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Sustainability in IS: the case for an open systems approach

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Author

  • Peter Bednar
  • Christine Welch

Editor

  • Markus Nuttgens
  • Andreas Gadatsch
  • Karlheinz Kautz
  • Ingrid Schirmer
  • Nadine Blinn

Summary, in English

Common sense tells us that cost cutting leads to saving, and spending should therefore be minimized. However, a little reflection tells us that this sometimes leads to false economies. In an organizational context, these can lead on to a downward spiral of organizational ‘suicide’. Examples of false economies may include: saving on maintenance; saving on research and development expenditure; saving on margins (waste or just-in-time management); and saving on ‘how’ we do things, as opposed to ‘what’ we do. Common sense cost cutting makes ‘how’ invisible, and only recognizes ‘what’. It is vital that we also remember to consider ‘why’ activities are undertaken. Professional competence implies not only skill/knowledge in a particular field, but also desire to apply that knowledge in accordance with certain values, and engagement with the context of application so that learning through reflection may take place. Professional work therefore includes scope for extra-role behaviour, such as suggesting innovative methods or identifying and developing new opportunities (Bednar and Welch, 2010). We suggest that a naïve pursuit of ‘efficiency’ is likely to constrict and curtail possibilities for extra-role behaviour, with disastrous consequences for the development and growth of the business. Creation of systems experienced as sustainable therefore requires us to focus attention on perceived usefulness, rather than efficiency.

Publishing year

2011

Language

English

Pages

325-329

Publication/Series

Governance and Sustainability in Information Systems. Managing the Transfer and Diffusion of IT

Volume

366

Document type

Book chapter

Publisher

Springer

Topic

  • Information Systems, Social aspects

Keywords

  • Information Systems Sustainability in IS Open Systems Approach

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISBN: 978-3-642-24147-5