Special issue on sustainability and information systems

Citation

Standing, C. and Jackson, P. (2008), "Special issue on sustainability and information systems", Journal of Systems and Information Technology, Vol. 10 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/jsit.2008.36510caa.001

Special issue on sustainability and information systems

Article Type: Editorial From: Journal of Systems and Information Technology, Volume 10, Issue 3.

Sustainability in information systems means many things to many people. This is perhaps the main problems in developing a research agenda in the area. Some, for example, examine sustainability from an ecological perspective whilst others take into account wastage of human and intellectual capital within organisations. Whatever the perspective, what is clear is that greater discussion is needed to clarify terms, generate ideas and structure research themes.

Research in information systems has been slow to enter into the sustainability debate but recent conferences have increasingly been incorporating sustainability research streams. It is important for information systems as a discipline to be at the forefront of sustainability research. Indeed, the discipline has much to offer organisations as it can support flexible working practices such as teleworking, improve the exchange of knowledge and information to reduce re-work and support efficient organisational forms.

Paul Jackson and I came up with the idea of a special issue for the Journal of Systems and Information Technology in mid 2007. It followed on from a paper, we had developed for JSIT on sustainability and from the fact there were few information systems references to draw upon. Our paper attracted a lot of attention when it was published and I am sure the three papers in this issue will attract even more attention as they all make a strong contribution to the debate on sustainability. The special issue attracted 15 submissions and resulted in the three papers being accepted.

The first paper by Chen, Boudreau and Watson examines information systems and ecological sustainability and provides a conceptual model and propositions to guide the role of information systems in its support of ecological sustainability. The second paper by Sarkis and Zhu examines the role that information technology can make to sustainable practices in China. Finally, the third paper in the issue by Mruster, Faber, and Peters investigates sustainable practices in information systems development, particularly in relation to the effective management of knowledge.

In addition, there are two other excellent papers in this issue, the first by Tian, Martin and Deng on the digitization of business models in the publishing sector and the second by Leppaniemi and Karjaluoto on demographic factors impacting on the use of mobile marketing.

Craig Standing and Paul JacksonEdith Cowan University