Jesse Kaukola, Jukka Ruohonen, Antti Tuomisto, Sami Hyrynsalmi and Ville Leppänen
The contemporary internet provisions increasingly sophisticated security attacks. Besides underlining the advanced nature of these attacks, the concept of an advanced persistent…
Abstract
Purpose
The contemporary internet provisions increasingly sophisticated security attacks. Besides underlining the advanced nature of these attacks, the concept of an advanced persistent threat (APT) catalyzes the important perspective of longitudinal persistence; attacks are not only carefully planned and targeted but the subsequent exploitation period covers long periods of time. If an APT successfully realizes into such exploitation, information assets may be continuously monitored for harvesting business-critical information (BCI). These threats are relevant for the security of small enterprises, and this study aims to examine the qualitative factors that shape the security mindsets among these.
Design/methodology/approach
The data are collected with semi-structured interviews of six enterprises in a small regional market segment. The analysis is based on a fourfold taxonomy that delivers three mindset profiles, while particular emphasis is placed on the subjective security notions that shape the typical strategizing among enterprises.
Findings
APT is poorly understood among the observed segment, which tends to often also explicitly downplay the strategic relevance of the concept, but a more pressing challenge relates to the observation that business data is often perceived to have no value. The delivered results can be used to improve the situation.
Originality/value
This study is among the firsts to explore perceptions of small enterprises toward APT and BCI. The results reveal problematic mindsets and offers new avenues for practitioners as well as academics to study and improve the situation.
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Jurka Rahikkala, Ville Leppänen, Jukka Ruohonen and Johannes Holvitie
A cost estimate is considered to have a high impact on software project success. Because of this, different methodologies for creating an accurate estimate have been studied over…
Abstract
Purpose
A cost estimate is considered to have a high impact on software project success. Because of this, different methodologies for creating an accurate estimate have been studied over decades. Many methodologies produce accurate results, when used properly. However, software projects still suffer from inaccurate estimates. The disparity may result from organisational hindrances. This paper focuses on top management support (TMS) for software cost estimation (SCE). The purpose of this paper is to identify current practices and attitudes of top management involvement in SCE, and to analyse the relationship between these two and project success.
Design/methodology/approach
A list of 16 TMS practices for SCE has been developed. A survey was conducted to capture the frequency of use and the experienced importance of support practices. Data has been collected from 114 software professionals in Finland. Correlations between the frequency of use, attitudes and project success were analysed.
Findings
Top management invests a significant amount of attention in SCE. The extent of use and experienced importance do not correlate strongly with each other or project success.
Research limitations/implications
The results may lack generalisability. Researchers are encouraged to validate the results with further studies.
Practical implications
Software professionals invite senior managers to participate in SCE. A list of practices for participating is provided.
Originality/value
This paper suggests a list of 16 TMS practices for SCE. The paper also reports on the extent of use and experienced importance of practices, and the correlations between these two and project success.
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The purpose of this paper is to explore Finns’ labor market development predictions for the next ten years and shed light on preferred policy responses to the digital economy.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore Finns’ labor market development predictions for the next ten years and shed light on preferred policy responses to the digital economy.
Design/methodology/approach
Nationally representative survey data employed in this paper were collected in autumn 2017. The data collection utilized a multiphase sampling, and the interviews (n=1004) were carried out on telephone to minimize selection-bias and produce demographically balanced data.
Findings
Over two-thirds (71 percent) of Finns do not expect technological unemployment to constitute a permanent problem in the digital economy. Nevertheless, 74 percent assume that technological unemployment will increase at least temporarily. A considerable majority (85 percent) also believe that future jobs will be more precarious. Younger generations, despite their currently weak position in the labor market, are surprisingly more optimistic in their predictions. Analysis of preferred policy responses support this paper’s main thesis that the Finnish view on the future of work is rather optimistic: education reforms and streamlining the current social security gather dedicated support, whereas more unconventional ideas such as basic income or work-sharing remain contested.
Originality/value
To predict possible barriers to labor mobility stemming from digital economy discourses and to anticipate possible political fluctuations, studies on the public view are needed. This research aims to provide a solid framework for further comparative explorations of the public view.
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This paper introduces a generic structure for a futures workshop, developed especially to be used in brief practically oriented foresight projects. Based on experiences of tens of…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper introduces a generic structure for a futures workshop, developed especially to be used in brief practically oriented foresight projects. Based on experiences of tens of dozens of workshops where this method has been used, this paper aims to inform and educate practitioners of futures studies on the method and discuss its characteristics.
Design/methodology/approach
The design of the ACTVOD workshop method was influenced by the need to have a futures workshop design that would encourage creativity and allow for the hosting of a futures workshop in a rather short amount of time. ACTVOD takes advantage from several theoretical insights and methods within futures studies. It combines elements from heuristic problem-solving, scenario workshops (focus on finding action plans towards desired future) and soft systems methodology.
Findings
ACTVOD is a rather easy and time-efficient way of producing and collecting good-quality insights on the future and bringing those insights to a practical level. Major challenges using it relate to the transition between workshop stages and on reporting, which relies heavily on participants' activity.
Originality/value
This is the first time the characteristics of the ACTVOD workshop method are thoroughly introduced in an academic journal. Learning of the method would be useful for practitioners of participatory futures studies methods, especially those who are frequently invited to facilitate short workshops for varying audiences.
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Choon Hee Ong and Taufik Bahar
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between top management support, project mission (PM), synergy and project management effectiveness (PME) in the Malaysian…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between top management support, project mission (PM), synergy and project management effectiveness (PME) in the Malaysian local councils. It also attempts to analyze the relative importance and performance of the predictor constructs on the target construct for managerial actions.
Design/methodology/approach
Primary data based on 169 respondents were collected and analyzed using PLS-SEM to assess validity, reliability, hypothesis testing and importance-performance matrix analysis (IPMA) of the study constructs.
Findings
PM and synergy were found to be significantly and positively associated with PME. However, top management support was not related to PME. Synergy has the highest relative importance level in influencing PME and it is regarded as the most relevant construct for managerial actions.
Research limitations/implications
This study examines the significant factors that contribute to the effectiveness of project management in the local councils. It forms a basis for other state local councils to emulate the research model and compare the findings among different project teams in different locations.
Practical implications
The IPMA identifies synergy as a primary important construct for project management activities. It explains PME is linked with extensive collaboration, inter-departmental relations, interpersonal coordination and close liaisons.
Originality/value
This study is among the few that examines factors influencing PME in the Malaysian local councils. Inclusion of synergy as one of the predictor constructs will definitely help to improve the well-functioning and coordination of the project.