A Framework for Information Systems in Life‐Cycle‐Oriented Environmental Management

Abstract

Summary Although business firms have improved their environmental performance, a variety of forces are pushing businesses toward adopting environmental management throughout the entire life cycle of their products and processes. In this article we discuss the information systems elements of an environmental management approach we call “life‐cycle‐oriented environmental management” (LCOEM).This approach requires the firm to manage the effects of its processes from the creation of inputs to the final disposal of outputs, that is, from cradle to grave. We present a framework of the classes of information systems needed, describe their use in an LCOEM setting and define their inter relationships. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of LCOEM information systems.

The road to cooperative supply‐chain environmental management: trust and uncertainty among pro‐active firms

“…Within life-cycle oriented approaches such as green supply chains, success is predicated on systemic changes such as changes to production processes to achieve a zero environmental footprint, working with suppliers to ensure that their activities are environmentally benign etc. The move from simple compliance to incorporating life-cycle issues changes the firm's decision-making process from a structured, routinized one to an unstructured, non-routine process (see Shaft et al, 1997;cf. Simon, 1976).…”

A Model of the Global and Institutional Antecedents of High-Level Corporate Environmental Performance

“…However, understanding this calculus is the easy part. Several writers (e.g., Shaft, Ellington, Meo, & Sharfman, 1997;Steger, 1996) have argued that firms face a fundamental challenge in implementing the changes necessary to address this calculus. Historically, a cost-minimization approach and a local strategy focusing on compliance were sufficient.…”

Environmental Sustainability 2.0: Empirical Analysis of Environmental ERP Implementation

“…There is a rich tradition of research examining issues at the nexus of business and the natural environment [8], and IS scholars have begun to build on this tradition. Early IS research examined the role of information systems used in specific application contexts, such as how interorganizational information systems enhance life-cycle analysis and improve environmental performance within transportation supply chains [66,67]. More recently, researchers have begun to synthesize what is known, develop integrative frameworks, and craft research propositions to guide future studies [22,24,36,50], such as in the area of energy informatics [77].…”