E-Competences for Organisational Sustainability Information Systems

Introduction

The present pattern of economic development, characterised by extraordinary environmental changes resulting inter alia from human economic activities, is deemed to be unsustainable as it escalates a number of complex societal and environmental problems (Holland, 2003; De Moor &Kleef, 2005; Gough, 2013). An alternative environment is advised that is supported by economic viability, healthy ecosystems and a more equitable social framework (e.g. UNDP, 1994; Holland, 2003; Elliot, 2007). Although this alternative thinking has its origin in the concept first explored at the UN Confernce on the Human Environment in Stockholm (Sweden) in 1972, the sustainability idea gained prominence only in 1987 when the Brundtlandt Report defined sustainability as “development that meets the needs of the present withouth compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (WCED, 1987, p.8). This report alerted the to path of alternatives as opposed to the more confrontational discourse that existed between the proponents of economic development and those concerned with the environment.

The sustainability challenges are numerous: climate change, energy and water supply, biodiversity and land use, chemicals, toxics, and heavy metals, air pollution, waste management, ozone layer depletion, oceans and fisheries, deforestation (e.g. Esty& Winston, 2006, p. 33). Addressing them is a complex task but there are at least four main reasons for organisations to urgently attend to sustainability development (Epstein, 2008, pp. 21-22): (i) disregarding government and industry sustainability related codes of conduct can incur penalties and fines, legal costs, lost productivity due to additional inspections, potential closure of operations, and damage to corporate reputations; (ii) the consequences of poor sustainability performance and mismanagement of stakeholders can incur reputational damage and potential loss in market share as the general public and non-government organisations (NGOs) are increasingly advocating for adherence to sustainability issues; (iii) sustainability conducted business can create financial value by lowering costs (e.g. due to a decrease in regulatory fines) and increase revenue (e.g. due to improved corporate reputation); (iv) social and moral obligations towards communities in which businesses operate as corporations make a significant impact on society and the environment.

The complexity around sustainability development requires a holistic framework (Sachs, 2015) and the involvement of new methods and tools (De Moor &Kleef, 2005; UN, 2012). Information and communication technologies (ICT) are seen as such tools (Dompke et al, 2004; Yi and Thomas, 2007; Hilty, 2008) as these technologies “can change the behaviour of businesses and consumers, and through these changes, ICT can help the environment without scarifying economic output” (GIIC, 2008, p. 2). The development of the personal computer and the Internet are regarded as key milestones of the “sustainabuity revolution” (Edwards, 2005; Elliot, 2007; MacLean, Souter & Creech, 2012) as ICT and sustainability are “at long last” seen to belong together (Hilty, 2008, p. 9). Computers and information systems, for example, make it easier to: (i) track organisational resource use and productivity, (ii) benchmark across facilities, products, and production lines, and (iii) make a comparative analysis of raw material consumption, energy required, and waste generation (Esty& Winston, 2006, p. 109). Contemporary reports estimate the market for ICT for sustainability will tremendously increase. For example German SAP estimated in 2011 that the market for ‘sustainability software’ will reach $7 billion within five years (SAP, 2011) while the Verdantix report, focused on the US market, estimated that that sustainable business spend will grow from $34.6 billion in 2012 to $43.6 billion in 2017 (Verdantix, 2013).