Digital Threat and Vulnerability Management: The SVIDT Method

Abstract

Abstract:The Digital Revolution is inducing major threats to many types of human systems. We present the SVIDT method (a Strengths, Vulnerability, and Intervention Assessment related to Digital Threats) for managing the vulnerabilities of human systems with respect to digital threats and changes. The method first performs a multilevel system-actor analysis for assessing vulnerabilities and strengths with respect to digital threats. Then, the method identifies threat scenarios that may become real. By constructing, evaluating, and launching interventions against all identified digital threats and their critical negative outcomes, the resilience of a specific human system can be improved. The evaluation of interventions is done when strengthening the adaptive capacity, i.e., a system's capability to cope with negative outcomes that may take place in the future. The SVIDT method is embedded in the framework of coupled human-environment systems, the theory of risk and vulnerability assessment, types of adaptation (assimilation vs. accommodation), and a comprehensive sustainability evaluation. The SVIDT method is exemplarily applied to an enterprise (i.e., a Swiss casino) for which online gaming has become an essential digital-business field. The discussion reflects on the specifics of digital threats and discusses both the potential benefits and limitations of the SVIDT method.

Unintended Side Effects of the Digital Transition: European Scientists’ Messages from a Proposition-Based Expert Round Table

“…This opens the floor to new horizons. Against this background-as technology may be conceived as "idea, volition, or knowledge" [39]-the genetic modification of organisms (GMO) has been seen as part of the digital environment and denoted as one of the major threats to human development [4,40].…”

“…This opens the floor to new horizons. Against this background-as technology may be conceived as "idea, volition, or knowledge" [39]-the genetic modification of organisms (GMO) has been seen as part of the digital environment and denoted as one of the major threats to human development [4,40].The paper focuses on unseens related to societally relevant impacts. However, the science system itself will also be subjected to fundamental changes through digitalization (see also Section 1.4 and Appendix B.1).…”

“…Thus, in order to become negatively affected by the digital transformation, the given case SMEs should develop strategies that help to decide what digital technologies should be introduced when to keep the viability of the enterprise. This vulnerability assessment is factually subject of a recent method that has been applied already to many companies [40]. …”

The Impact of Corporate Sustainability and Digitalization on International Banks’ Performance

“…The digital revolution produces major threats to individuals (Scholz, ) with the potential to transform our economy and society (Helbing, ). In this manner, digitalization is known as a double‐edged sword which entails potential negative consequences for individuals and societies (Brenner, ) as a result of the asymmetries of information that it generates.…”

From probabilistic functionalism to a mental simulation of innovation: by collaboration from vulnerabilities to resilient societal systems

“…Contributions of Brunswik's Theory of Probabilistic Functionalism,' Scholz consolidates Brunswik's fundamental thoughts on the interrelatedness of the organism with the organism's uncertain, probabilistic environment (i.e., probabilistic functionalism). Moreover, Scholz profoundly applies these principles in the context of sustainable transition of coupled human-environment systems (HES) (see also Scholz 2011). Innovation, by taking a forward-thinking perspective (in contrast to an ex post analysis), can be viewed as 'new knowledge' inserted into or originated from a real-world environment and, consequently, is ideally suited for the application of the Theory of Probabilistic Functionalism.…”