Exploring IT-Enabled Sustainability-Oriented Innovation: A Functional Affordances Perspective

Given the public’s increasing concerns about sustainability, organizations are under pressure to promote sustainable development by balancing their environmental, social, and economic impacts. Sustainability-oriented innovation (SOI) provides a strategic way for organizations to address sustainability challenges. Moreover, information technologies (IT) are believed to have a great potential for enabling SOI. However, there is a lack of research providing a comprehensive view of IT-enabled SOI. This study aims to address this research gap by exploring IT-enabled SOI from the perspective of affordance theory. Based on the literature review, this research in progress systematically analyses the role of IT capability in SOI development and propose a preliminary conceptual framework. The IT-enabled SOI development framework portrays how organizational IT capability enables SOI development through functional affordances. The next steps of this study include a pilot study and multiple case studies to verify and refine the proposed framework

Control vs Content: A Systematic Review of the Social Media Research Literature

The rapid advancement of web 2.0 applications paved the way for the development of social media applications and the many features of these applications enable them to attract millions of users. Social media platforms have altered how people interact with the world and one another. Researchers in the field of Information Systems have investigated social media platforms and technologies extensively. Despite the growing number of studies on social media, however, the area remains under examined. Given the pace and consistency of innovation in this field, identifying directions for future studies of social media-related phenomena requires a careful review of the related research completed to date

Museum in the Age of Digital Transformation

Transformational technologies have arrived to the traditional institutions accompanied with new promises and challenges. Nevertheless, little research exists to inform our understanding on the transformation undergoing in our aged old institutions. This short paper presents an in- depth case study at a world-renowned museum in China to develop understanding on the digital transformation of a traditional institution. Our preliminary analysis sheds light on the duality of digital transformation through the theoretical lens of technology affordances. On one hand, digital transformation affords unprecedented possibilities for the revitalization of an aged old institution. On the other hand, digital transformation also generates uncertainties and tensions. Our analysis suggests that most traditional institutions are not well-endowed to quickly adapt to the changing needs in the digital environment. These preliminary findings unveil the intricacies of digital transformation in traditional institutions and serve to inform further theorizing around this underresearched phenomenon

Digital Strategy in Information Systems : A Literature Review and an Educational Solution Based on Problem-Based Learning

In recent years, there has been a considerable amount of information systems (IS) research on digital strategy. However, it is not clear how digital strategy is taught in higher education. To investigate this issue, we conducted a literature review on digital strategy in the IS field and IS education. We then developed a digital strategy course using the problem-based learning (PBL) approach with constructivism as a theoretical lens. The research contributes to the literature by illustrating the key differences between digital strategy and IT/IS strategy while providing insight into the dimensions of digital strategy. These dimensions are digital strategy environments, digital strategy visions, digital strategy approach, digital strategy capabilities, digital strategy stakeholders, and digital strategy challenges. We then used these dimensions as inputs to design the digital strategy course. We contribute to IS education by proposing a meta-requirement for the digital strategy course based on the PBL approach and provide an example of the course syllabus.©2022 by the Information Systems & Computing Academic Professionals, Inc. (ISCAP).fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

On the role of smartness in helping consumers create sustainable outcomes

The proliferation of smart technologies transforms the way individual consumers perform tasks. Considerable research alludes that smart technologies are often related to domestic energy consumption. However, it remains unclear how such technologies transform tasks and thereby impact our planet. We explore the role of technological smartness in personal day-to-day tasks that help create a more sustainable future. In the absence of theory, but facing extensive changes in everyday life enabled by smart technologies, we draw on phenomenon-based theorizing (PBT) guidelines. As anchor, we refer to task endogeneity related to task-technology fit theory (TTF). As infusion, we employ theory on public goods. Our model proposes novel relations between the concepts of smart-autonomy and -transparency with sustainable task outcomes, mediated by task convenience and task significance. We discuss some implications, limitations, and future research opportunities

ON THE ROLE OF SMARTNESS IN HELPING CONSUMERS CREATE SUSTAINABLE OUTCOMES

The proliferation of smart technologies transforms the way individual consumers perform tasks. Considerable research alludes that smart technologies are often related to domestic energy consumption. However, it remains unclear how such technologies transform tasks and thereby impact our planet. We explore the role of technological smartness in personal day-to-day tasks that help create a more sustainable future. In the absence of theory, but facing extensive changes in everyday life enabled by smart technologies, we draw on phenomenon-based theorizing (PBT) guidelines. As anchor, we refer to task endogeneity related to task-technology fit theory (TTF). As infusion, we employ theory on public goods. Our model proposes novel relations between the concepts of smart-autonomy and -transparency with sustainable task outcomes, mediated by task convenience and task significance. We discuss some implications, limitations, and future research opportunities

One Save Per Day: How Mobile Technology Can Support Individuals to Adopt Pro-Environmental Behaviors

The pressing issue of climate change requires humanity to reduce its ecological footprint drastically. While policymakers and companies must ensure the availability of green options, individuals are requested to contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions substantially. However, even when individuals recognize the need for pro-environmental behaviors, they often have difficulty meeting their expectations. Mobile technology for sustainability has the potential to support them in overcoming this issue by providing the decisive impetus for environmentally friendly behavior. Drawing upon the affordance perspective, we conducted a longitudinal qualitative study with users of a mobile app that encourages individuals to take daily sustainable actions. We present the affordance strands made possible by the app's features and how they lead to environmentally-friendly behaviors. We could observe behavior change with the app’s features. We also identify enablers and obstacles to affordance actualization. Our study contributes to Green IS research at the individual level and provides practical implications for mobile technology providers

Innovating within Institutional Voids: A Digital Health Platform in India

Most of the literature on digital innovation assumes availability of resources and access to markets and intermediaries. Institutional voids – lack of formal and informal arrangements – are generally seen as detrimental to digital innovation. While the extant literature provides insights about how some innovation can take place within institutional voids, it largely ignores the role of digital platforms. Based on field work in India, we examine how digital platforms can interface with institutional voids to create social and economic impacts. We find that platforms can address socio-economic challenges by framing, aggregating, and networking within institutional voids. Using an illustrative case study in rural India, where voids and constraints are prevalent, our research highlights how platforms can take strategic actions to develop socio-digital solutions to serve marginalized populations while earning sustainable revenues. We highlight dynamic interactions among physical, social, and digital layers that help platforms reframe constraints and address institutional voids