Sustainability, innovation and information technology as sources of value generation

• Autorzy: Stefan Hack
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

There is growing consensus in management and economies world-wide that sustainability is a topic of growing importance and material impact to consider. An increasing number of companies are viewing sustainability not only as a challenge of complying with regulatory requirements but also as a business opportunity and a source of competitive advantage. The current financial crisis has helped policy-makers and management alike to focus again on the longevity of business models and the duration of value growth in enterprises and economies. Sustainability requires innovation - e.g., modern technology to move into higher resource efficiency levels - and is therefore considered a source of innovation. Likewise, technological innovation in future will be increasingly sustainability-oriented. However, recent research shows that most companies still struggle when it comes to exploiting the opportunities and mitigating the risks that sustainability presents (Berns et al. 2009). Companies cite a number of obstacles and barriers to embracing sustainability. Foremost, these are limited informational transparency, the absence of a clear business case for sustainability, as well as difficulties in measuring, tracking, and reporting sustainability efforts. This paper suggests and provides evidence that these challenges can be addressed with the use of modern information technology (IT). It introduces IT as a key enabling technology for increasing sustainability while creating economic value. Derived from Rappaport's shareholder value model (Rappaport 1986) and subsequent work on environmental shareholder value by Schaltegger & Figge (2000), also validated with recent examples from companies world-wide the paper identifies leverage points for the use of information technology to improve sustainability performance as well as to increase economic company value. (original abstract)

Słowa kluczowe

EN

Sustainable development; Eco-development; Innovations; Information techniques

PL

Rozwój zrównoważony; Ekorozwój; Innowacje; Techniki informacyjne

• Czasopismo: Journal of Management and Financial Sciences
• Rocznik: 2011
• Tom: 4
• Numer: nr 5
• Strony: 16--35

Twórcy

autor

Stefan Hack

• Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, Germany

Bibliografia

• Automation World (2010): Plant Floor Intelligence: Digging for Dollars. http://www.automationworld.com/feature-5367 (17.09.2010).
• Automation World (2010): Enterprise Manufacturing Intelligence: A Room with a View. http://www.automationworld.com/feature-5368 (17.09.2010).
• BCorporation (2008): Conducting a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). http://www.bcorporation.net/resources/bcorp/documents/B Resources - Conducti ng a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).pdf (cited 17.01.11).
• Berns M., Townend A., Khayat Z., Balagopal B., Reeves M., Hopkins M., Kruschwitz N., The Business of Sustainability. Findings and Insights from the First Annual Business of Sustainability Survey and the Global Thought Leaders` Research Project. MITSloan Management Review, Special Report. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2009.
• Boston Consulting Group (2009): The Business of Sustainability. Imperative, Advantages, and Actions. Boston, MA et al: BCG Report, September 2009.
• Brachfeld D., Dritz T., Kodama S., Phipps A., Steiner E., Keoleian G. A., (2001), Life Cycle Assessment of the Stonyfield Farm Product Delivery System. University of Michigan: Ann Arbor. http://css.snre.umich.edu/css_doc/CSS01-pdf (cited 20.01.11).
• Business Wire (2010): Nike Furthers Its Commitment to Open Innovation and Sustainability by Releasing Environmental Apparel Design Tool to Industry. Beaverton, Oregon. http://invest.nike.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=100529&p=RssLa nding&cat=news&id=1501400 (cited 7.01.2011).
• Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) (2010): Global 500 Report. On behalf of 534 investors with assets of US$64 trillion. https://www.cdproject.net/CDPResults/ CDP-2010-G500.pdf (cited 11.01.2011).
• The Climate Group (2008): SMART 2020: Enabling the low carbon economy in the information age. A report by The Climate Group on behalf of the Global eSustainability Initiative (GeSI). London et al: The Climate Group.
• Copeland T., Koller T., Murrin J., Valuation. Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies, New York 1993, NY: Wiley.
• Daimler (2010): GreenIT@Daimler, Gartner Conference, November 22, 2010.
• Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) (2004): Managing the company`s carbon footprint. The emerging role of ICT. London et al.: The Economist Intelligence Unit.
• Environmental Protection Agency. EPA (2011), Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA), Definition, http://epa.gov/nrmrl/lcaccess/index.html (cited 25.01.2011).
• Erdmann L., Lorenz H., Goodman J., Arnfalk P., (2004), The Future Impact of ICTs on Environmental Sustainability, European Commission Joint Research Centre, http://www.ictregulationtoolkit.org/en/Document.3507.pdf (cited 7.01.2011).
• Erdmann L., Behrendt S., (2003), The Future Impact of ICTs on Environmental Sustainability, Second Interim Report, Berlin: IZT; http://www.p2pays.org/ref/37/36483.pdf (cited 13.01.2011).
• Fox G. J., (2007), Alpha or Beta? The Financial Value of Sustainability. Boston, MA: Pax World Investments, http://www.paxworld.com/viewpoint/2007/10/24/alpha-or-beta-the-financial-value-of-sustainability-by-julie-fox-gorte-phd-senior- vice-president-for-sustainable-investing/ (cited 18.01.2011).
• Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), Investoren setzen sich gegen Treibhausgase ein, FAZ, October 7, 2010, p. 21.
• Gillies C., Grün ist die Hoffnung, Logistik Inside, 02/2008.
• Goldman S., Introducing GS Sustain. London: GS Global Investment Research, 2007.
• GreenBiz (2010), P&G Launches the Latest Supplier Sustainability Scorecard. http://www.greenbiz.com/print/34947 (cited 25.01.2011).
• Guenster N., Derwall J., Bauer R., Koedijk K., (2005), The Economic Value of Corporate Eco-Efficiency, Rotterdam: RSM Erasmus University, http://www. finanzasostenibile.it/finanza/approfondimenti/Maskowitz 2005.pdf (cited 11.01.2011)
• Henderson J. C., Venkatraman N., Strategic Alignment: A Model for Organizational Transformation Through Information Technology, in: Thomas A., Useem M. ed. Transforming Organizations, New York 1992, Oxford University Press, 97-117.
• Innovest (2007), Carbon Beta and Equity Performance. An Empirical Analysis. Moving from Disclosure to Performance, New York: Innovest Strategic Value Advisors.
• Jönbrink A. K., Wolf-Wats C., Erixon M., Olsson P., Wallen E., (2000), LCA software survey, IVL report No B 1390. Stockholm: IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute. http://www.ivl.se/download/18.2f3a7b311a7c806443800055171/B1390. pdf (cited 13.01.2011).
• Keefe J. F., Sustainable Investing and the Next Economy, Boston, MA: Pax World Investments 2010.
• Kids in Danger, The Year of the Recall. An examination of children`s product recalls in 2007 and the implications for child safety, Chicago, IL: Kids In Danger, February 2008; http://www.kidsindanger.org/publications/reports/2008_Year_of_the_recall.pdf (cited 11.01.2011).
• Koller T., Goedhart M., Wessels D., Valuation, Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies, New York 2010, Wiley.
• Kuehn K., Five Ways to Convince Your CFO tha Sustainability Pays. GreenBiz. com, April 13, 2010; http://www.greenbiz.com/print/34193 (cited 10.01.2011).
• Lichtenstein B. B., Carroll J., Page Ch., Kleiner A., Laur J., Senge P., Materials Pooling (A): Opportunity and Potential of the Sustainability Consortium, Cambridge, MA: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2008.
• Mahler D., Barker J., Belsand L., Schulz O., 'Green' Winners: The performance of sustainability-focused companies in the financial crisis, Chicago: A.T. Kearney, Inc., February 9, 2009.
• Melville N. P., Information Systems Innovation for Environmental Sustianability "MIS Quarterly", 2009, Vol. 34, No. 1, 1-21.
• MIT Sloan Management Review (2010): How SAP. Made the Business Case for Sustainability. Interview with Peter Graf, MITSloan Management Review, August 2010.
• Nidumolu R., Prahalad C. K., Rangaswami M. R., Why Sustainability is Now the Key Driver of Innovation, "Harvard Business Review", September 2009, 57-64.
• O`Marah K., Sustainable Supply Chains Depend More on Hope Than Fear, Industry Value Chain Strategies, Boston, MA: AMR Research, April 2010.
• Österle H., Fleisch E., Alt R., Business Networking in der Praxis. Beispiele und Strategien zur Vernetzung mit Kunden und Lieferanten, Berlin et al, Springer 2002.
• Porter M. E., Competitve Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Perfomance, New York 1985, Free Press.
• Procter & Gamble (P&G) (2010a), Sustainability. Strategy, Goals & Progress. http://www. pg. com/en_US/sustainability/strategy_goals_progress. shtml (cited 25.01.11).
• Procter & Gamble (P&G) (2010b), Supplier Environmental Sustainability Scorecard and Training Materials. http://www.pgsupplier.com/supplier-environmental-sustainability-scorecard (cited 25.01.11).
• Rappaport A., Creating Shareholder Value, The New Standard for Business Performance, New York 1986, Free Press.
• Rappaport A., Linking Competitive Strategy and Shareholder Value Analysis, "Journal of Business Strategy", 1987, Vol. 7, No. 4, 58-67.
• SAP (2010a), Panasonic Europe. SAP. Software Helps High Firm Ensure Compliance and Lower Recycling Cost, SAP. Customer Success Story, Walldorf, Germany: SAP.
• SAP (2010b), Kaeser Kompressoren. Transforming from Providing Products to Full Services, SAP. Business Transformation Study, Walldorf, Germany: SAP.
• SAP (2010c), Nova Chemicals. Streamlining Tracking and Reporting to Support Compliance. SAP. Business Transformation Study, Walldorf, Germany: SAP
• SAP (2010d), Positive about REACH. SAP. Spectrum, 4/2010, 43-45.
• Schaltegger S., Mueller K., Hinrichsen H., Corporate Environmental Accounting, New York, Wiley 1996.
• Schaltegger S., Figge F., Environmental Shareholder Value: Economic Success with Corporate Environmental Management, Eco-Management and Auditing, 7, 2000, 29-42.
• Schaltegger S., Synnestvedt T., The link between `green` and economic success: environmental management as the crucial trigger between environmental and economic performance, "Journal of Environmental Management", 2002, 65, 339-346.
• Schaltegger S., Management von Ökoeffizienz im Lichte der Unternehmensstrategie, in: Liedtke C., Busch T., (Red.), Materialeffizienz, München: oekom, 2005, 63-72.
• Schaltegger S., Hasenmüller P., Nachhaltiges Wirtschaften aus Sicht des Business Case of Sustainability, in: Tiemeyer E., Wilbers K. Red., Berufliche Bildung für nachhaltiges Wirtschaften, Bielefeld: Bertelsmann, 2006, 71-86.
• Schaltegger S., Windolph S. E., Harms D., Corporate Sustainability Barometer. Wie nachhaltig agieren Unternehmen in Deutschland? Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management in cooperation with PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2010.
• Schmidheiny S., Changing Course, A Global Perspective on Development and the Environment, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1992.
• Senxian J., Jutras C., The ROI of Sustainability. Making the Business Case, Boston, MA: Aberdeen Group, May 2009.
• United Parcel Services (UPS) (2010), Package Flow Technologies: Innovation at Work, http://www.pressroom.ups. com/Fact+Sheets/Package+Flow+Technologies:+Innovation+at+Work (cited 18.01.2011).
• Wagner M., Schaltegger S., Wehrmeyer W., The Relationship between the Environmental and Economic Performance of Firms, Greener Management International, GMI 34, Summer 2001, 95-108.
• Walmart (2010), Walmart. Sustainability Index, http://walmartstores.com/Sustainability/9292.aspx (cited 25.01.2011).
• Wiehr H., (2009), CIO fordert "Green-Label" für IT-Produkte. BSH spart beim SAP-Betrieb 793 Tonnen CO2. CIO, 25.06.2009, München: IDG Business Verlag; http://www.cio.de/885421 (cited 10.01.2011).
• World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) (2000), Eco-efficiency. Creating more value with less impact, Geneva: WBCSD.
• World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) (2008), Sustainable Consumption. Facts and Trends. From a business perspective, Geneva: WBCSD.
• World Resources Institute (WRI) and A.T. Kearney (2008), Rattling Supply Chains. The Effect of Environmental Trends on Input Costs for the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods Industry, Washington, DC: WRI, Chicago: A.T. Kearney, Inc.