Examining the contribution of Green IT to the objectives of IT departments: Empirical Evidence from German Enterprises

Authors

  • Nils-Holger Schmidt Chair of Information Management, University of Goettingen
  • Koray Erek Berlin Institute of Technology
  • Lutz M. Kolbe Chair of Information Management, University of Goettingen
  • Ruediger Zarnekow Berlin Institute of Technology

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3127/ajis.v17i1.614

Keywords:

Green IS/IT, resource-based view, core competencies, empirical data

Abstract

In this article we examine the economic contribution of Green IT to the core competencies of IT organisations. Based on the resource-based view we argue that Green IT influences the resources of an IT organisation thereby improving competencies which lead to competitive advantages. While Green IT’s technical measures as well as its ecological and economic benefits have received considerable attention, no scientific research has been done linking Green IT to core competencies. To determine the contribution of Green IT to core competencies of IT organisation a large scale survey with 116 companies from the German speaking region was conducted. Results were generated using factor and correlation analysis. The outcomes indicate that Green IT contributes to efficient internal operations, relationship management, and market competitiveness. In particular, relationship management plays a major role. These findings contribute to existing knowledge on Green IT and provide practical recommendations for CIOs, IT managers, and environmental officers as well as new opportunities for further research in this field.

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Published

2011-11-01

How to Cite

Schmidt, N.-H., Erek, K., Kolbe, L. M., & Zarnekow, R. (2011). Examining the contribution of Green IT to the objectives of IT departments: Empirical Evidence from German Enterprises. Australasian Journal of Information Systems, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.3127/ajis.v17i1.614

Issue

Section

Research on Green IS/IT