Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Environmental Sustainability in Design Science Research: Direct and Indirect Effects of Design Artifacts

  • Conference paper
Design Science Research in Information Systems. Advances in Theory and Practice (DESRIST 2012)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNISA,volume 7286))

Abstract

There is an increasing consensus that information systems (IS) design needs to consider effects related to environmental sustainability. While information technology (IT) can help solving environmental problems, it also causes environmental problems through emissions, wastage, and the consumption of renewable and nonrenewable resources throughout its lifecycle. Against this background, the notions of Green IT and Green IS have evolved. While the former primarily relates to the energy efficiency and equipment utilization of IT, the latter pertains to the design and implementation of information systems that contribute to sustainable business processes. In this paper, we explore how environmental sustainability can be considered in design science research. While traditionally design science research has focused on the utility of artifacts, we propose to also consider a design artifact’s environmental impact. We discuss how the design goal of sustainability relates to artifact utility and suggest a framework that describes two dimensions of design artifact environmental impact, namely direct and indirect environmental impacts. While the first pertains to effects of the physical existence of an IT artifact through its production, use, and disposal, the latter relates to the potential of the artifact to contribute to sustainable business processes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Archer, L.B.: Systematic method for designers. In: Cross, N. (ed.) Developments in Design Methodology, pp. 57–82. John Wiley, London (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Baskerville, R.: What design science is not. European Journal of Information Systems 17, 441–443 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Bose, R., Luo, X.: Integrative Framework for Assessing Firms’ Potential to Undertake Green IT Initiatives via Virtualization - A Theoretical Perspective. Journal of Strategic Information Systems 20, 38–54 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Cole, R., Purao, S., Rossi, M., Sein, M.K.: Being proactive: Where action research meets design research. In: Twenty-Sixth International Conference on Information Systems, pp. 325–336. Association for Information Systems, Atlanta (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Dedrick, J.: Green IS: Concepts and Issues for Information Systems Research. Communications of the Association for Information Systems 27, 173–184 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Eekels, J., Roozenburg, N.F.M.: A methodological comparison of the structures of scientific research and engineering design: Their similarities and differences. Design Studies 12, 197–203 (1991)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Elliot, S.: Transdisciplinary Perspectives on Environmental Sustainability: A Resource Base and Framework for IT-Enabled Business Transformation. MIS Quarterly 35, 197–236 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Gill, T.G., Hevner, A.R.: A Fitness-Utility Model for Design Science Research. In: Jain, H., Sinha, A.P., Vitharana, P. (eds.) DESRIST 2011. LNCS, vol. 6629, pp. 237–252. Springer, Heidelberg (2011)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  9. Goodland, R.: The Concept of Environmental Sustainability. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 26, 1–24 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Gregor, S.: The Nature of Theory in Information Systems. MIS Quarterly 30, 611–642 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Gregor, S., Jones, D.: The Anatomy of a Design Theory. Journal of the Association for Information Systems 8, 313–335 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hevner, A.R., Chatterjee, S.: Design research in information systems. Springer, Boston (2010)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  13. Hevner, A.R., March, S.T., Jinsoo, P., Ram, S.: Design Science in Information Systems Research. MIS Quarterly 28, 75–105 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Hilty, L.M., Arnfalk, P., Erdmann, L., Goodman, J., Lehmann, M., Wäger, P.A.: The relevance of information and communication technologies for environmental sustainability e A prospective simulation study. Environmental Modelling & Software 21, 1618–1629 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Kuechler, B., Vaishnavi, V., Kuechler, W.L.: Design (Science) Research in IS: A Work in Progress (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  16. March, T.S., Smith, G.: Design and Natural Science Research on Information Technology. Decision Support Systems 15, 251–266 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Melville, N.P.: Information Systems Innovation for Environmental Sustainability. MIS Quarterly 34, 1–21 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Murugesan, S.: Harnessing Green IT: Principles and Practices. IT Professional 10, 24–33 (2008)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  19. Nunamaker, J.F., Chen, M., Purdin, T.D.M.: Systems development in information systems research. Journal of Management Information Systems 7, 89–106 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Peffers, K., Tuunanen, T., Rothenberger, M.A., Chatterjee, S.: A Design Science Research Methodology for Information Systems Research. Journal of Management Information Systems 24, 45–77 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Takeda, H., Veerkamp, P., Tomiyama, T., Yoshikawam, H.: Modeling design processes. AI Magazine 11, 37–48 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Vaishnavi, V.K., Kuechler, W.J.: Design Science Research Methods and Patterns - Innovating Information and Communication Technology. Auerbach Publications, Boca Raton (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Walls, J., Widmeyer, G., El Sawy, O.: Building an information system design theory for vigilant EIS. Information Systems Research 3, 36–59 (1992)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Watson, R.T., Boudreau, M.-C., Chen, A.J.: Information Systems and Environmentally Sustainable Development: Energy Informatics and New Directions for the IS Community. MIS Quarterly 34, 23–38 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Watson, R.T., Boudreau, M.-C., Chen, A.J., Huber, M.: Green IS: Building Sustainable Business Practices. In: Watson, R.T. (ed.) Information Systems, Global Text Project, Athens, Georgia, pp. 247–261 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Winter, R.: Guest Editorial: Design Science Research in Europe. European Journal of Information Systems 17, 470–475 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future. Oxford University Press, Oxford (1987)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Liechtenstein, Vaduz, Liechtenstein

    Jan vom Brocke & Stefan Seidel

Authors
  1. Jan vom Brocke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Stefan Seidel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Information Systems, University of Nevada, 4505 S. Maryland Pkwy, 89514, Las Vegas, NV, USA

    Ken Peffers  & Marcus Rothenberger  & 

  2. Information Systems /026, University of Nevada, 1664 N. Virginia Street, 89557-0208, Reno, Nevada, USA

    Bill Kuechler

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

vom Brocke, J., Seidel, S. (2012). Environmental Sustainability in Design Science Research: Direct and Indirect Effects of Design Artifacts. In: Peffers, K., Rothenberger, M., Kuechler, B. (eds) Design Science Research in Information Systems. Advances in Theory and Practice. DESRIST 2012. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 7286. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29863-9_22

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29863-9_22

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-29862-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-29863-9

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation