Sustainability in Information and Communication Technologies

Abstract

Information and communication technologies (ICT) can provide added value in an organizational context in order to enhance the definition of business support strategies. The purpose of the chapter is to focus on the contribution of ICT to implement a sustainability policy in the organizations, in the context of the sustainable development goals to improve cooperation and promote development. In this context, the principles of the Karlskrona Manifesto are applied to the development of software systems. The methodology focused on the literature review of the domain and on a case study, in order to analyze the impact of ICT as an engine of sustainability in organizations. The main conclusions focus on the analysis of the impact of established practices in organizations to design and develop sustainable software systems. The results point to a greater consciousness of the potential effects of software systems on sustainability, which will improve management practices, reducing the quantity of material to be recycled, and aligning organizational strategies with Green IT.

Strategic Sustainability and Operational Initiatives in Small- and Medium-Sized Manufacturers: An Empirical Analysis

“…Technology allows firms to remove communication barriers and interact freely [5]. Firms resolve social issues by employing green technologies and producing products by adopting green technology [8,10,46]. Four main features of advanced technology influence the supply chain network (traceability/visibility, reliability/security, cost efficiency, and the Synchronized Transaction Process) [16,44] Our technological pressure concept is grounded in the idea of competitive pressure in the supply chain network for technologically advanced products (sustainable products).…”

“…SSCM ensures sustained, strategic, and transparent business and project integration [5]. In supply chains, regulating sustainable practices is difficult for businesses due to internal and external operations with information-based applications, for example RFID, blockchain, IoTs, and information and communication technologies (ICTs) [6][7][8]. Modern information-based applications have created greater options for production and service operations mode developments, such as internet-based networked manufacturing, service-oriented manufacturing, and platform-based operations.…”

“…Environmental protection, social development, and economic expansion all need to be considered carefully by SMEs. Nizam et al (2020) [9] argued that SMEs need informationbased technological resources for social development, environmental protection, and economic expansion [8,10]. Information-based technologies can hasten production and service operations model transformations, reducing energy and natural resource use, optimizing material flows, and improving operational efficiencies [10].…”

“…Transparency and information exchange should be employed throughout the supply chain to improve firms' performance [13]. Moreover, information exchange also gives supply chain members a clearer picture of what is happening [8].…”

“…Due to a lack of visibility in the supply chain, it is impossible to predict when companies will enhance their long-term performance [11]. Information-based technologies (RFID, IoT, blockchain technologies, and ICTs) provide visibility resources for partners to meet organizational goals, such as sustainability and operational improvement [8]. For the implementation of business practices, visibility is sharing data, information, and resources across supply chain stakeholders using new technologies [21].…”