Innovative ICT‐mediated activities for people, profit and planet
Abstract
Purpose
Solutions to complex environmental problems rely on the innovative knowledge and expertise of many professions whose members accept their responsibilities towards the environment. The study described here canvases information systems (IS) professionals for their perspectives, knowledge and expertise within the domains of Green IT and Green IS.
Design/methodology/approach
Following a review of the Green IT and IS literature, two topics were identified for a Q‐study conducted among IS professionals: topic 1 focussed on which technologies, systems and applications offer the greatest opportunity in solving environmental problems, and topic 2 on what sets of issues affect these green opportunities. Activity Theory was used to interpret the factors emerging from the Q‐study.
Findings
Three categories of activities were identified in topic 1 involving ICT support for “teleworking and teleconferencing”, “monitoring, optimising, and modelling” and “influencing human understanding and behaviour”. The topic 2 responses were quite varied.
Research limitations/implications
A Q‐study is both subjective and exploratory, not seeking consensus but rather the breadth of opinion on a topic. The findings of topic 1 indicate three directions for future research and topic 2 identified many issues to consider in pursuing Green outcomes.
Practical implications
The three topic 1 categories of activities identify practical “green” applications of ICT.
Social implications
The varied issues identified from topic 2 reveal the interconnection of environmental projects with economic and social issues.
Originality/value
Following this study of IS professional the authors call on other professions to apply the expertise of their respective fields to the environmental cause.
Keywords
Citation
Hasan, H. and Meloche, J. (2013), "Innovative ICT‐mediated activities for people, profit and planet", European Journal of Innovation Management, Vol. 16 No. 3, pp. 335-354. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-08-2011-0063
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited