Sociotechnical perspectives of digital technologies in sustainable mining

Authors

  • Warren Gabryk University of Pretoria
  • Rennie Naidoo University of Pretoria & University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3127/ajis.v28.4369

Keywords:

Case Study, Digital Mining, Digital Sustainability, Sociotechnical, Sustainable Development Goals, Thematic Analysis

Abstract

This paper adopts an interpretive case study approach to understand the role of digital technologies in addressing seemingly contradictory sustainability goals in mining. The sociotechnical model of information systems was used as a framework to guide the analysis of twenty-five in-depth interviews with globally dispersed digital technology experts working collaboratively at an industry-leading hi-tech mining solutions company. The sociotechnical-led thematic analysis findings highlight the trade-offs experts face in balancing narrow technological imperatives and economic outcomes with broader sustainability goals. The analysis moves beyond the technological and economic to a harmonious perspective of social, human, environmental, and technological interactions. A visual thematic map is presented to aid practitioners in designing and optimally implementing digital technologies to simultaneously address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals while prioritising business sustainability. We conclude by drawing from the proposed sociotechnical perspectives approach for digital sustainability to provide scholars with possible pathways for future responsible information systems research.

References

Alter, S. (2003). 18 Reasons why it-reliant work systems should replace the IT artifact as the core subject matter of the is field. Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 12(1), 366–395. https://doi.org/10.17705/1CAIS.01223

Avgerou, C., & McGrath, K. (2007). Power, rationality, and the art of living through socio-technical change. MIS Quarterly, 33(2), 295–315. https://doi.org/10.2307/25148792

Aznar-Sánchez, J. A., García-Gómez, J. J., Velasco-Muñoz, J. F., & Carretero-Gómez, A. (2018). Mining waste and its sustainable management: Advances in worldwide research. Minerals, 8(7), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.3390/min8070284

Bai, C., & Sarkis, J. (2013). Green information technology strategic justification and evaluation. Information Systems Frontiers, 15, 831–847. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-013-9425-x

Barnewold, L., & Lottermoser, B. G. (2020). Identification of digital technologies and digitalisation trends in the mining industry. International Journal of Mining Science and Technology, 30(6), 747–757. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmst.2020.07.003

Baskerville, R., Pries-Heje, J., & Recker, J. (2016). Principles for re-designing information systems for environmental sustainability. In IFIP World Information Technology Forum, (481), Springer, Cham, 14–25. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44447-5_2

Bessen, J. (2019). Automation and jobs: When technology boosts employment. Economic Policy, 34(100), 589–626. https://doi.org/10.1093/epolic/eiaa001

Binder, J., & Wade, M. (2023). Digital sustainability for a better future. Stanford Social Innovation Review, 22(1), 52–60. https://doi.org/10.48558/C6F4-S443

Bostrom, R. P., Gupta, S., & Thomas, D. (2009). A meta-theory for understanding information systems within sociotechnical systems. Journal of Management Information Systems, 26(1), 17–48. https://doi.org/10.2753/MIS0742-1222260102

Bostrom, R. P., & Heinen, J. S. (1977a). MIS problems and failures: A socio-technical perspective. Part i: The causes. MIS Quarterly, 1(3), 17–32. https://doi.org/10.2307/248710

Bostrom, R. P., & Heinen, J. S. (1977b). MIS problems and failures: A sociotechnical perspective. Part ii: The application of sociotechnical theory. MIS Quarterly, 1(4), 11–28. https://doi.org/10.2307/249019

Bradley, K. (2007). Defining digital sustainability. Library Trends, 56(1), 148–163. https://doi.org/10.1353/lib.2007.0044

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Briggs, R. O., Nunamaker, J. F., & Sprague, R. H. (2010). Social aspects of sociotechnical systems. Journal of Management Information Systems, 27(1), 13–16. https://doi.org/10.2753/MIS0742-1222270101

Butler, T. (2011). Compliance with institutional imperatives on environmental sustainability: Building theory on the role of green IS. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 20(1), 6–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsis.2010.09.006

Carberry, E. J., Bharati, P., Levy, D. L., & Chaudhury, A. (2019). Social movements as catalysts for corporate social innovation: Environmental activism and the adoption of green information systems. Business & Society, 58(5), 1083–1127. https://doi.org/10.1177/0007650317701674

Chen, A. J., Watson, R. T., Boudreau, M. C., & Karahanna, E. (2011). An institutional perspective on the adoption of green IS & IT. Australasian Journal of Information Systems, 17(1), 5–27. https://doi.org/10.3127/ajis.v17i1.572

Cherns, A. (1976). The principles of sociotechnical design. Human Relations, 29(8), 783–792. https://doi.org/10.1177/001872677602900806

Chiasson, M. W., & Davidson, E. (2005). Taking industry seriously in information systems research. MIS Quarterly, 29(4), 591–605. https://doi.org/10.2307/25148701

Crabtree, B.F., & Miller W.L. (1992). A template approach to text analysis: Developing and using codebooks. In B. F. Crabtree & W. L. Miller (Eds.), Doing Qualitative Research, (pp. 93–109). Sage Publications.

Davison, R. M., Hardin, A. M., Majchrzak, A., & Ravishankar, M. N. (2019). Call for papers: Responsible IS research for a better world. Information Systems Journal, 33(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1111/isj.12405

Dubé, L., & Paré, G. (2003). Rigor in information systems positivist case research: Current practices, trends, and recommendations. MIS Quarterly, 27(4), 597–636. https://doi.org/10.2307/30036550

Ericsson, K. A., Prietula, M. J., & Cokely, E. T. (2007). The making of an expert. Harvard Business Review, 85(7/8), 1–7.

Elliot, S. (2011). Transdisciplinary perspectives on environmental sustainability: A resource base and framework for it-enabled business transformation. MIS Quarterly, 35(1), 197–236. https://doi.org/10.2307/23043495

Gholami, R., Watson, R. T., Hasan, H., Molla, A., & Bjorn-Andersen, N. (2016). Information systems solutions for environmental sustainability: How can we do more? Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 17(8), 521–536. https://doi.org/10.17705/1jais.00435

Ghoshal, S. (2005). Bad management theories are destroying good management practices. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 4(1), 75–91. https://doi.org/10.5465/amle.2005.16132558

Gladwin, T. N., Kennelly, J. J., & Krause, T. S. (1995). Shifting paradigms for sustainable development: Implications for management theory and research. Academy of Management Review, 20(4), 874–907. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1995.9512280024

Gorman, M. R., & Dzombak, D. A. (2018). A review of sustainable mining and resource management: Transitioning from the life cycle of the mine to the life cycle of the mineral resources. Conservation and Recycling, (137), 281–291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2018.06.001

Haddaway, N. R., Cooke, S. J., Lesser, P., Macura, B., Nilsson, A. E., Taylor, J. J., & Raito, K. (2019). Evidence of the impacts of metal mining and the effectiveness of mining mitigation measures on social–ecological systems in arctic and boreal regions: A systematic map protocol. Environmental Evidence, 8(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13750-019-0152-8

Hart, S. L., and Milstein, M. B. (2003). Creating sustainable value. Academy of Management Perspectives, 17(2), 56–67. https://doi.org/10.5465/ame.2003.10025194

Hertel, M., & Wiesent, J. (2013). Investments in information systems: A contribution towards sustainability. Information Systems Frontiers, (15), 815–829. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-013-9417-x

Joy, J. (2004). Occupational safety risk management in Australian mining. Occupational Medicine, 54(5), 311–315. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqh074

Khuntia, J., Saldanha, T. J., Mithas, S., & Sambamurthy, V. (2018). Information technology and sustainability: Evidence from an emerging economy. Production and Operations Management, 27(4), 756–773. https://doi.org/10.1111/poms.12822

Klein, H. K., & Myers, M. D. (1999). A set of principles for conducting and evaluating interpretive field studies in information systems. MIS Quarterly, 23(1), 67-93. https://doi.org/10.2307/249410

Kotlarsky, J., Oshri, I., & Sekulic, N. (2023). Digital sustainability in information systems research: Conceptual foundations and future directions. Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 24(4), 936–952. https://doi.org/10.17705/1jais.00825

Kirsch, S. (2010). Sustainable mining. Dialectical Anthropology, 34(1), 87–93. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10624-009-9113-x

Leidner, D. E., Sutanto, J., & Goutas, L. (2022). Multifarious roles and conflicts on an interorganizational green IS. MIS Quarterly, 46(1), 591–508. https://doi.org/10.25300/MISQ/2022/15116

Linkov, I., Trump, B. D., Poinsatte-Jones, K., & Florin, M. V. (2018). Governance strategies for a sustainable digital world. Sustainability, 10(2), 440. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10020440

Majchrzak, A., Markus, M. L., & Wareham, J. (2016). Designing for digital transformation. MIS Quarterly, 40(2), 267–278. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26628906

Malhotra, A., Melville, N.P., & Watson, R.T. (2013). Spurring impactful research on information systems for environmental sustainability. MIS Quarterly, 37(4), 1265–1274. https://doi.org/10.25300/MISQ/2013/37:4.3

McCarthy, S., Rowan, W., Lynch, L., & Fitzgerald, C. (2020). Blended stakeholder participation for responsible information systems research. Communications of the Association for Information Systems, (47), 124–149. https://doi.org/10.17705/1CAIS.04733

Meadows, D., & Randers, J. (2012). The limits to growth: The 30-year update. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781849775861

Melville, N. P. (2010). Information systems innovation for environmental sustainability. MIS Quarterly, 34(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.2307/20721412

Moran, C. J., Lodhia, S., Kunz, N. C., & Huisingh, D. (2014). Sustainability in mining, minerals and energy: New processes, pathways and human interactions for a cautiously optimistic future. Journal of Cleaner Production, 84(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.09.016

Morelli, J. (2011). Environmental sustainability: A definition for environmental professionals. Journal of Environmental Sustainability, 1(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.14448/jes.01.0002

Mumford, E. (2006). The story of sociotechnical design: Reflections on its successes, failures and potential. Information Systems Journal, 16(4), 317–342. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2575.2006.00221.x

Naumann, S., Dick, M., Kern, E., & Johann, T. (2011). The GREENSOFT model: A reference model for green and sustainable software and its engineering. Sustainable Computing: Informatics and Systems, 1(4), 294–304. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.suscom.2011.06.004

Nicolini, D., Mørk, B. E., Masovic, J., & Hanseth, O. (2017). Expertise as trans-situated-The Case of TAVI. In J. Sandberg, et al. (Eds), Skillful Performance: Enacting Capabilities, Knowledge, Competence, and Expertise in Organisations (pp. 27–49). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198806639.003.0002

Nishant, R., Kennedy, M., & Corbett, J. (2020). Artificial intelligence for sustainability: Challenges, opportunities, and a research agenda. International Journal of Information Management, (53), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2020.102104

Orlikowski, W. J., & Iacono, C. S. (2001). Research commentary: Desperately seeking the “IT” in IT research—A call to theorizing the IT artefact. Information Systems Research, 12(2), 121–134. https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.12.2.121.9700

Pan, S. L., Carter, L., Tim, Y., & Sandeep, M. S. (2022). Digital sustainability, climate change, and information systems solutions: Opportunities for future research. International Journal of Information Management, (63), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2021.102444

Pan, S. L., & Zhang, S. (2020). From fighting Covid-19 pandemic to tackling sustainable development goals: An opportunity for responsible information systems research. International Journal of Information Management, 55(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2020.102196

Petrini, M., & Pozzebon, M. (2009). Managing sustainability with the support of business intelligence: Integrating socio-environmental indicators and organisational context. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 18(4), 178–191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsis.2009.06.001

Piotrowicz, W., & Cuthbertson, R. (2009). Sustainability - A new dimension in information systems evaluation. Journal of Enterprise Information Management, 22(5), 492–503. https://doi.org/10.1108/17410390910993509

Porter, M. E., & Kramer, M. R. (2011). Creating shared value: How to reinvent capitalism and unleash a wave of innovation and growth. Harvard Business Review, 12, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1144-7_16

Qureshi, S. (2015). Are we making a better world with information and communication technology for development (ICT4D) research? Findings from the field and theory building. Information Technology for Development, 21(4), 511–522. https://doi.org/10.1080/02681102.2015.1080428

Roohy Gohar, S., & Indulska, M. (2020). Environmental sustainability through green business process management. Australasian Journal of Information Systems, 24. 1-29 https://doi.org/10.3127/ajis.v24i0.2057

Saldanha, T. J., Mithas, S., Khuntia, J., Whitaker, J., & Melville, N. P. (2022). How green information technology standards and strategies influence performance: Role of environment, cost and dual focus. MIS Quarterly, 46(4), 2367-2386. https://doi.org/10.25300/MISQ/2022/16824

Sarker, S., Chatterjee, S., Xiao, X., & Elbanna, A. (2019). The socio-technical axis of cohesion for the is discipline: Its historical legacy and its continued relevance. MIS Quarterly, 43(3), 695-720. https://doi.org/10.25300/MISQ/2019/13747

Sarker, S., Chatterjee, S., & Xiao, X. (2013). How "sociotechnical" is our IS research? An assessment and possible ways forward. In Proceedings of the 34th International Conference on Information Systems, 9, 1–24. https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2013/proceedings/GeneralISTopics/9

Schoormann, T., Strobel, G., Möller, F., & Petrik, D. (2021). Achieving sustainability with artificial intelligence—A survey of information systems research. In Proceedings of the 42nd International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS), 2,1–17.

https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2021/soc_impact/soc_impact/2

Seidel, S., Bharati, P., Fridgen, G., Watson, R. T., Albizri, A., Boudreau, M. C. M., Butler, T., Kruse, L.C., Guzman, I., Karsten, H., Lee, H., Melville, N., Rush, D., Toland, J., & Watts, S. (2017). The sustainability imperative in information systems research. Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 40(1), 40–52.

https://doi.org/10.17705/1CAIS.04003

Seidel, S., Recker, J., & vom Brocke, J. (2013). Sensemaking and sustainable practicing: Functional affordances of information systems in green transformations. MIS Quarterly, 37(4), 1275–1299. https://www.jstor.org/stable/43825792

Sganzerla, C., Seixas, C., & Conti, A. (2016). Disruptive Innovation in Digital Mining. Procedia Engineering, 138(1), 64-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2016.02.057

Stahl, B. C. (2012). Responsible research and innovation in information systems. European Journal of Information Systems, 21(3), 207–211. https://doi.org/10.1057/ejis.2012.19

Steffen, W., Richardson, K., Rockström, J., Cornell, S. E., Fetzer, I., Bennett, E. M., Biggs, R. Carpenter, S. R., De Vries, W., De Wit, C. A., Folke, C., Gerten, D., Heinke, J., Mace, G. M., Persson, L. M., Ramanathan, V., Reyers, B., & Sörlin, S. (2015). Planetary boundaries: Guiding human development on a changing planet. Science, 347(6223), Article 1259855. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1259855

Stillman, L., Sarrica, M., Anwar, M., Sarker, A., & Farinosi, M. (2020). Sociotechnical transformative effects of an ICT project in rural Bangladesh. American Behavioral Scientist, 64(13), 1871–1888. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764220952126

Stuermer, M. (2014). Characteristics of digital sustainability. Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance, 494–495. https://doi.org/10.1145/2691195.2691269

Swanson, E. B., & Ramiller, N. C. (2004). Innovating mindfully with information technology. MIS Quarterly, 28(4), 553–583. https://doi.org/10.2307/25148655

Tim, Y., Cui, L., & Sheng, Z. (2021). Digital resilience: How rural communities leapfrogged into sustainable development. Information Systems Journal, 31(2), 323–345. https://doi.org/10.1111/isj.12312

Tost, M., Hitch, M., Chandurkar, V., Moser, P., & Feiel, S. (2018). The state of environmental sustainability considerations in mining. Journal of Cleaner Production, (182), 969–977. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.02.051

Trist, E. L., & Bamforth, K. W. (1951). Some social and psychological consequences of the longwall method of coal-getting: an examination of the psychological situation and defences of a work group in relation to the social structure and technological content of the work system. Human Relations, 4(1), 3–38. https://doi.org/10.1177/00187267510040010

United Nations (2023). The sustainable development goals report 2023: Special edition Towards a Rescue Plan for People and Planet. United Nations. https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2023/The-Sustainable-Development-Goals-Report-2023.pdf

Vorster, A. (2001). Planning for value in the mining value chain. Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 101(2), 61–65.

Walsham, G. (1995). Interpretive case studies in IS research: Nature and method. European Journal of information systems, 4(2), 74-81. https://doi.org/10.1057/ejis.1995.9

Walsham, G. (2006). Doing interpretive research. European Journal of Information Systems, 15(3), 320-330. https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.ejis.3000589

Walsham, G. (2012). Are we making a better world with ICTs? Reflections on a future agenda for the IS field. Journal of Information Technology, 27(2), 87–93. https://doi.org/10.1057/jit.2012.4

Washington, H. (2018). Harmony—Not ‘theory’. The Ecological Citizen, 1, 203–210.

Watson, R. T., Boudreau, M.-C., & Chen, A. J. (2010). Information systems and environmentally sustainable development: Energy informatics and new directions for the IS community. MIS Quarterly, 34(1), 23-38. https://doi.org/10.2307/20721413

World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) (1987). World commission on environment and development. Our common future. 17, 1–91. WCED. https://www.are.admin.ch/are/en/home/media/publications/sustainable-development/brundtland-report.html

Winter, S. J., & Butler, B. S. (2011). Creating bigger problems: Grand challenges as boundary objects and the legitimacy of the information systems field. Journal of Information Technology, 26(2), 99- 108. https://doi.org/10.1057/jit.2011.6

Whitmore, A. (2006). The emperor’s new clothes: Sustainable mining? Journal of Cleaner Production, 143(3-4), 309-314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2004.10.005

Wut, T. M., Lee, D., Ip, W. M., & Lee, S. W. (2021). Digital sustainability in the organization: Scale development and validation. Sustainability, 13(6), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13063530

Young, A., & Rogers, P. (2019). A review of digital transformation in mining. Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, 4, 683-699. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-019-00103-w

Zampou, E., Mourtos, I., Pramatari, K., & Seidel, S. (2022). A design theory for energy and carbon management systems in the supply chain. Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 23(1), 329-371. https://doi.org/10.17705/1jais.00725

Zhang, H., Liu, L., & Li, T. (2011). Designing IT systems according to environmental settings: A strategic analysis framework. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 20(1), 80–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsis.2011.01.001

Downloads

Published

2024-05-15

How to Cite

Gabryk, W., & Naidoo, R. (2024). Sociotechnical perspectives of digital technologies in sustainable mining. Australasian Journal of Information Systems, 28. https://doi.org/10.3127/ajis.v28.4369

Issue

Section

Research Articles