Learning by Research

His Thesis Title: Fostering trust on digital exchanges: rating corporate digital communication and ESG performance Early foundation towards a double materiality rating of digital activities

In the era of digital transformation, organizational activities—ranging from websites and mobile applications to data management—have significant social and environmental impacts. However, tools to evaluate the responsibility of these practices have remained limited. Anis’s thesis addresses this gap by developing an innovative rating system that measures the digital responsibility and efficiency of organizations.

Methodology

The result of a partnership with Dawex Systems, this research bridges Information Systems with Accounting and Performance Measurement. After analyzing 932 initial indicators (including cybersecurity, digital carbon footprint, and privacy protection), Anis’s study collected data from 5,456 companies over a two-year period. Utilizing machine learning and Principal Component Analysis (PCA), the model was refined to 581 key indicators, organized into coherent themes: security, data protection, environmental impact, communication quality, and responsible governance.

A Tool for Building Trust

The system generates an overall score supported by specific sub-scores (web security, environmental performance, etc.). While initially designed to foster trust within data marketplaces, this tool proves valuable for a much broader audience:

• For Companies: To identify and rectify weaknesses in their digital practices.
• For Customers and Citizens: To choose services that respect privacy and the environment.
• For the Market: To recognize and value organizations adopting ethical digital approaches.

Key Contributions

Anis’s work offers three essential contributions. It defines a new measurement framework for digital performance, provides a concrete decision-making tool to increase trust in data exchanges, and encourages a sustainable digital transition by making previously "invisible" impacts measurable. This system ensures that technological growth remains aligned with global societal and environmental goals.

Key words:  digital rating, corporations, double materiality, data marketplaces