Secure Tropos: A Security-Oriented Extension of the Tropos methodology

Although security plays an important role in the development of multiagent systems, a careful analysis of software development processes shows that the definition of security requirements is, usually, considered after the design of the system. One of the reasons is the fact that agent oriented software engineering methodologies have not integrated security concerns throughout their developing stages. The integration of security concerns during the whole range of the development stages can help towards the development of more secure multiagent systems. In this paper we introduce extensions to the Tropos methodology to enable it to model security concerns throughout the whole development process. A description of the new concepts and modelling activities is given along with a discussion on how these concepts and modelling activities are integrated to the current stages of Tropos. A real life case study from the health and social care sector is used to illustrate the approach.

Brand personification and symbolic consumption among ethnic minority teenage consumers: An empirical study

A plethora of evidence suggests that developed societies such as the United Kingdom are becoming increasingly multicultural by the day. Hence, the diversity of consumption in these societies becomes gradually evident in the form of residents’ age, gender, income and ethnicity. Accordingly, this article explores the brand personification and symbolic consumption in respect of London-based Black African teenage consumers. The study is rooted in the interpretive research paradigm with 36 in-depth interviews conducted with the target respondents. The study shows the interactions of personal, social, cultural, psychological and commercial factors in how these young ethnic minority consumers make their consumption decisions, define and manage their various ‘selves’ in the postmodern society. It specifically highlights that they use symbolic consumption to address their need for acceptance in the society. It updates the extant ethnic minority studies and enriches the current understanding about symbolic consumption and brand personification especially with a focus on a specific segment of the society. The managerial implications of the study are highlighted in the article.

An Empirical Evaluation of the Reversal Theory State Measure Using Three Running Brand Video Commercials

This paper reports on the first known empirical use of the Reversal Theory State Measure (RTSM) since its publication by Desselles et al. (2014). The RTSM was employed to track responses to three purposely-selected video commercials in a between-subjects design. Results of the study provide empirical support for the central conceptual premise of reversal theory, the experience of metamotivational reversals and the ability of the RTSM to capture them. The RTSM was also found to be psychometrically sound after adjustments were made to two of its three component subscales. Detailed account and rationale is provided for the analytical process of assessing the psychometric robustness of the RTSM, with a number of techniques and interpretations relating to component structure and reliability discussed. Agreeability and critique of the two available versions of the RTSM – the bundled and the branched – is also examined. Researchers are encouraged to assist development of the RTSM through further use, taking into account the analysis and recommendations presented.