Information systems and sustainable development: From conceptual underpinnings to empirical insights

Abstract

In our first draft of the call for papers for this special issue, we highlighted the growing interest in research at the intersection of Information Systems (IS) and sustainable development (Tim et al., 2018). As scholars of the topic, we were encouraged by the development of this knowledge area (Kranz et al., 2022) and noted this accordingly. However, when we presented the draft of our call for papers to Rick Watson, our Special Advisor for the special issue, he offered us a sobering reminder. From his perspective, “the response (of the global IS community) has been dismal and the IS contribution, at best, marginal” (we included this line verbatim in the final version of our call for papers). It was a “curb your enthusiasm” moment.

Upon reflection, our insight is that while there is indeed a growing body of conceptual work (e.g., Kotlarsky et al., 2023; Pan et al., 2022), there remains a critical shortage of empirical studies that demonstrate the real-world applications and impacts of IS in promoting sustainability. For a topic with existential implications, our field's collective response remains inadequate. Collectively, the IS community has the knowledge and ability to make a difference, but the key to unlocking this potential lies in generating and offering evidence-based insights through the conduct of empirical studies. This is the focus of our special issue.

Our call for more empirical studies is not just a call for more data but also a call for more actionable insights (Li et al., 2023). Conceptual work has its place; it helps us frame problems, develop hypotheses, and propose models. However, without empirical validation, these contributions risk remaining theoretical exercises with limited impact on practice (Bergh et al., 2006). Empirical studies are crucial because they provide concrete evidence of how IS can be leveraged to achieve sustainability goals, offering valuable lessons for sustainability practitioners and policymakers.

Empirical research helps us bridge the gap between theory and practice (Aguinis & Edwards, 2014). It validates conceptual models and frameworks, providing evidence of what works and what doesn't in real-world settings. For example, empirical studies can show how specific IS interventions can reduce energy consumption, improve waste management, or enhance the efficiency of resource use. They can also reveal the challenges and barriers to implementing these interventions, providing insights that can help refine and improve theoretical models (Kotlarsky et al., 2023).

This first paper, “Digital sustainable business models: Using digital technology to integrate ecological sustainability into the core of business models” (Böttcher et al., 2024), explores how digital technologies can be used to create sustainable business models that integrate economic, social, and environmental value. The authors present a comprehensive case study of a company that has successfully implemented a digital sustainable business model, highlighting the key factors that contributed to its success. The study provides valuable insights into the role of IS in supporting sustainable business practices and offers practical guidelines for organisations looking to develop similar models.

The second paper, “Exploration–Exploitation: How business analytics powers organisational ambidexterity for environmental sustainability” (Shi et al., 2024), examines how business analytics can support organisational adaptation and performance in the context of sustainability. Through a comparative case study approach, the authors investigate how organisations use business analytics to explore new opportunities for sustainability and exploit existing resources more efficiently. The study highlights the critical role of data-driven decision-making in achieving sustainability goals and provides empirical evidence of the benefits of business analytics in this area.

The third paper, “Information systems-enabled sustainability transformation: A study of an energy self-sufficient village in Germany” (Xu et al., 2024), presents a detailed case study of Feldheim, a small village in Germany that has achieved energy self-sufficiency through the use of IS. The authors use the belief-action-outcome (BAO) framework to analyse the process of sustainability transformation in the village. The study reveals the critical roles that IS played in enabling this transformation, including participation objects, connectivity enablement, and fluctuation mitigation. The findings provide valuable insights into how communities can leverage IS to achieve sustainability goals.

The final paper rounding up this special issue, “Sustainable energy consumption behaviour with smart meters: The role of relative performance and evaluative standards” (Wendt et al., 2024), investigates how smart meters and related information systems can promote sustainable energy consumption behaviour. Through an empirical study of households using smart meters, the authors examine the impact of real-time energy usage information on energy conservation behaviour. The study provides evidence of the effectiveness of smart meters in reducing energy consumption and highlights the importance of the user perceptions and motivations in promoting sustainable behaviours.

The papers in this special issue represent significant evidence-based contributions to research at the intersection of IS and sustainable development. They provide much-needed empirical evidence on how IS can be used to support sustainability goals and offer valuable insights for both researchers and practitioners. However, as Rick Watson reminded us, there is still much work to be done. We hope that this special issue will inspire more empirical research in this critical area and contribute to the development of practical solutions that can help address the urgent sustainability challenges we face.

We are grateful to the authors, reviewers, and the editorial team for their contributions to this special issue. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to Robert Davison (the Editor-in-Chief) and Rick Watson (our Special Advisor) for their invaluable advice and support. We look forward to seeing more empirical studies in our discipline that build on the foundation laid by these papers and advance our understanding of the role of IS in promoting sustainable development.