ICT and sustainability: skills and methods for dialogue and policy making
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JICES-12-2014-0063 |
| Published date | 09 March 2015 |
| Date | 09 March 2015 |
| Pages | 13-18 |
| Author | Iordanis Kavathatzopoulos |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Information management & governance |
ICT and sustainability:
skills and methods for dialogue
and policy making
Iordanis Kavathatzopoulos
Department of Information Technology, Uppsala University,
Uppsala, Sweden
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present an overview and to discuss the following issues:
most often, discussions about Information and communication technology (ICT) sustainability focus on
environmental issues; however, there are other aspects referring to ICT internal sustainability and to its
role as a tool in managing general sustainability issues. The way to handle ICT sustainability issues is
also signicant.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper discusses and investigates various aspects of ICT
sustainability, and of methods to handle these issues and make decisions.
Findings – Classical philosophy and psychological empirical research on decision-making
demonstrate the way to take care of ICT sustainability issues. This way is philosophizing, which has to
be trained and supported for people and organizations involved to acquire the necessary skills and to
use suitable methods.
Originality/value – The paper highlights other signicant aspects of ICT sustainability rather than
the environmental impact alone. It also proposes focus on the way ICT sustainability issues are handled
rather than focus on normative or ideological aspects of it.
Keywords Sustainability, Autonomy, Computer ethics, IT ethics, Human–computer interaction,
Ethics education
Paper type Conceptual paper
Introduction
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is strongly related to a broad
spectrum of sustainability issues: positively and negatively. Design, production, use
and disposal affect signicantly and increasingly environment, society and human
lives. Any solution given and any policy applied have a great impact on the
sustainability of nature, society and humanity. Still, it is not easy for us to nd optimal
solutions or agree on suitable policies. Sustainability issues are closely related to strong
convictions, ideologies, business, geopolitics, etc., spoiling rigorous scientic research
and confusing democratic decision-making. To handle present and future sustainability
challenges related to ICT, we need to focus on developing methods and tools to support
personal skills and to run political processes in ways based on them.
ICT is signicant to our society today. Following that, there is a growing awareness
of its importance to our life and to our future, which gives rise to a strong feeling of
responsibility. We know that we have to be very cautious not to make decisions that
endanger our life or our future, but rather try to nd satisfying solutions to serious
problems, and use ICT for the achievement of our important goals.
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/1477-996X.htm
ICT and
sustainability
13
Received 19 December 2014
Revised 19 December 2014
Accepted 19 December 2014
Journalof Information,
Communicationand Ethics in
Society
Vol.13 No. 1, 2015
pp.13-18
©Emerald Group Publishing Limited
1477-996X
DOI 10.1108/JICES-12-2014-0063
To continue reading
Request your trial