Abstract
This chapter discusses a Green IT implementation in an IT services company. Starting with a literature review on the current state of Green IT, this chapter develops the motivators for implementing a Green IT environment in an organization that is focused on services (as against products). While the data collection and analysis related to Green IT is limited in this research at its current stage, still the material discussed here follows a research approach. This discussion also contains invaluable suggestions on creation of green policies and procedures, their impact on people and processes and strategies for implementing them successfully.
TopReview Of Green Ict Literature
As per Murugesan (2008), organizations have embraced Green ICT programs to cut ICT costs, utilize the ICT resources to their maximum, save on power bills and to save the environment from the ill effects of ICT usage. Thus, organizations are now actively looking for optimized ICT solutions that have a lower carbon footprint (Mingay and Pamlin, 2008). This phenomenon of organizational ICT change for the environment is growing across several wide ranging industries and geographical regions. For example, the airline industry is just as interested in reducing its ICT carbon footprint as the banking and the transportation industry is.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Green Policy: a documented strategy of the organization in terms of its actions relating to the environment; includes need for and approach to compliance with regulations
Workplace Relationships: in the context of this chapter, deals with the relationships amongst peers, those between leaders/managers and workers (occasionally through unions) and with the external parties such as business partners and regulatory bodies
Climate Change: changes to weather patterns and carbon contents in the atmosphere as a result of business activities,
Green ICT: deals with people, processes and technologies relating to the environment
Sustainability: capability of an organization to continue to sustain – remain in business – for a long time. Translates to the organization’s performance in terms of the environment.