[IRIS] A new special issue on Critical Digital Infrastructures in JMIS

Wed Apr 2 13:21:34 EDT 2025

*Journal of Management Information Systems **Special Section on Critical
National Infrastructure *

*Due Date: *January 31, 2026

Special Issue Editors

   - Jason Chan (jchancf at umn.edu), University of Minnesota
   - Alan Dennis (ardennis at iu.edu), Indiana University
   - Daniel Gozman (daniel.gozman at sydney.edu.au), The University of Sydney
   - Kalle Lyytinen (kalle at case.edu), Case Western Reserve University

*Background:*

Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) encompasses essential systems and
services that are vital for societal stability, economic security, and
national safety. The increasing digitalization of these infrastructures has
introduced unprecedented efficiencies that have transformed economies (Gao
and Lyytinen, 2005), enabling faster service delivery, improved public
safety, reduce corruption and enhanced crisis response through data sharing
and analytics (Sarker et al., 2021). The United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) supports digital public infrastructure (DPI) as a driver
for financial inclusion, social protection, and governance reforms. Digital
advancements have also driven sustainability, with smart grids (Piel et
al., 2017), environmental monitoring, and optimized resource management
with potential for reducing carbon footprints and increasing resilience.
Furthermore, technological innovation in financial services,
transportation, and energy has the potential to stimulate economic growth
through enabling new business models.

While the increasing digitalization of Critical National Infrastructure has
introduced efficiencies it also created unprecedented vulnerabilities,
including cyberattacks, cascading failures, and systemic interdependencies
that amplify risks (Plachkinova & Vo, 2023; August, Dao & Niculescu, 2022).
Recognizing these challenges, governments in the UK, US, and Australia have
developed regulatory frameworks such as the UK’s National Cyber Security
Strategy, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
guidelines, and Australia’s Security of Critical Infrastructure Act (SOCI
Act) to enhance resilience and mitigate emerging threats. CNI spans
multiple critical sectors, each with unique security and operational
challenges, including energy and utilities (Milosevic, Bass, and Combs,
2018), telecommunications and information networks (Lips et al., 2023),
financial services and payments (August, Dao, and Niculescu, 2022),
healthcare and public health (Sakurai & Chughtai, 2020), transportation and
logistics (Guo, Liu, and Nault, 2024), emergency services and law
enforcement (Schakel, van Fenema, and Faraj, 2016), and government and
public sector infrastructure (Plachkinova & Vo, 2023). As efforts to build
CNIs have accelerated, issues around CNI security, resilience, and
adaptability are becoming increasingly critical. At the same time
significant research gaps remain in cybersecurity practices at the system
level, governance, integration and management of emerging technologies such
as Autonomous Driving Systems[1] <#_ftn1>, and threat intelligence sharing.
Addressing these gaps is essential for policymakers, businesses, and
infrastructure operators to mitigate threats, optimize performance, and
ensure long-term continuity (Sakurai & Chughtai, 2020; Lips et al., 2023).

This Special Section aims to advance research on the design, adoption, and
impact of digital solutions and services critical in building CNI to
enhance governance, economic development, and public service delivery and
safeguard CNI. We invite interdisciplinary contributions that explore how
digital technologies and services can enhance CNI or impose new risks and
challenges for the operation of CNIs. Papers that do not explicitly address
or theorize about CNI design and operation and their digital components
will be returned without review. For example, papers focused on digital
transformation at industry level or on cybersecurity presenting models
applicable to a wide variety of application contexts while fail to consider
the unique context of CNI, will not be considered.

*Suggested topics include but not limited to the following:*

*1.  **Emerging Technologies and Digital Transformation*

Innovative technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Digital Twins
(Lyytinen et al., 2023), Blockchain and IoT are transforming CNI (Chen et
al., 2024), enabling predictive analytics, smart grids, and cyber-physical
security enhancements. Digital transformation plays a crucial role in
digitizing critical infrastructures (Poláková-Kersten et al., 2023),
enhancing operational efficiency, and enabling new service models,
particularly in sectors such as healthcare, where digital complementary
assets are key drivers of innovation (Steinhauser, Doblinger, and Hüsig,
2020).

*2.  **Cybersecurity, Resilience, and Risk Management*

CNI becomes increasingly interconnected, cyber threats such as ransomware,
insider attacks, and cyber-physical vulnerabilities continue to grow
(Plachkinova & Vo, 2023, Kumar, Marston & Sen, 2020). Risk assessment
frameworks and mitigation strategies are essential to protect
infrastructure while addressing the economic impact of breaches and
strengthening cybersecurity policies (August, Dao & Niculescu, 2022; Hui,
Hui, and Yue, 2012; Salovaara, Lyytinen, and Penttinen, 2019).
Additionally, CNI resilience depends on anticipating, withstanding, and
recovering from disruptions, as seen in past disasters and cyber incidents
(Sakurai & Chughtai, 2020; Rezazade Mehrizi, Nicolini & Mòdol, 2022).
Strengthening CNI security and resilience demands a proactive, integrated
approach to risk management, business continuity, and information sharing
(Zhuang et al., 2020; Kolini & Janczewski, 2022).

*3.  **Governance, Policy, and Public-Private Partnerships*

CNI governance requires polycentric collaborative efforts between
government agencies, private sector entities, and international
stakeholders (Guo, Liu & Nault, 2024). The governance is an mix of
public-private partnerships influencing the management of national
infrastructure (Lips et al., 2023). Effective governance frameworks ensure
that policy, compliance, and regulatory mechanisms align with evolving
security challenges (Hassandoust and Johnston, 2023). Governance frameworks
for payments, identity management, and data sharing play a crucial role in
securing financial and digital infrastructures.

*We welcome research using diverse methodologies and approaches, including:*

   - *Qualitative *(e.g., case studies, ethnographic studies)
      - *Quantitative *(e.g., experiments, econometric modelling, surveys)
      - *Design science *(e.g., development and evaluation of artifacts)

*Timeline:*

Authors should submit a one-page extended abstract to the Guest Editors
prior to submission to assess the fit of their paper with the special
section. The abstract should clearly present the research question, theory,
method and expected contribution. Authors are encouraged to submit prior to
the deadline and papers will be processed as they are received. The
editorial timeline will proceed as follows:

   - *Expression of Interest*: June 1, 2025 (one-page abstract, *optional*)
      to jmiscni at gmail.com
      - *Initial Submission Due: *January 31, 2026 to jmiscni at gmail.com
      - *Notification of First Round Decision: *May 31, 2026
      - *1st Resubmission Due: *September 30, 2026
      - *Notification of Second Round Decision: *January 31, 2027
      - *2nd Resubmission Due: *April 30, 2027
      - *Final Decision: *June 15, 2027

*References:*

*August, T.; Dao, D.; and Niculescu, M.F. *Economics of ransomware: Risk
interdependence and large-scale attacks. *Management Science*, 68, 12
(2022), 8879-9002.

*Chen, Y.; Lu, Y.; Bulysheva, L.; and Kataev, M.Y. *Applications of
blockchain in Industry 4.0: A review. *Information Systems Frontiers*, 26,
5 (2024), 1715-1729.

*Gao, P.; and Lyytinen, K. *Formulating effective national strategies for
market transformation. *Journal of Information Technology*, 20, 3 (2005),
201-210.

*Guo, H.; Liu, Y.; and Nault, B.R. *Join up or stay away? Coalition
formation for critical IT infrastructure. *Information Systems Research*,
35, 3 (2024), 1344-1362.

*Hassandoust, F.; and Johnston, A.C. *Peering through the lens of
high-reliability theory: A competencies-driven security culture model of
high-reliability organisations. *Information Systems Journal*, 33, 5
(2023), 1212-1238.

*Hui, K.L.; Hui, W.; and Yue, W. *Information security outsourcing with
system interdependency and mandatory security requirement. *Journal of
Management Information Systems*, 29, 3 (2012), 117-156.

*Kolini, F.; and Janczewski, L. *Exploring incentives and challenges for
cybersecurity intelligence sharing (CIS) across organizations: A systematic
review. *Communications of the Association for Information Systems*, 50, 1
(2022), 86-121.

*Kumar, C.; Marston, S.; and Sen, R. *Cyber-physical systems (CPS)
security: State of the art and research opportunities for information
systems academics. *Communications of the Association for Information
Systems*, 47, 1 (2020), 678-696.

*Lips, S.; Tsap, V.; Bharosa, N.; Krimmer, R.; Tammet, T.; and
Draheim, D. *Management
of national eID infrastructure as a state-critical asset and public-private
partnership: Learning from the case of Estonia. *Information Systems
Frontiers*, 25, 6 (2023), 2439-2456.

*Lyytinen, K.; Weber, B.; Becker, M.C.; and Pentland, B.T. *Digital twins
of organization: implications for organization design. *Journal of
Organization Design*, 13 (2023), 77-93.

*Milosevic, I.; Bass, A.E.; and Combs, G.M. *The paradox of knowledge
creation in a high- reliability organization: A case study. *Journal of
Management*, 44, 3 (2018), 1174-1201.

*Piel, J.-H.; Hamann, J.F.H.; Koukal, A.; and Breitner, M.H. *Promoting the
system integration of renewable energies: Toward a decision support system
for incentivizing spatially diversified deployment. *Journal of Management
Information Systems*, 34, 4 (2017), 994-1022.

*Plachkinova, M.; and Vo, A. *A taxonomy for risk assessment of
cyberattacks on critical infrastructure (TRACI). *Communications of the
Association for Information Systems*, 52 (2023), 1-25.

*Poláková-Kersten, M.; Khanagha, S.; van den Hooff, B.; and Khapova,
S.N. *Digital
transformation in high-reliability organizations: A longitudinal study of
the micro- foundations of failure. *Journal of Strategic Information
Systems*, 32, 1 (2023), 101756.

*Rezazade Mehrizi, M.H.; Nicolini, D.; and Mòdol, J.R. *How do
organizations learn from information system incidents? A synthesis of the
past, present, and future. *MIS Quarterly: Management Information Systems*,
46, 1 (2022), 531-590.

*Sakurai, M.; and Chughtai, H. *Resilience against crises: COVID-19 and
lessons from natural disasters. *European Journal of Information Systems*,
29, 5 (2020), 585-594.

*Salovaara, A.; Lyytinen, K.; and Penttinen, E. *High reliability in
digital organizing: Mindlessness, the frame problem, and digital
operations. *MIS Quarterly: Management Information Systems*, 43, 2 (2019),
555-578.

*Sarker, S.; Henningsson, S.; Jensen, T.; and Hedman, J. *Use of blockchain
as a resource for combating corruption in global shipping: An interpretive
case study. *Journal of Management Information Systems*, 38, 2 (2021),
338-373.

*Steinhauser, S.; Doblinger, C.; and Hüsig, S. *The relative role of
digital complementary assets and regulation in discontinuous telemedicine
innovation in European hospitals. *Journal of Management Information
Systems*, 37, 4 (2020), 1155-1183.

*Zhuang, Y.; Choi, Y.; He, S.; Leung, A.C.M.; Lee, G.M.; and Whinston,
A. *Understanding
security vulnerability awareness, firm incentives, and ICT development in
Pan-Asia. *Journal of Management Information Systems*, 37, 3 (2020),
668-693.

Kalle Lyytinen [ mailto: kalle at case.edu]
Distinguished University Professor, Iris S. Wolstein Chair
https://weatherhead.case.edu/departments/design-and-innovation/

Director of Academic Affairs Doctor of Management Programs
http://weatherhead.case.edu/degrees/doctor-management/
Editor-in-Chief Engaged Management Review: emr.case.edu
Online MBA in Product Management | MBA | Weatherhead School of Management |
Case Western Reserve University
<https://case.edu/weatherhead/academics/graduate/mba/online-mba-product-management>
Cleveland, Ohio 44106-7235; https://cwru.zoom.us/j/3334909042
Tel: +1-216-368 5353, fax: +1-216-368 4776, Mobile: +1-216-543 6667
Home page URL: http://home.cwru.edu/~kjl13/ ;
Publications: scholar.google.com/citations?user=yX-R0QwAAAAJ&hl=en

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[1] <#_ftnref1> Recent Netflix series Zero Day shows the potential impacts
and challenges in addressing such risks.
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