Individual and organizational factors affecting the implementation of Green IT: a case study of an Indian business school

Green Information Technology (Green IT) emerged as a critical research agenda for reducing organizations' carbon footprints to achieve environmental sustainability. This paper aims to understand the factors that affect the adoption of Green Information Technology in the context of a developing country. Studies that have focused on both individual and organizational level factors (multi‐level approach) remain limited. The Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), and Technology‐Organization‐Environment (TOE) framework was used as a theoretical lens to address the gap in the literature. The theoretical background and participatory case study (qualitative) as the methodology was used to investigate the factors at multiple levels that could affect Green IT implementation in the developing country context (Indian business school). The findings reveal that three key dimensions affect the implementation of Green IT‐ Need, Scope, and the Inclination to adopt Green IT. Each dimension includes a mix of factors at the individual and organizational levels. This paper contributes to the theory by proposing a framework for multi‐level Green IT adoption. It also provides guidelines to the practitioners for considering the intervention factors at the individual and organizational levels

The role of circular economy principles and sustainable-oriented innovation to enhance social, economic and environmental performance: Evidence from Mexican SMEs

The UN's sustainable development goals underscore engaging supply-chain stakeholders with environmentally friendly practices. Small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) are key participants in several supply chains, but their operations often produce a significant environmental impact. Their transition to sustainable practices is challenging because they operate with constrained resources, which are mostly invested in pressing activities. Therefore, evidence is needed that shows the benefits of investing limited resources in sustainable activities to support decision-making in SMEs. Research has neglected to connect circular economy and sustainable-oriented innovation whilst accounting for external factors affecting the implementation of sustainable processes and technology within SMEs in developing countries. This paper fills that gap by analyzing the impact of external factors on the implementation of circular economy and technology, and their influence on sustainable-oriented innovation and sustainable performance. Responses from 165 Mexican SMEs have been collected and analyzed using structural equation modeling to test direct and indirect effects between constructs. Findings reveal that while both governmental support and customer pressure facilitate the adoption of circular economy, only governmental support contributes directly to technology implementation. They also highlight the value of circular economy to support the adoption of sustainable-oriented innovation and to mediate the relationship between technology implementation and sustainable-oriented innovation. The overarching finding is that circular economy promoting sustainability-oriented innovation has a positive impact on financial, environmental, and social performance. This is a key implication to inform managers in SMEs on the potential benefits of investing in sustainable solutions

Recognizing Green Skills Through Non-formal Learning

This open access book looks into the roles and practices of small and micro-enterprises in formal and informal economies across seven countries and one territory in terms of how they contribute to environmental and sustainable development and green skills promotion. By taking into account the perspectives in these four sectors, catering, automotive, waste management and polyvinyl chloride production, this book maps environmental green practices in the region, identifying mechanisms used to assess existing skills (i.e. knowledge, skills and competencies), and evaluating the potential for green skills inclusion in recognition, validation and accreditation

Exploring green ICT implementation at a large Information and Communication Technology company in South Africa

Dissertation (MIT (Information Systems))--University of Pretoria, 2023.Climate change is a global problem which has pushed world leaders and their respective countries to take definitive measures to address the environmental crises. One of the areas of attention is the information, communication technology (ICT) sector. ICT tools and infrastructure have higher rates of carbon emissions. Therefore, in line with the global call to address climate change, ICT organisations are increasingly becoming involved in the climate change agenda by committing to responsible Information Systems (IS) agenda. The aim of IS, is to ensure that organisational processes enhance the quality of life contribute, while ensuring business sustainability. Green ICT emerged as a result of the IS agenda. Green ICT is a call for ICT users and organisations to take necessary measures to reduce the environmental impact of ICT while enhancing the positive impact by reforming and allowing sustainable business practices. To ensure Green ICT implementation, it is important for organisations to assess Green ICT capabilities and constraints in order to run ICT in accordance with Green ICT best practices. This qualitative, exploratory study sought to investigate the implementation of Green ICT at a large IT professional services company in South Africa, Gauteng. The study employed the Green IT adoption model (GITAM) as a theoretical framework to explore the organisation's current approach to Green ICT implementation. The dimensions of the GITAM model that informed the study are Green IT context, Green IT readiness, Green IT drivers, and the intention to adopt Green IT. The study population were executive and senior management positions, including C-level managers and operational IT specialists involved in decision-making or day-to-day operations, such as user support and client system implementations in the large IT professional services company. Qualitative data was gathered using semi-structured interviews. The data was then analysed using thematic analysis and the emerging themes were linked to the GITAM model. The study’s findings revealed that cost reduction, operational efficiency improvement, and corporate image initiatives to fulfil regulatory requirements, customer expectations, andii industry standards drive Green ICT deployment. Green efforts are hampered by the lack of a clear Green ICT strategy and governance concerns. This is due to a lack of environmental responsibility and green metric monitoring. In addition, the findings revealed that the COVID- 19 emergency response had a catalytic effect on promoting the implementation of Green ICT. Telecommuting practices were widely adopted and accelerated, assisting the organisation in the implementation of Green ICT, and enhancing resilience to the economic shock caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study extends the GITAM model by proposing an interpretive framework for Green ICT implementation. In addition, the findings from the literature review expand understanding on how Green ICT adoption can be a sustainable business model innovation for sustainable recovery after a crisis. In addition to the framework, the study recommends that management should prioritise a comprehensive and principled design approach for Green ICT management. Furthermore, the study interrogates the conflicts of sustainability goals concerning the different environments and stakeholders, showing that addressing the sustainability goals of all relevant stakeholders is complex and challenging. Management should articulate the problem, devise a solution, and set responsibility, learning, and measurement systems for green practises and sustainable projects. Future studies might, among other things, expand on this research and use the G-Readiness Index as a tool to assess and compare the organisation's Green ICT capabilities and limits with other organisations in the industry.InformaticsMIT (Information Systems)Unrestricte

Role of Formal and Informal Institutions in Advancing Sustainable Environmental Practices in SMEs of Pakistan's Textile Sector

Economies around the globe have established formal institutions to protect their natural environments (Klewitz et al., 2012, Wahga et al., 2018b), but parallel to them are 'proto-institutions' that also make an important contribution towards sustainable development. A proto-institution, an institution in the making, comprises rules, practices, and technologies that are partially diffused and weakly entrenched but poised to become widely institutionalised (Lawrence et al., 2002, p. 283). This qualitative study examines how proto-institutions in Pakistan's textile sector emerged and played a role in promoting sustainable environmental practices. Stakeholder Theory and Institutional Theory were combined to guide data collection and analysis. Primary data were collected through in-depth interviews, field observations and a field journal, whereas secondary data came from archival records and industry-specific publications. NVIVO 12 was used to sort and prepare data for analysis. Grounded analysis (Gioia et al., 2013, Easterby-Smith et al., 2015) revealed that institutional voids (Mair and Marti, 2009) and institutional gaps (Kolk, 2014) impeded the ability of formal institutions to assist the textile sector and ensure compliance with the established Punjab Environmental Quality Standards (PEQS). Due to these voids and gaps, textile manufacturers and stakeholders collaborated in various ways, resulting in the emergence of proto-institutions. These proto-institutions address the 'knowledge gap' by conducting informative seminars, capacity building workshops, and the production of best practice manuals. They bridge the 'cleaner production gap' by devolving internationally tested cleaner production solutions and assisting with their implementation. In addition, they take steps to close the 'compliance gap' by building the capacity of firms and public institutions. They fill the 'R&D gap' through commercial research into inputs, processes, and product development. They also provide firms with financial assistance through matching grants that help firms overcome their 'financial assistance gap' and acquire international certifications for market entry into global markets and undertake business development services. In doing so, these proto-institutions imposed iii normative and mimetic pressure on firms to adopt green practices while coexisting with formal institutions as compensatory institutions to create environmentally compliant isomorphs (firms). These findings add to the insights about institutional work processes and roles of proto-institutions, by presenting evidence from a previously under-research context: promoting sustainability in a SMEs dominated manufacturing sector of a developing country. In terms of practice, these findings are helpful information for textile manufacturers who are yet unknown to the benefits they could reap by adopting sustainable practices and processes in their manufacturing concerns. The information about collaboration is helpful for stakeholders looking to form new partnerships for responsible production. This study also suggests policymakers to both encourage and collaborate with proto-institutions to accomplish national and international commitments such as SDG 12 - Sustainable Consumption and Production, and race to net zero in textiles. Furthermore, the context specific factors that are affecting the emergence and development of proto-institutions in Pakistan’s textile sector could also help policymakers in Pakistan and alike developing countries to overcome institutional gaps and voids in their formal institutional arrangements and better promote sustainable production in their key manufacturing sectors