Preface

Information systems (IS) are abundant in our everyday lives to the extent that societies would struggle to cope without them. It is fair to say that IS regulate many aspects of our lives, including how we live from day to day, how we communicate, how we work, and how we spend our leisure time. Their influence can be seen in fundamental services such as healthcare, education, government, finance, and emergency services (police and fire). Business operations both nationally and internationally rely on information systems to function and remain competitive.

This book highlights the diverse use of IS and information technology (IT) in general in a rapidly changing and demanding environment. With the onset of Covid, the global pandemic, the use of technology and digital information has been placed at the forefront of the battle to overcome the pandemic and resume some degree of normality. Without IS and the sharing of data at a global level the battle against the pandemic would be much more difficult.

Through this book, authors from different continents highlight the diverse challenges facing societies, ranging from Internet voting and healthcare clinical pathways to missing person cases and the application of Problem Solving 2.0. It is only through the sharing of our challenges that we may come together as one to solve problems at a global level. Issues that may present challenges to one nation may well have been addressed by another and IS and IT provide a medium through which this sharing may be achieved.

The chapter authors are academics engaged in their own teaching and research activities. The book provides an opportunity through which these authors can share aspects of their research and highlight the problems facing their respective nations. The chapters do not describe the development of IS but rather the research and analysis relating to the application of IT and IS.

Finally, it is hoped that this book will help readers to focus on the human side of IT and IS. After all, IT and IS are built by people for the good of people. It is important that we do not lose sight of this at both national and global levels.

As my first book, the experience has been easier than I thought, although this is probably due to the expert help provided by IntechOpen, whom I thank for the opportunity to produce the book.

I would like to provide a special thank you to Content Specialist Marijana Francetic for her support and invaluable efforts throughout the preparation of this book. The task of editing the book would have been so much more difficult without Marijana's persistence, professionalism, and positive attitude.
