Sustainability Teaching and Learning in Information Systems: Reflections on Over a Decade of Experience

Despite calls to integrate sustainability topics into information systems (IS) curricula, there is little concrete direction on how to do it. The purpose of this paper is to share the author’s experience in developing and delivering a master’s level course on information systems and sustainable development. The paper highlights key considerations related to designing such a course, discusses the advantages and limitations of different approaches, and offers practical suggestions for IS faculty who seek to develop similar courses for their own programs

Designing and Using Carbon Management Systems to Promote Ecologically Responsible Behaviors

With the hope of mitigating the harmful impacts of climate change, many organizations are taking actions to reduce their carbon footprints. Carbon-reducing initiatives in organizations are varied: they range from green product innovations to encouraging behavioral changes by customers and employees. Green IS can play an important role in environmental sustainability by supporting a number of these strategies. Drawing on theories of persuasive systems design, this paper explores how one category of Green IS, carbon management systems (CMS), can be designed and used in order to persuade employees to perform ecologically responsible behaviors. The results from three organizational case studies suggest that CMS can be effective at changing employees’ environmental behaviors, demonstrate the extent to which persuasive system design principles (including an emergent category of Integration) are reflected in CMS, and highlight the importance of understanding the persuasion context. The findings of the study are used to inform the development of four propositions, which can serve as a foundation for further research in the Green IS domain

Leaders and Lemmings: Organizational Responses to Smart Grid Transformation

After a century of relative stability in the electricity sector, introduction of the smart grid has triggered a period of great uncertainty with the potential for wide-spread and long-lasting impacts. When faced with pressures that threaten established institutionalized practices, incumbent organizations may respond in a variety of ways, ranging from resistance to manipulation. This paper reports the findings from a qualitative field study that explores how utilities, the organizations at the core of the electricity sector, are responding to institutional pressures and what it means for their deployment of smart grid technologies. Under coercive and mimetic pressures, utilities respond with avoidance by taking a wait-and-see approach, or acquiescence, simply following direction of others. In contrast, organizations that perceive benefits of smart grid technologies beyond the need for compliance adopt manipulation strategies, becoming more engaged in shaping the transformation and experimenting with new technologies to enhance their stature and performance

Demand Management in the Smart Grid: An Information Processing Perspective

Driven by concerns regarding environmental sustainability, energy security, and economic growth, a fundamentaltransformation is taking hold in the electricity sector. Advanced communications technologies and information systems (IS)will play a central role in the realization of the ‘smart grid’, an intelligent and multi-directional electricity supply chain fromgeneration to end-user consumption. IS embedded in the smart grid will provide opportunities for improved businesspractices such as dynamic, near real-time demand management, allowing a better utilization of existing electricity supplycapacity and contributing to reductions in carbon emissions. Although opportunities exist, utilities face challenges adapting tothe smart grid environment. Drawing on information processing theory, this paper develops a model of how IS can improvethe effectiveness of electricity demand management. The model suggests practical implications for demand managementperformance of utilities and contributes to our understanding of the role information systems can play in achievingenvironmental sustainability

Winning the SDG battle in cities : how an integrated information ecosystem can contribute to the achievement of the 2030 sustainable development goals

In 2015, the United Nations adopted an ambitious development agenda composed of 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs), which are to be reached by 2030. Beyond SDG 11 concerning the development of sustainable cities, many of the SDGs target activities falling within the responsibility of local governments. Thus, cities will play a leading role in the achievement of these goals, and we argue that the information systems (IS) community must be an active partner in these efforts. This paper aims to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs by developing a conceptual model to explain the role of IS in building smart sustainable cities and providing a framework of action for IS researchers and city managers. To this end, we conduct grounded theory studies of two green IS used by an internationally recognized smart city to manage water quality and green space. Based on these findings, we articulate a model explaining how an integrated information ecosystem enables the interactions between three interrelated spheres – administrative, political and sustainability – to support the development of smart sustainable cities. Moving from theory to practice, we use two real‐world scenarios to demonstrate the applicability of the model. Finally, we define an action framework outlining key actions for cities and suggest corresponding questions for future research. Beyond a simple call‐to‐action, this work provides a much‐needed foundation for future research and practice leading to a sustainable future for all

Leveraging the Internet of things and open data to support clean energy in the greenhouse sector : preliminary summary of research findings february 2020

The current study, the first within a five-year program of research, focuses on understanding the energy needs of greenhouses, their energy management motivations, energy management practices, and the challenges and opportunities for sustainable energy. From June to October 2020, we interviewed nine people involved in the Canadian greenhouse industry. While we continue to collect data, this report provides a summary of key findings to date. The study explores energy management across diverse greenhouse sectors - vegetables, fruits, and flowers – in two Canadian provinces (Alberta and Ontario). We summarize the main findings below

How Artificial Intelligence Improves Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability: A Global Thematic Analysis

Amidst the rising issues of food security and climate change, the agricultural sector has started deploying artificial intelligence (AI) in business operations. While many potential AI benefits are anticipated, a comprehensive understanding of the objectives motivating AI adoption and its impacts is lacking. This research attempts to fill this gap by exploring the key themes related to the use of AI in agriculture through the lens of dynamic capabilities. Using centering resonance analysis, we conduct text mining of news articles from 2014-2019 in the regions of Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America to identify how AI is addressing significant farming challenges. Globally, the results suggest that AI is primarily being applied to increase productivity and efficiency and secondarily to address labor shortages and environmental sustainability concerns. At regional level, the results reflect active AI adoption in North America and Europe with increasing efforts in Asia and Africa

Combining Design Thinking and the Socio-Technical-Ecological Systems Perspective to Understand Greenhouse Growers’ Experiences with Energy Management Solutions

Multiple threats to sustainability are driving the need to grow food in controlled environments, such as greenhouses. However, greenhouses consume large quantities of energy for lighting, heating, and ventilation, which places additional strain on the natural environment. For both business and environmental benefits, greenhouses must pursue sustainable energy management solutions. Combining design thinking with the socio-technical-ecological systems (STES) perspective, we analyze the greenhouse grower’s journey from awareness of potential solutions to post-implementation use. Our approach offers a novel way to understand the problem space. We find that sustainable energy management is more than a technical or even socio-technical challenge; it also involves important ecological considerations. However, ecological and social concerns are less evident in the grower’s journey as compared to the physical and information technology dimensions. The research and development of sustainable technology solutions would benefit from giving equal attention to these three systems and the interactions between them