IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/infosf/v15y2013i5d10.1007_s10796-013-9417-x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Investments in information systems: A contribution towards sustainability

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Hertel

    (University of Augsburg)

  • Julia Wiesent

    (zeb/rolfes.schierenbeck.associates gmbh)

Abstract

Empirical research has determined that information systems (IS) can abate far more emissions than they produce. By using its transformative power, Green IS can build energy efficiency along the entire business value chain and thus contribute to sustainable development that goes well beyond that of Green Information Technology (Green IT). However, from a business perspective there is still prevailing uncertainty with regard to the economic viability and optimal extent of Green IS investments. In this paper, we conceptualize a decision model for an IS investment that increases a company’s energy efficiency. We analyze and compare the costs associated with the investment and the realized energy cost savings. Furthermore, we examine the influence of fluctuating energy prices on investment decisions. By integrating risk and return into one decision calculus, we determine an optimal degree of investment, which avoids over-investment while promoting energy efficiency, and therefore establishes the long-term coherence of economic and environmental sustainability. Finally, we demonstrate that reduced exposure to risky energy prices results in comparatively larger investments, thereby implying a higher optimal investment degree, assuming the involvement of risk-averse decision-makers.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Hertel & Julia Wiesent, 2013. "Investments in information systems: A contribution towards sustainability," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 15(5), pages 815-829, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:infosf:v:15:y:2013:i:5:d:10.1007_s10796-013-9417-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10796-013-9417-x
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10796-013-9417-x
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10796-013-9417-x?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Matthias Jarke, 2009. "Perspectives in the Interplay Between Business and Information Systems Engineering and Computer Science," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 1(1), pages 70-74, February.
    2. Nils-Holger Schmidt & Koray Erek & Lutz M. Kolbe & Rüdiger Zarnekow, 2009. "Sustainable Information Systems Management," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 1(5), pages 400-402, October.
    3. repec:dau:papers:123456789/607 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Neeraj Mittal & Barrie R. Nault, 2009. "Research Note ---Investments in Information Technology: Indirect Effects and Information Technology Intensity," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 20(1), pages 140-154, March.
    5. Sarv Devaraj & Rajiv Kohli, 2003. "Performance Impacts of Information Technology: Is Actual Usage the Missing Link?," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 49(3), pages 273-289, March.
    6. Brian L. Dos Santos, 2003. "Information Technology Investments: Characteristics, Choices, Market Risk and Value," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 5(3), pages 289-301, September.
    7. Andrew King & Michael Lenox, 2002. "Exploring the Locus of Profitable Pollution Reduction," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 48(2), pages 289-299, February.
    8. Paul Chwelos & Ronald Ramirez & Kenneth L. Kraemer & Nigel P. Melville, 2010. "Research Note ---Does Technological Progress Alter the Nature of Information Technology as a Production Input? New Evidence and New Results," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 21(2), pages 392-408, June.
    9. Erik Brynjolfsson & Lorin Hitt, 1996. "Paradox Lost? Firm-Level Evidence on the Returns to Information Systems Spending," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 42(4), pages 541-558, April.
    10. Helyette Geman, 2005. "Commodities and Commodity Derivatives. Modeling and Pricing for Agriculturals, Metals and Energy," Post-Print halshs-00144182, HAL.
    11. Römer, Benedikt & Reichhart, Philipp & Kranz, Johann & Picot, Arnold, 2012. "The role of smart metering and decentralized electricity storage for smart grids: The importance of positive externalities," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 486-495.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Berna Tektas Sivrikaya & Ferhan Cebi & Hasan Hüseyin Turan & Nihat Kasap & Dursun Delen, 2017. "A fuzzy long-term investment planning model for a GenCo in a hybrid electricity market considering climate change impacts," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 19(5), pages 975-991, October.
    2. Roya Gholami & Alemayehu Molla & Suparna Goswami & Christopher Brewster, 2018. "Green information systems use in social enterprise: the case of a community-led eco-localization website in the West Midlands region of the UK," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 20(6), pages 1345-1361, December.
    3. Solvi Hoen, Fredrik & Díez-Gutiérrez, María & Babri, Sahar & Hess, Stephane & Tørset, Trude, 2023. "Charging electric vehicles on long trips and the willingness to pay to reduce waiting for charging. Stated preference survey in Norway," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    4. Manoj Thomas & Daniela Costa & Tiago Oliveira, 2016. "Assessing the role of IT-enabled process virtualization on green IT adoption," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 18(4), pages 693-710, August.
    5. Zhaojun Yang & Jun Sun & Yali Zhang & Ying Wang, 2018. "Peas and carrots just because they are green? Operational fit between green supply chain management and green information system," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 20(3), pages 627-645, June.
    6. Emanuele Gabriel Margherita & Alessio Maria Braccini, 2023. "Industry 4.0 Technologies in Flexible Manufacturing for Sustainable Organizational Value: Reflections from a Multiple Case Study of Italian Manufacturers," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 995-1016, June.
    7. Yosra Miaoui & Noureddine Boudriga, 2019. "Enterprise security investment through time when facing different types of vulnerabilities," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 261-300, April.
    8. Berna Tektas Sivrikaya & Ferhan Cebi & Hasan Hüseyin Turan & Nihat Kasap & Dursun Delen, 0. "A fuzzy long-term investment planning model for a GenCo in a hybrid electricity market considering climate change impacts," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-17.
    9. Joseph Sarkis & Chulmo Koo & Richard T. Watson, 2013. "Green information systems & technologies – this generation and beyond: Introduction to the special issue," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 15(5), pages 695-704, November.
    10. Alfred Benedikt Brendel & Friedrich Chasin & Milad Mirbabaie & Dennis M. Riehle & Christine Harnischmacher, 2022. "Review of Design-Oriented Green Information Systems Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-33, April.
    11. Denis Dennehy & Kieran Conboy & Jennifer Ferreira & Jaganath Babu, 2023. "Sustaining Open Source Communities by Understanding the Influence of Discursive Manifestations on Sentiment," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 241-257, February.
    12. Yosra Miaoui & Noureddine Boudriga, 0. "Enterprise security investment through time when facing different types of vulnerabilities," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-40.
    13. Roya Gholami & Alemayehu Molla & Suparna Goswami & Christopher Brewster, 0. "Green information systems use in social enterprise: the case of a community-led eco-localization website in the West Midlands region of the UK," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-17.
    14. Ashish Gupta & Amit Deokar & Lakshmi Iyer & Ramesh Sharda & Dave Schrader, 2018. "Big Data & Analytics for Societal Impact: Recent Research and Trends," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 185-194, April.
    15. Zhaojun Yang & Jun Sun & Yali Zhang & Ying Wang, 0. "Peas and carrots just because they are green? Operational fit between green supply chain management and green information system," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-19.
    16. Emanuele Gabriel Margherita & Alessio Maria Braccini, 2021. "Industry 4.0 Technologies in Flexible Manufacturing for Sustainable Organizational Value: Reflections from a Multiple Case Study of Italian Manufacturers," Post-Print hal-03442440, HAL.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hilal Atasoy & Rajiv D. Banker & Paul A. Pavlou, 2016. "On the Longitudinal Effects of IT Use on Firm-Level Employment," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 27(1), pages 6-26, March.
    2. Chou, Yen-Chun & Hao-Chun Chuang, Howard & Shao, Benjamin B.M., 2014. "The impacts of information technology on total factor productivity: A look at externalities and innovations," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 290-299.
    3. Stefan Schweikl & Robert Obermaier, 2020. "Lessons from three decades of IT productivity research: towards a better understanding of IT-induced productivity effects," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 70(4), pages 461-507, November.
    4. Indranil Bardhan & Viswanathan Krishnan & Shu Lin, 2013. "Research Note ---Business Value of Information Technology: Testing the Interaction Effect of IT and R&D on Tobin's Q," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 24(4), pages 1147-1161, December.
    5. Dennis O. Kundisch & Neeraj Mittal & Barrie R. Nault, 2014. "Research Commentary —Using Income Accounting as the Theoretical Basis for Measuring IT Productivity," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 25(3), pages 449-467, September.
    6. Prasanna Tambe & Lorin M. Hitt, 2014. "Measuring Information Technology Spillovers," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 25(1), pages 53-71, March.
    7. Zand, Fardad & Van Beers, Cees & Van Leeuwen, George, 2011. "Information technology, organizational change and firm productivity: A panel study of complementarity effects and clustering patterns in Manufacturing and Services," MPRA Paper 46469, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Sadaf Bashir & Bert Sadowski, 2014. "General Purpose Technologies: A Survey, a Critique and Future Research Directions," Working Papers 14-02, Eindhoven Center for Innovation Studies, revised Feb 2014.
    9. Prasanna Tambe & Lorin M. Hitt, 2014. "Job Hopping, Information Technology Spillovers, and Productivity Growth," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 60(2), pages 338-355, February.
    10. Hemant K. Bhargava & Abhay Nath Mishra, 2014. "Electronic Medical Records and Physician Productivity: Evidence from Panel Data Analysis," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 60(10), pages 2543-2562, October.
    11. Dawei Zhang & Zhuo (June) Cheng & Hasan A. Qurban H. Mohammad & Barrie R. Nault, 2015. "Research Commentary—Information Technology Substitution Revisited," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 26(3), pages 480-495, September.
    12. Vincent J. Shea & Kevin E. Dow & Alain Yee-Loong Chong & Eric W. T. Ngai, 0. "An examination of the long-term business value of investments in information technology," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-15.
    13. Shao, Benjamin B.M. & Lin, Winston T., 2016. "Assessing output performance of information technology service industries: Productivity, innovation and catch-up," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 43-53.
    14. Sinan Aral & Peter Weill, 2007. "IT Assets, Organizational Capabilities, and Firm Performance: How Resource Allocations and Organizational Differences Explain Performance Variation," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 18(5), pages 763-780, October.
    15. Guodong (Gordon) Gao & Lorin M. Hitt, 2012. "Information Technology and Trademarks: Implications for Product Variety," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 58(6), pages 1211-1226, June.
    16. Polák, Petr, 2017. "The productivity paradox: A meta-analysis," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 38-54.
    17. Guido Schryen, 2010. "Preserving Knowledge on IS Business Value," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 2(4), pages 233-244, August.
    18. Philipp Köllinger, 2005. "Why IT Matters: An Empirical Study of E-Business Usage, Innovation, and Firm Performance," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 495, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    19. Damjan Vavpotič & Marko Robnik-Šikonja & Tomaž Hovelja, 2020. "Exploring the Relations Between Net Benefits of IT Projects and CIOs’ Perception of Quality of Software Development Disciplines," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 62(4), pages 347-360, August.
    20. Sinan Aral & Erik Brynjolfsson & Lynn Wu, 2012. "Three-Way Complementarities: Performance Pay, Human Resource Analytics, and Information Technology," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 58(5), pages 913-931, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:infosf:v:15:y:2013:i:5:d:10.1007_s10796-013-9417-x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.