ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE ICT: DEVELOPING CORPORATE CAPABILITIES AND AN INDUSTRY-RELEVANT IS RESEARCH AGENDA

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have made significant contributions to business innovation and wealth generation for organisations, societies and nations. ICT have also made significant contributions to environmental degradation. Confronted by the necessity to respond to growing environmental concerns in society, regulatory imperatives and market pressure, many executives express uncertainty about how best to proceed. IS researchers have investigated diverse aspects of ICT applications and practices in organizations over the last 30 years but IS research literature, to date, has provided little assistance to those organizations unsure about how, where and when to respond to imperatives for their ICT applications and practices to become \u27Green\u27. This paper aims to facilitate the development of corporate practice in the environmental sustainability of ICT and to promote an industry-relevant Information Systems research agenda. Its contributions are: an overview of the topic from a diversity of literature sources; proposal of a stages of development framework for corporate capabilities in ICT environmental sustainability based on the literature and on the experiences of a global ICT services corporation recognised as a leader in its environmental sustainability activities; and proposal of an industry-relevant IS research agenda. Implications of the framework for corporate practice and for IS research are discussed

Developing Organizational Capabilities in SMEs: Enabling Environmentally Sustainable ICT

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have made significant contributions to business innovation and wealth generation for organisations, societies and nations. ICT have also made significant contributions to environmental degradation. Confronted by the necessity to respond to growing environmental concerns in society, regulatory imperatives and market pressure, many business leaders express uncertainty about how best to proceed. The challenges of environmental sustainability are particularly acute for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) due to their limited capabilities to initiate significant change without external assistance. With a track record of investigating diverse aspects of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) applications and practices in organizations, Information Systems (IS) researchers appear well placed to provide such assistance. Unfortunately, IS researchers have failed to engage with environmental sustainability of ICT as either a problem requiring resolution or as an opportunity to present innovative solutions.This paper aims to facilitate development of SME business practice in the environmental sustainability of ICT and promotion of an industry-relevant IS research agenda. Contributions are: identification and categorization of a diversity of literature sources to inform SMEs on the topic; proposal of a stages of development framework for building SME capabilities in ICT environmental sustainability based on current literature and a case study of leading SME practice; and proposal of an industry-relevant IS research agenda. Implications of the framework for SMEs and for IS research are discussed

Will Broadband Networks Make the World Greener? Evaluating Pros and Cons of Broadband Development

The environmental issue has generally received much attention from the public for decades, especially as a result of heavy industry - electrical energy, oil and gas, mining, steel and metals. Recently, attention has been paid to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and its effect on the knowledge and related industries. Broadband, both fixed and mobile, is not an exception. Even though it has been recognized as a factor that has contributed to social and economic development, anegative effect can also be seen in particular regarding the environment. This paper provides a review of how government policy, in particular by the EU and Japan, are moving towards the transition to sustainability by utilizing ICT, as well as an evaluation of the pros and cons of broadband development. There are many complex effects on sustainability due to ICT. Since ICT can have environmental effects both as enabling energy efficiency and causing rebound effects, the policies should respond to both direct and indirect effects. To facilitate policy analysis and recommendations, this paper categorizes ICT impacts by five orders of aggregation. These five orders of aggregation may contribute both positively and negatively to sustainability, and each level will need targeted policies. The five orders of aggregation suggest a comprehensive and long term view of policy development, encompassing even policies that seek to improve the quality of decision making in our societies, by utilizing ICTs.broadband, sustainable development, green ICT.

Dashboard system for measuring green software design

Global ICT industry is claimed to account for approximately 2 percent of global carbon dioxide which is a figure equivalent to the aviation industry. This is due to lack of awareness to reduce the environmental impact of ICT products and services by the ICT industry practitioners. Therefore, we proposed a GreenDash system, a web-based dashboard that provides a platform for software developers to measure green software design. Software developers capable to calculate sustainability of green software design based on the four components of Information System (IS): database, hardware, people and network. GreenDash System helps to assist software developers to ensure that they considered about green software in designing software product and services

Socio-technical transitions towards environmental sustainability through green ICT

We adopt the broad conceptualisation of Green Information Communication Technology (ICT) used by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), incorporating perspectives on Information Technology (IT) and Information Systems (IS) which has currency with both business practitioners and policy makers. The objective of our research is to develop a theory of the institutional mechanisms that underpin socio-technical transitions to environmental sustainability through the direct, indirect and systematic effects of Green ICT in and across organisational fields. We construct our theory by drawing on published research in several disciplines focusing on the organisational field of the ICT industry. We present a mechanism-based theoretical model that explains how institutional change in organisational fields can evoke appropriate socio-technical transitions and organisational responses to Green ICT. Systems researchers agree that Green ICT can help lower GHG emissions directly, through energy efficiencies and indirectly by enabling environmentally sustainable business processes. If this research is to be of theoretical or practical relevance it must recognize that government organizations and business enterprises may not adopt policies and strategies on Green ICT because it is rational or moral to do so rather, a web of social, and institutional mechanisms interact to produce the outcomes observed in practice

How could ICT benefit design managers for assessing sustainability of their project?

Sustainability in the construction industry is gaining increased attention which consequently shifted the modus operandi towards improving knowledge and practice. Amongst the key stakeholders involved in the delivery of sustainable buildings are design managers, who have a vital role in terms of managing and coordinating the design process and communicating design information. During this highly complex and iterative process, design managers also undertake tasks and activities which are related to sustainability and its assessment. This study investigated the impact of sustainability assessment on the design managers’ roles and responsibilities. The research specifically focused on ICT as an ‘enabler’ within the sustainability assessment process that aids design managers in achieving a better environment while carrying out their roles and responsibilities. Without an explicit understanding about how ICT can be effectively used within the sustainability assessment process, its impact will remain limited for design managers who are one of the key players in the strive for a sustainable design process. A twofold research methodology was adopted within this project to achieve the primary and secondary research objectives, this included: an extensive literature review on the building design process, design management role and sustainability assessment; and, fieldwork, which consisted of questionnaires and series of interviews with design managers working for contractors in the industry. The research concluded that there are several barriers to the effective management of sustainability assessment by design managers caused by two major factors: the late involvement in the projects and the lack of a structured approach for the sustainability management. The study concluded that in order for ICT to become an effective ‘enabler’ in the assessment process, barriers to effective management of sustainability assessment must be removed first

Impact of ICT on Performance of Building Construction Companies using Selected Standard Estate in Southwestern Nigeria

Information and communication technologies became a part of management tools in modern companies. Construction industry and its participants deal with a serious requirement for processing the huge amount of information on construction projects including design, construction, time and cost parameters, economic efficiency and sustainability. To fulfil this requirement, companies have to use appropriate ICT tools. This research examine the impact of ICT exploitation on performance of construction companies, the impact of BIM tools, ERP systems and controlling system on cost and profit indicators were  measured on the sample of 85 companies using questionnaire from  building construction industry in Nigeria. Data obtained from these sector were analysed using statistical software package. The study confirmed that ICT has a significant impact on the performance of building construction companies in Nigeria. Keyword: Construction industry, Information  Communication Technology,  Management Tools, Questionaire and Enterprise Resource Planning System DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/14-19-04 Publication date:October 31st 202

Understanding digital eco-innovation in municipalities: An institutional perspective

Municipalities consume over 67% of global energy and are responsible for over 70% of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that rapid adjustments need to happen at a global level, or the effects of climate change will be irreversible. The contribution of municipalities is therefore vital if GHG emissions are to be reduced. Our research is timely in its exploration of the ways in which municipalities institutionalise environmental sustainability practices in and through Green digital artefacts. Using mechanism-based institutional theory as a lens, the paper presents the findings of three contrasting case studies of large municipalities in the United Kingdom in their respective programmes to leverage the direct, enabling and systemic effects of Green ICT in order to reduce GHG emission and achieve their eco-sustainability goals. The case sites are also regarded as exemplars for further research and practice on digital eco-innovation. The mechanism-based explanations illustrate how a social web of conditions and factors influence eco-sustainability outcomes. We conclude that the digital technology-enabled grassroots-based initiatives offer the best hope to begin the transition to sustainable climate change within municipalities. The contributions of our study are therefore both theoretical and practical