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In the digital age, the wave of information technology has been sweeping across the globe. Informatics, as an emerging discipline, is gradually becoming a focus of academic attention. In September 2024, the journal Informatics (ISSN: 2227-9709) had the honour of visiting Prof. Dr. Lee Kwok On Matthew from the City University of Hong Kong, China, for an in-depth discussion on the academic prospects of Informatics, the development of the journal, and the current trends in scientific research.

Prof. Dr. Lee K. O. Matthew holds a tenured position as Chair Professor of Information Systems and E-Commerce at the City University of Hong Kong (CityU). He was Vice-President (Development and External Relations) and a member of the university’s senior management team (President's Cabinet) (2015-2023). He was Associate Dean (2001-2006, 2007-2011) and Interim Dean (2006-2007) of the College of Business, CityU, and the founding Director of the CityU DBA Programme. Prof. Dr. Lee was the Head of the Department of Information Systems (1995-2001) and the University Director of Communications and Public Relations (2009-2015) at CityU. Prof. Dr. Lee was previously a faculty member at University College London (UCL) and a staff scientist at the BP Research headquarters in London, UK. Professor Lee holds a first-class honours bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering, an MSc in software engineering, a Ph.D. in computer science, an MBA, and two law degrees.

Prof. Dr. Lee has a research and professional interest in IT-based innovation adoption and impact, knowledge management, electronic commerce, online social networks, online addiction, and the development of digital competence. He is especially interested in the user behaviour and engagement aspects of interactions between human and IT-based systems.

Prof. Dr. Lee has published over one hundred refereed articles in leading research journals, conference proceedings, and research textbooks. His research has generated substantial impact as witnessed by numerous citations (h-index: 89), and he has been rated as among the top 10 most highly cited business professors in China for many years.

According to the “H-Index for Management Information Systems” published by the University of Arizona in May 2022, Prof. Dr. Lee ranks in the top three in Asia as an MIS professor. He has been ranked among the top 2% of scientists in his field since 2020 according to annual reports and data metrics published by Stanford University.

Prof. Dr. Lee is currently an Editorial Board Member of the journal Informatics.

The following is a short interview with Prof. Dr. Lee K. O. Matthew:

Open Access is an Important Way of Research Dissemination

What do you think of the rapidly rising trend of Open Access (OA) journals?
Open Access journals are becoming mainstream globally, and this is particularly evident in the higher education sector in Hong Kong. The City University of Hong Kong not only values the research output of scholars but also actively supports the publication of OA journals. The results of the research can be disseminated more quickly, which promotes academic development, exchange and cooperation.

What are the preferences regarding journals in your academic circle, and are OA journals their choice?
Impact factor (IF) is one aspect, and the reputation of the journal in the field is also a key factor. We also consider OA journals when choosing journals for publication, and the fit between the manuscript itself and the journal is crucial.

Research in Informatics Needs to Focus on the Interplay between Technology and Society

How do you see the concept of informatics developing in the future?
The term “informatics” is a good concept, it comes from Europe, focuses on computer science, and scholars mainly come from engineering schools. The market needs to be explored, especially in management and social sciences, because informatics has a huge space for development in the business domain and behavioural dimensions and needs more research on user experience and social impact. For example, in the North American market, informatics research in the medical field in the United States covers a wide range of areas, both technical and behavioural. I look forward to publishing more academic results in this direction.

How do you evaluate the research trends in the field of informatics? What are your suggestions for scholars’ research?
Research in informatics should pay attention to three aspects: why this technology is developed, how to apply this technology and the impact of this technology. Especially in terms of impact, it is important to focus on the actual value brought by the application, whether it is grounded and operable. In addition to the positive impacts, attention should also be paid to the negative parts, such as internet addiction, cyberbullying and other adverse impacts on society due to ICT, so that appropriate measures can be taken to reduce potential harm.
There are both qualitative and quantitative studies in this field. I mainly engage in quantitative research and focus on the development of the research for 3-5 years, with a sufficiently large volume of cascaded output which helps to increase the impact of the research while ensuring sustainability and momentum. It is recommended that scholars also consider the trends in the topic and keep up with the times while being mindful of the long-term appeal of the research.

What research topics do you think will be of particular interest to academics in upcoming years?
In addition to what has been mentioned previously, there are two other topics to focus on: firstly, the relationship between technological development and the human mental world, for example, the relationship between AR and psychological reality; and secondly, the wide range of scenarios in which AI can be used, and its interactions with personal life, business and social development.

Journal Development Requires a Balance of Quality and Efficiency

What attracted you to the Editorial Board of Informatics? In what ways do you think the journal is developing?
I chose to serve on the journal for two main reasons: firstly, my research experience fits well with the journal, and I am interested in this topic; secondly, Informatics is developing well and I now have some time to contribute to the dissemination of academic results in this field together with the journal. In addition, the journal not only publishes traditional research papers but also accepts other types of articles such as enlightening reviews and communications, which is conducive to the full display and timely dissemination of research ideas.

What is your vision for the development of the journal? The journal is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, and received a new Impact Factor (3.4) and CiteScore (6.6, listed in the Top 10% in the subject area of Communication in Scopus) not long ago; what do you think the journal’s next steps should be?
The journal currently processes articles very quickly, which is a significant advantage that we hope to continue to maintain. Journals are windows for academic dialogue, and journals should pay attention to balancing the relationship between article processing speed and review quality to give authors a better experience and provide better value to their readers.
Informatics can focus on the interactions between information systems and people, business and society, and as mentioned earlier, they should be in line with current research trends. There are many more topics worth researching in this field, and I hope that the journal can further expand the market, make a good reputation, and stand out from the rest.

Apart from your research regarding informatics, you are also an expert in public relations and communication, what is your advice for journals regarding enhancing their external influence?
High-quality research needs to be seen by the world, and ensuring the publication of high-quality articles is the priority. It is recommended that journals invite high-quality manuscripts and promote valuable research to enhance the impact of articles and journals. On the basis of high-quality outputs, firstly, inviting influential scholars in the field to join the Editorial Board to further sharpen and broaden the reputation of the journal; secondly, selecting conferences related to the field with high visibility for cooperation, where the editor or Editorial Board members will promote the journal, which is more conducive to targeting and enhancing the attractiveness of the journal to scholars.

Prof. Dr. Lee, with his rich academic experience and profound insight into publishing, provided valuable guidance for the development of the journal Informatics. We look forward to playing a greater role in the academic community and becoming a bridge connecting information technology and social development with the support of our excellent Editorial Board Members.