Artificial intelligence in the defense sector: an RBV and isomorphism perspectives to the case of the Lebanese Armed Forces
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JABS-09-2020-0377 |
| Published date | 19 July 2021 |
| Date | 19 July 2021 |
| Pages | 279-293 |
| Subject Matter | Strategy,International business |
| Author | Charbel Chedrawi,Yara Atallah |
Artificial intelligence in the defense sector:
an RBV and isomorphism perspectives to
the case of the Lebanese Armed Forces
Charbel Chedrawi and Yara Atallah
Abstract
Purpose –This paper aims to dynamicallyanalyze the opportunities and challengesof AI in the defense
sector in Lebanon or any security agency or any organization with sensitive data through a resource-
based view perspective,the adoption of artificial intelligence(AI)/narrow AI applicationsin the Lebanese
Armed Forces (LAF) andto diagnose the current strategic orientationtoward innovation and technology
withinthe LAF while avoiding isomorphism.
Design/methodology/approach –The methodology is based on a qualitative interpretive case-study
approach collectedfrom several departments of the LAF. In fact, there is a developingconvention to use
qualitativeresearch approaches among which case studies to studyinformation technology phenomena
(Trauth and Jessup,2000;Benbasat et al., 1987;Klein and Meyers, 1999). Data were collectedthrough
centered semi-structured in-depth interviews (two to three hours each) with an interview guide coded
abductively between the researchers and the intervieweesconducted in numerous departments of the
LAF with their top officialsand generals (O1, O2, O3...);the anonymity of the interviewees was kept due
to the sensitivityof the data collected, which took place between September2018 and March 2019. Data
consolidationand processing were conducted using NVivo.
Findings –This paper shows that the LAF is undeniably facing many challenges among which
isomorphism caused by the lack of resources; it also shows that narrow AI applications provide new
avenuesfor the LAF to avoid such institutional isomorphism.
Originality/value –The role of narrow AI in limitingisomorphism in the defense sector.
Keywords Artificial intelligence, Defense sector, Resource-based view, Institutional isomorphism,
Narrow AI applications, Lebanese Armed Forces
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
Today, technological improvements are the main pillars of the current era where everything
can be automated. The rapid growth of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and
machine learning has disrupted traditional processes and revolutionized various industries
encompassing all sectors; the defense sector is no exception. In fact, the efficiency of
public agencies and defense entities, in particular would sharply increase with the
application of AI, hence, the reason why many countries around the world are seeking to
develop their AI abilities. Furthermore, given the huge and increasing amounts of data, Big
Data evolving revolution and big data analytics (BDA) should be applied and embraced by
organizations to build superior capabilities which can become a decisive competitive
advantage (Fosso wamba et al.,2015;Akter et al.,2020); where data need to be analyzed
to reach trustworthy and useful conclusions, defense agencies have the biggest interest in
adopting these advanced technologies (Everson, 2017).
Charbel Chedrawi is based
at the Faculty of Business
and Management,
Universite Saint-Joseph,
Beirut, Lebanon.
Yara Atallah is based at
Rennes Business School,
Rennes, France.
Received 24 September 2020
Revised 24 October 2020
17 November 2020
Accepted 1 March 2021
DOI 10.1108/JABS-09-2020-0377 VOL. 16 NO. 2 2022,pp. 279-293, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1558-7894 jJOURNAL OF ASIA BUSINESS STUDIES jPAGE 279
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