Sustainable Transformation through Information Systems Use, Design and Development

A long chain of microprocesses determine sustainable human existence in the natural environment, and one of the most rudimentary links in this chain is practice. Practice ultimately shapes not only human nature, but also nature itself.

In this Special Issue, we call for papers that examine sustainable practices during the use, design, and development of transformational information systems (IS). IS, including ICTs, have the potential to replace harmful practices, i.e., ones that create large carbon footprints. This has been obviated by lockdown scenarios caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and there is a slew of mature technologies at our disposal, including virtual reality.

With the goal of sustainable human existence, one of the most pivotal questions is how practices adapt and change through IS use, design, and development, for which there is mixed evidence in the literature. A constant is change and the transformation of society. Another important question is, as technological rates of change increase, what practices make this sustainable in a broad sense, i.e., environmentally, socially, organizationally, and economically. We believe this is less of an issue of technology per se and more so one of human agency in sculpting and sustaining sustainable practices; however, the human agency element of sustainable practice in IS development and use is under-researched.

The UN defines 17 goals of sustainable development (SDGs), including (i) decent work and economic growth, (ii) industry, innovation, and infrastructure, and, (iii) climate action[1]. The focus of this Special Issue is to encourage papers that examine human agencies within or across these 17 SDGs through IS use, design, and development. The purpose is to publish outstanding papers on sustainable transformation through information systems use, design and development that contribute to IS and wider literature on this crucial topic, particularly in terms of human agentic practices therein. 

We encourage papers on that address:

1. IS and IT influences on practices that affect environmental sustainability;
2. IS and IT influences on practices that affect economic, social, and organizational sustainability;
3. Practices that affect the sustainable incorporation and appropriation of fast-changing information technology;
4. Practices that affect the sustainable development and implementation of information technology, as well as IS development.

[1] https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/envision2030.html

Dr. Patrick Stacey
Prof. Mike Chiasson
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• sustainability
• information systems
• transformation
• change
• practices
• human agency