploratory study mainly aims to propose and examine the individual–social–technology fit model through an empirical investigation. The main argument of the study is that when a positive and healthy virtual society is developed through social software, the individual and social characteristics, as well as the social software features, should be defined with a suitable fit to promote the social networking value.

The effect of online social networks and competency-based management on innovation capability

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 499-511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Palacios-Marqués ◽  
Simona Popa ◽  
María Pilar Alguacil Mari
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Online Social Networks ◽  
Online Social Network ◽  
Time Lags ◽  
Innovation Capability ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Competency Based ◽  
Telecommunications Industries

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the effect of online social networks and competency-based management on innovation capability. Design/methodology/approach The paper is theory-confirming. Theoretical relationships were tested using an empirical study of 289 firms from the Spanish biotechnology and telecommunications industries. Findings Results confirm that online social network use for internal cognitive processes (e.g. reading, searching and storing information) and external cognitive processes (e.g. sharing and co-creating knowledge) positively affects knowledge transfer. This knowledge helps firms to achieve superior competency in R&D to succeed in innovation programs. Research Limitations/implications All survey respondents were from Spain, which may limit the generalizability of findings. A longitudinal approach was not used. However, doing so would make it possible to explore time lags between online social network use, competency-based management and innovation. Practical Implications This paper highlights the potential as well as the limitations of online social networks and competency-based management in promoting innovation capability. Businesses must consciously manage the assimilation and use of online social networks to benefit from them. Originality/value The study contributes to the literature by identifying effects on innovation capability at the meso-level (i.e. online social networks). Findings highlight the need for a shift in focus away from collaborating and interacting in online social networks (micro-level) and organizational contexts (macro-level) so as to improve innovation capability.

Filling structural holes? Guanxi-based facilitation of knowledge sharing within a destination network

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiayuan Liu ◽  
Jianzhou Yan
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Network Structures ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Tourist Destination ◽  
Structural Holes ◽  
Content Type

PurposeThis study examines the relationships between structural holes, guanxi and knowledge sharing among groups of stakeholders within a Chinese destination network.Design/methodology/approachThis study conducted surveys, social network analysis and semi-structured interviews to gather data from the stakeholders of a popular Chinese tourist destination to test its hypotheses.FindingsKnowledge sharing within the destination network was impeded by structural holes but facilitated by guanxi. Furthermore, the impeding effect of structural holes on knowledge sharing is alleviated by guanxi.Originality/valueThis study illustrates the ways that stakeholders exploit structural holes and guanxi to promote knowledge sharing, and thus offers novel insights into how destination network structures affect the efficacy of stakeholders when it comes to sharing knowledge and promoting their destination.

Brand tribalism and self-expressive brands: social influences and brand outcomes

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 333-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorna Ruane ◽  
Elaine Wallace
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Generation Y ◽  
Brand Loyalty ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Online Social Network ◽  
Interpersonal Influence ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Susceptibility To Interpersonal Influence ◽  
Social Network Influence ◽  
Brand Tribalism

Purpose – This study aims to examine the relationship between social influence and consumers’ self-expression through brands. It considers susceptibility to interpersonal influence and social network influence on self-expressive brands and brand tribalism. The study examines whether self-expressive brands and brand tribalism influence brand loyalty and word of mouth (WOM). Design/methodology/approach – A cross-sectional online survey was carried out with members of Generation Y in Ireland. Data from 675 complete responses were analysed using SPSS 20 and AMOS 20. A structural model tested nine hypothesised relationships. Findings – Findings indicate that both online social network influence and susceptibility to interpersonal influence are antecedents of tribalism and self-expressive brands. Consumers of self-expressive brands are loyal and offer positive WOM. By contrast, those who seek tribal membership have less brand loyalty and offer less WOM than other consumers. Findings suggest that consumers may be loyal to tribes, rather than to brands. This informs our understanding of the role of tribes for consumers and brand outcomes. Research limitations/implications – This study is limited to Generation Y consumers within Ireland. Originality/value – This is the first study to explore the effect of consumers’ perceptions about online social network influence on brand tribalism. In addition, their views about the influence of the social network on self-expressive brand consumption, and brand outcomes, are identified. This paper highlights consumers’ susceptibility to interpersonal influence on their brand choices and brand tribalism. In addition, it is shown that brand loyalty and WOM are not always a consequence of tribal membership. By contrast, self-expressive brand consumption enhances brand WOM and brand loyalty.

Relationally integrated value networks (RIVANS) for total facilities management (TFM)

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 313-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nayanthara De Silva ◽  
R.P.N.P. Weerasinghe ◽  
H.W.N. Madhusanka ◽  
Mohan Kumaraswamy
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Facilities Management ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Structural Holes ◽  
Test Analysis ◽  
Great Opportunity ◽  
Value Networks ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Stakeholder Relationships ◽  
Project Objectives

Purpose A case is made for developing “Relationally Integrated Value Networks for Total Facilities Management” (RIVANS-TFM) by synergistically connecting significant stakeholders of the project management (PM) and facilities management (FM) phases to deliver substantially better value for the end users of built infrastructure. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach A structured questionnaire survey enabled identification of typically significant stakeholders in the PM and FM phases. In total, 14 key stakeholders were identified through t-test analysis in this Sri Lankan study. Semi-structured interviews unveiled relationships among the aforementioned stakeholders and the findings were used to develop the “required” RIVANS-TFM, as well as the “existing” RIVANS-TFM, using the UCINET social network analysis software package. Social network theory of relationships was applied to analyze the networks in terms of “Structural Holes” or missing links and “Brokerage Potentials.” Findings Structural holes analysis highlighted the existing setup to be more vulnerable to missing links than the “required”/targeted setup. Furthermore, brokerage potentials analysis revealed that owners, project managers, facility managers, maintenance engineers, main contractors, designers, principal consultants, and other specialist consultants can act as “brokers” to bridge the gaps or minimize structural holes, thereby uplifting and reinforcing the existing network to deliver better performance and value in TFM. Originality/value By revealing existing and required levels of integration of each stakeholder in RIVANS-TFM, clients are provided a great opportunity to identify the stakeholders who should be engaged more, or less – in order to best achieve clients’ long-term aspirations and project objectives. Furthermore, the findings also indicate appropriate levels of stakeholder relationships to target, in order to maintain efficient flows of information, material and services in the supply chains while enhancing TFM life-cycle values.

scholarly journals Festival community networks and transformative place-making

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 335-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Jarman
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Centrality Measures ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Place Making ◽  
Dual Nature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Attribute Data ◽  
Group Members

Purpose Festivals are often explicitly connected to the destinations in which they take place, explored here as contributing to broader processes of place-making and engagement with local communities. Place is defined at a local scale, primarily as experienced by volunteer contributors to an arts and cultural festival in urban Scotland. Networked relationships between festival volunteers inform the research methods and analysis, reflecting both observer and insider perspectives. This paper aims to comment on varying attitudes among the contributors, relating these findings to their positions in the festival’s social network. Design/methodology/approach Social network analysis methods were used to capture and examine data from a sample of festival volunteers: a survey instrument was distributed among individuals identified by the creative director, acting as a key informant. These data generated information on connections between the respondents, as well as demographic and opinion-based attribute data. Network centrality measures were used to sample the respondents for four follow-up interviews with festival volunteers. Findings The resulting network revealed a core-periphery structure to the festival’s organising team. The influential core group members were more established volunteers, recognised for their value to the team. The festival was widely endorsed as contributing to local place-making, though not uncritically. Management implications were identified for the dual nature of the festival organisation: a formal hierarchy with clear functional departments, acting as a platform for an intangible yet vital social network. Originality/value Social relationships are shown to have profound implications for the management and identity of this volunteer festival, in relation to its host neighbourhood. Combining social network analysis with semi-structured interviews has demonstrated the value of this mixed methods approach.

Research on influencing factors of information diffusion in online social networks under different themes

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ling Zhang ◽  
De Li ◽  
Robert J Boncella
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Influencing Factors ◽  
Online Social Networks ◽  
Information Diffusion ◽  
Online Social Network ◽  
Research Information ◽  
Political Event ◽  
Intelligent Support ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting

Purpose This paper aims to study the factors influencing online social network (OSN) information diffusion under different themes helps to understand information diffusion in general. Design/methodology/approach This study collects data from the Web of Science, use the strategic consulting intelligent support system for word frequency analysis and use keyword clustering to classify themes, then research information themes as influencing factors of OSN information diffusion. Findings Five themes of “natural disaster”, “political event”, “product marketing”, “sport and entertainment” and “health-disease” have been identified. It is found that the research objects, research methods and research theories used by scholars under different themes have different focuses, and the factors affecting information diffusion are different. Research limitations/implications The limitation of this paper is that it only focuses on five typical themes, and there may be more themes. Practical implications The research helps other scholars to conduct in-depth research on the diffusion of OSN information under different topics and focus on the content of the research on OSN information diffusion under different topics. Social implications The research helps other scholars to conduct in-depth research on the diffusion of social network information under different topics, so as to better understand and predict the law of information diffusion. Originality/value The research summarizes the research on information diffusion in OSNs from the theme level and analyses the key points and theories and further enriches the research system on information diffusion in OSNs.

THE MECHANISM OF LINKAGES BETWEEN ONLINE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND FESTIVAL ATTENDANCE – A CASE STUDY OF A CHINESE MUSIC FESTIVAL

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weng Si (Clara) Lei ◽  
Chun Chen (Claudia) Li
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Online Community ◽  
Online Social Network ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
New Members ◽  
Music Festival ◽  
Chinese Music ◽  
Online Music ◽  
Participation Motives

Online social network participation, and its impacts on festival attendees’ motivation, have been investigated in previous studies. However, the results have been inconclusive. Social network participation motives have also been researched but have mostly been limited to Facebook and other social media from the West. Social media participation motives in the East, for example in China, and its causes and effects on music festival attendance have remained underexplored. This study adopted a qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews and netnography to empirically examine the connection between online social network participation and music festival attendance. Data collection included using netnography to explore a music festival social network chat group (online community) and then conducting in-depth interviews with festival attendees who were active members of the online community. The study sheds new light on festival attendees’ motives for online social network participation, a plausible mechanism and model to explain how an online music festival community sustains and connects its old and new members.

A social network based approach to identify and rank influential nodes for smart city

Kybernetes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bharat Arun Tidke ◽  
Rupa Mehta ◽  
Dipti Rana ◽  
Divyani Mittal ◽  
Pooja Suthar
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Smart City ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Urban Governance ◽  
Online Social Network ◽  
City Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Twitter Data ◽  
Heterogeneous Features ◽  
Influential Nodes

Purpose In online social network analysis, the problem of identification and ranking of influential nodes based on their prominence has attracted immense attention from researchers and practitioners. Identification and ranking of influential nodes is a challenging problem using Twitter, as data contains heterogeneous features such as tweets, likes, mentions and retweets. The purpose of this paper is to perform correlation between various features, evaluation metrics, approaches and results to validate selection of features as well as results. In addition, the paper uses well-known techniques to find topical authority and sentiments of influential nodes that help smart city governance and to make importance decisions while understanding the various perceptions of relevant influential nodes. Design/methodology/approach The tweets fetched using Twitter API are stored in Neo4j to generate graph-based relationships between various features of Twitter data such as followers, mentions and retweets. In this paper, consensus approach based on Twitter data using heterogeneous features has been proposed based on various features such as like, mentions and retweets to generate individual list of top-k influential nodes based on each features. Findings The heterogeneous features are meant for integrating to accomplish identification and ranking tasks with low computational complexity, i.e. O(n), which is suitable for large-scale online social network with better accuracy than baselines. Originality/value Identified influential nodes can act as source in making public decisions and their opinion give insights to urban governance bodies such as municipal corporation as well as similar organization responsible for smart urban governance and smart city development.

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