Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
•
Similarly to the other IT balanced score-
card, Green IT BSC is a technique that can
only prove successful when the business
and the IT work together and collaborate
in the scorecard measurement process. The
introduction of an IT balanced scorecard in
an IT environment with poor management
and IT practices is too large a challenge
(Van Grembergen
et al.
, 2003). In addition
to this first requirement, we recommend
that the stakeholders be involved in the
measurement process. Thus, the existence
of solid collaboration among IT, business
units, and related stakeholders may en-
hance the accuracy and reliability of Green
IT BSC.
•
A broader perception throughout the en-
tirety of management--such as the incul-
cation of pro-environmental attitudes--is
necessary, particularly in the process of
aligning performance drivers and perfor-
mance outcomes of Green IT BSC.
•
Finally, we recommend that top manage-
ment become as familiar as possible with
green business strategies and practices;
therefore, Green IT BSC is expected to
prove a useful tool for the integration of
sustainable business strategies with green
technology strategies.
FUTURE RESEARCH DIRECTIONS
•
In relation to the first recommendation, it
is necessary to identify the key stakehold-
ers necessary for success in sustainable en-
vironmental and business. The companies
may conduct a forum dialogue with key
stakeholders in order to understand their
perspectives and priorities regarding en-
vironmental sustainability, and their view-
point on this issue is likely to affect busi-
ness sustainability.
This study has some limitations that should be
overcome by adopting the appropriate research
directions in the future. First, our study was de-
signed as a conceptual study. We recommended a
new model as a strategic management system for
firms' IT departments. Thus, more effort will be
necessary in order to validate the implementation
of this Green IT Balanced Scorecard in cases of
actual businesses, and to evaluate it as a compo-
nent of IT governance. Second, despite the fact
that we generate the structure of Green IT BSC,
consisting of Green IT infrastructure BSC, Green
IT Usage BSC, and Green IT Strategic BSC as the
enablers of sustainability BSC, the classification
metrics could likely be enhanced in the future.
Thus, further research will also be necessary in
order to classify our standard metrics of Green
IT BSC into certain categories of the structure
model. Moreover, further study including the
specific measures is also necessary to adequately
address this phenomenon. Third, the weights of
the metrics might be affected to some degree by
the companies' primary orientation and initial
business type. Determining the weights on the
basis of the importance and potential impact of
each green technology device might result in some
•
It is also recommended that companies in-
corporate this strategic tool into other en-
vironmental management systems such as
ISO14000 and LCA. While currently ex-
isting environmental management systems
represent only the detailed environmental
factors of business, the Green IT BSC pro-
tocol has the ability to integrate both the
intangible and tangible environmental as-
pects of business.
•
We suggest that IT management should
focus on implementing Green IT BSC in
every investment into environmental tech-
nology. This strategic tool should be ap-
plicable to the evaluation of various forms
of technology (e.g. software, hardware, or
service) that might help management to
make the appropriate financial decisions.
