Innovating for Sustainability: Digital Strategies for a Diversified and Sustainable Economy
Guest Editors
Dr Anuj Kumar
Rushford Business School, Switzerland
Dr Arshi Naim
King Saud University, KSA
Dr Aruna Dev Rroy
The Assam Royal Global University, India
Dr Arya Kumar
KIIT School of Commerce and Economics, India
Introduction and Background:
The special issue “Innovating for Sustainability: Digital Strategies for a Diversified and Sustainable Economy” aims to explore the transformative potential of digital intelligence in fostering sustainable business practices and driving economic diversification. It seeks to examine how technologies such as AI, ML, IoT, and big data can be harnessed to promote sustainability across various sectors. By analysing the impact of digital strategies on broadening economic activities, particularly in emerging and developing economies, this issue aims to present empirical research, policy analyses, and theoretical discussions that highlight successful implementations and challenges. It encourages interdisciplinary research and collaboration, integrating insights from technology, business, economics, and sustainability studies. Additionally, the issue aims to offer actionable policy recommendations to guide stakeholders in adopting sustainable digital strategies, while addressing ethical, social, and economic challenges such as data privacy, digital divide, and workforce displacement. By showcasing innovative solutions and best practices, fostering global dialogue, and stimulating long-term research and development, this special issue aspires to provide a comprehensive platform for advancing the understanding and application of digital intelligence in achieving sustainable and diversified economic growth.
Explore the Role of Digital Intelligence in Sustainable Business Practices
- To examine how digital technologies like AI, ML, IoT, and big data are being utilized to promote sustainable business practices.
- How it will be met: Through case studies, research articles, and industry reports that highlight successful implementations of digital intelligence in various sectors.
Investigate Economic Diversification Through Digital Innovation
- To analyse the impact of digital strategies on economic diversification, particularly in emerging and developing economies.
- How it will be met: By presenting empirical research, policy analyses, and theoretical discussions that illustrate the role of digital innovation in broadening economic activities and reducing dependency on traditional industries.
Promote Cross-disciplinary Research and Collaboration
- To encourage interdisciplinary research that integrates insights from technology, business, economics, and sustainability studies.
- How it will be met: By inviting contributions from academics, industry experts, policymakers, and practitioners to provide a holistic view of the challenges and opportunities presented by digital intelligence.
Provide Policy Recommendations for Sustainable Digital Transformation
- To offer actionable policy recommendations that can guide governments, organizations, and stakeholders in adopting sustainable digital strategies.
- How it will be met: Through comprehensive policy reviews, white papers, and expert commentaries that synthesize research findings into practical guidelines.
Highlight Challenges and Ethical Considerations in Digital Transformation
- To identify and address the ethical, social, and economic challenges associated with the digital transformation of businesses and economies.
- How it will be met: By featuring critical analyses and discussions on topics such as data privacy, digital divide, workforce displacement, and ethical AI.
Showcase Innovations and Best Practices
- To provide a platform for sharing innovative solutions and best practices in leveraging digital intelligence for sustainability and economic diversification.
- How it will be met: Through detailed case studies, success stories, and practical guides that demonstrate effective strategies and outcomes.
Foster a Global Dialogue on Sustainable Digital Futures
- To create a global dialogue among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers on the future of sustainable digital transformation.
- How it will be met: By organizing special issue workshops, webinars, and discussion forums that bring together diverse perspectives and foster collaborative learning.
Encourage Long-term Research and Development
- To stimulate long-term research projects and initiatives focused on the intersection of digital intelligence and sustainable development.
- How it will be met: By publishing research proposals, preliminary findings, and calls for collaboration that aim to advance the field over the coming years.
Justification:
The special issue is highly topical given the increasing reliance on digital technologies to address global sustainability challenges. Existing literature highlights the transformative potential of AI, ML, IoT, and big data in promoting sustainable business practices and economic diversification, yet there remains a need for comprehensive, interdisciplinary research that bridges gaps between technology, business, and sustainability studies. Recent global events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have accelerated digital transformation, underscoring the urgency of leveraging digital intelligence for resilient and sustainable economic systems. Societal implications, including the need for inclusive growth, ethical considerations in technology use, and addressing the digital divide, further support the necessity of this special issue. High citation rates of related studies indicate strong academic and practical interest, emphasizing the demand for a dedicated platform to explore these critical intersections and to offer actionable insights and policy recommendations.
Topics of Interest: We are seeking submissions of conceptual papers, case studies, original research, and review articles on the following subjects (though not exclusively):
- Digital Intelligence for Sustainable Business Models: Exploring how AI, ML, and data analytics can drive sustainable business practices and innovation.
- Economic Diversification Through Technology: Analysing the role of digital strategies in expanding economic activities and reducing dependency on traditional sectors, particularly in emerging economies.
- Interdisciplinary Approaches to Digital Transformation: Integrating perspectives from technology, business, economics, and sustainability to provide a comprehensive view of digital intelligence’s impact.
- Ethical and Social Implications of Digital Technologies: Addressing challenges related to data privacy, digital divide, and workforce displacement, and proposing ethical guidelines for digital innovation.
- Case Studies and Best Practices: Showcasing successful implementations of digital strategies in various sectors, highlighting practical solutions and lessons learned.
- Policy Recommendations for Sustainable Digital Strategies: Offering actionable guidelines for governments, organizations, and stakeholders to adopt and implement sustainable digital practices.
- Global Perspectives on Digital and Economic Integration: Providing insights into how different regions and countries are leveraging digital intelligence for sustainable economic development.
- Innovative Solutions and Emerging Technologies: Exploring the latest technological advancements and their potential to drive sustainability and economic diversification.
- Long-term Research Directions and Future Trends: Identifying emerging research areas and future trends in the intersection of digital intelligence, sustainability, and economic diversification.
- Fostering Collaborative Research and Global Dialogue: Encouraging interdisciplinary and international collaboration to address complex challenges and promote innovative solutions in sustainable digital transformation.
Submission Guidelines: Original manuscripts that hold the theme of the special issue are requested from interested authors. Online submission via the journal’s submission system is required for manuscript preparation in accordance with its standards. To verify quality and relevancy, submissions will go through a peer-review procedure.
Important Dates:
- Submission Deadline: 10 November 2024
- Notification of Acceptance: 30 November 2024
- Final Manuscript Due: 30 December 2024
- Publication: March 2025
Inquiries: Please email the guest editors with any questions you may have about the special edition.
We anticipate your contributions and how they will further the fields of sustainable development and social enterprise.