Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Organisational Flexibility and Competitiveness pp 181–195Cite as

Information Systems Flexibility for Green Technologies

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Flexible Systems Management ((FLEXSYS))

Abstract

Green IT has taken the IT industry by storm and organizations need to be most flexible to accommodate the technologies that prevail in the industry. Green technologies emerge at a very fast rate and organizations need to adopt quickly to keep a competitive edge. IS flexibility plays an important role in aligning its architectures and systems with the changing need of organization and customer demand in the context of Green IT. Each technology goes through a hype cycle and becomes obsolete because of innovations at regular intervals. Hence, flexible information systems designed to accommodate changes in Green Technologies need a special focus as the problem is relevant to modern-day context. This paper proposes a conceptual model that demonstrates IS Flexibility for Green Technologies. It focuses on key aspects of environmental dynamism, IS Flexibility, Organizational Flexibility, Business/Technological Change and Change Process. The change process is explored in the context of Green IT for strengthening the IS Flexibility in organizations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Adams, R. (1992). The growing influence of the consumer. In Owen, D. (Ed.), Green reporting. Chapman and Hall 27, 91–95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alter, A. E. (2000). IT leaders require strategy, flexibility. Computerworld, May 8, 36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Avison, D. E., Powell, P. L., Keen, J., Klein, J. H., & Ward, S. (1995). Addressing the need for flexibility in information systems. Journal of Management Systems, 7(2), 43–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bate, P. (1984). The impact of organizational culture on approaches to organizational problem-solving. Organization Studies, 5(1), 43–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belk, R., Painter, J., & Semenik, R. (1981). Preferred solutions to the energy crisis as a function of causal attributions. Journal of Consumer Research, 8(3), 306–312.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bolter, J. D. (1984). Turing’s man. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bringer, R. P., & Benforado, D. M. (1993). Pollution prevention and total quality environmental management. Environmental Strategies Handbook: A Guide to Effective Policies and Practices, New York: McGraw-Hill, 165–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Broadbent, M., & Weill, P. (1997). Management by maxim: How business and IT managers can create IT infrastructures. Sloan Management Review, 38(3), 77–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruns, W., Jr., & MacFarlan, E. W. (1987). Information technology puts power in control systems. Harvard Business Review, 65(5), 89–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burns, T., & Stalker, G. M. (1961). The management of innovation. London: Tavistock.

    Google Scholar 

  • Byrd, T. A., & Turner, D. E. (2000). Measuring the flexibility of information technology infrastructure: Exploratory analysis of a construct. Journal of Management Information Systems, 17(1), 167–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cash, J. I., Eccles, R. G., Nohria, N., & Nolan, R. L. (1994). Building the information-age organization: Structure control and information technologies. Boston, MA: Richard D. Irwin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chakravarthy, B. (1997). A new strategy framework for coping with turbulence. Sloan management review, 38(2), 69–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chan, Y. E., Huff, S. L., Copeland, D. G., & Barclay, D. W. (1997). Business strategic orientation, information systems strategic orientation and strategic alignment. Information Systems Research, 8(2), 125–150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charter, M., & Polonsky, M. J. (1999). Greener marketing: A global perspective on greening marketing practice. Sheffield: Greenleaf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ciborra, C. U. (1993). Teams, markets, and systems. Business innovation and information technology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collins, C., Steg, L., & Koning, M. (2007). Customers’ values, beliefs on sustainable corporate performance, and buying behavior. Psychology and Marketing, 24(6), 555–577.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooprider, J. G., & Henderson, J. C. (1991). Technology-process fit: Perspectives on achieving prototyping effectiveness. Journal of Management Information Systems, 7(3), 67–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corbett, C. J., & Kirsch, D. A. (2001). International diffusion of ISO 14000 certification. Production and Operations Management, 10(3), 327–342.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dess, G. G., & Beard, D. W. (1984). Dimensions of organizational task environments. Administrative Science Quarterly, 29, 52–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Leeuw, A. C. J., & Volberda, H. W. (1996). On the concept of flexibility: A dual control perspective. Omega, 24(2), 121–139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dillon, P. S. & Fischer, K. (1992). Environmental management in corporations: Methods and motivations. Medford, MA: Tufts Center for Environmental Management.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duclos, L. K., Vokurka, R. J., & Lummus, R. R. (2003). A conceptual model of supply chain flexibility. Industrial Management and Data Systems, 103(5–6), 446–457.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duncan, N. B. (1995). Capturing flexibility of information technology infrastructure: A study of resource characteristics and their measure. Journal of Management Information Systems, 12(3), 187–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dyllick, T., & Hockerts, K. (2002). Beyond the business case for corporate sustainability. Business Strategy and the Environment, 11, 130–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elkington, J., & Burke, T. (1989). The green capitalists: How to make money-and protect the environment. Victor Gollancz.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitzgerald, G., & Siddiqui, F. A. (2002). Business process reengineering and flexibility: A case for unification. International Journal of Flexible Manufacturing Systems, 14(1), 73–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frazelle, E. H. (1986). Flexibility: A strategic response in changing times. Industrial Engineering, 18(3), 17–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gebauer, J., & Schober, F. (2006). Information systems flexibility and the cost efficiency of business processes. Journal of the Association for Information System, 7(3), 122–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Golden, W., & Powell, P. (2000). Towards a definition of flexibility: In search of the holy grail? Omega, 28(4), 373–384.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gray, R. H., Bebbington, K. J., & Waters, D. (1993). Accounting for the environment: The greening of accountancy part II. London: Paul Chapman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greeno, J. L., (1993). Corporate Environmental Excellence and Stewardship, pp. 43–64, in Kolluru, R. (Ed.), Environmental Strategies Handbook, McGraw-Hill Inc., New York, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammer, M., & Champy, J. (1994). Reengineering the corporation: A manifesto for business revolution. London: Nicholas Brealey.

    Google Scholar 

  • He, Z., Khalifa, M., Kusy, M., & Zhao, T. (1998). A survey study of the current IS usage in the Chinese manufacturing industry. Information & Management, 34(5), 285–294.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hendry, J. R., & Vesilind, P. A. (2005). Ethical motivations for green business and engineering. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, 7(4), 252–258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, C. B., & Auster, E. R. (1990). Proactive Environmental-Management-Avoiding the Toxic Trap. Sloan Management Review, 31(2), 7–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Igbaria, M., Guimaraes, T., & Davis, G. (1995). Testing the determinants of microcomputer usage via a structural equation model. Journal of Management Information Systems, 11(4), 87–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Irwin, A., & Hooper, P. D. (1992). Clean technology, successful innovation and the greening of industry: A case study analysis. Business Strategy and the Environment, 1(2), 1–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jalote, P. (2000). CMM in practice: Processes for executing software projects at Infosys. Addison-Wesley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, G. (1987). Strategic change and the management process. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klassen, R. D., & Vachon, S. (2003). Collaboration and evaluation in the supply chain: The impact on plant-level environmental investment. Production and Operations Management, 12(3), 336–352.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leana, C. R., & Barry, B. (2000). Stability and change as simultaneous experiences in organizational life. Academy of Management Review, 25(4), 753–759.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, G. (2003). The flexibility and complexity of information systems development projects: Conceptual frameworks, measures, and empirical tests. Published Ph.D. thesis, University of Minnesota.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, G., & Xia, W. (2005). The ability of information systems development project teams to respond to business and technology changes: A study of flexibility measures. European Journal of Information Systems, 14, 75–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewin, K. (1951). Field theory in social science. New York: Harper & Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mensah. (1989). Evaluating information systems projects: A perspective on cost–benefit analysis. Information Systems, 14(3), 205–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, J. W., & Rowan, B. (1977). Institutionalized organizations: Formal structure as myth and ceremony. The American Journal of Sociology, 83, 340–363.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Michelis, G., Dubois, E., Jarke, M., Matthes, F., Mylopoulos, J., Schmidt, J. W., Woo, C., & Yu, E. (1998). A three-faceted view of information systems: The challenge of change. Communications of the ACM, 41(12), 64–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murugesan, S. (2008). Harnessing green IT: Principles and practices. IT Professional, 10(1), 24–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Overby, S. (2001). Quick change artists. CIO, August 15, 90–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Palanisamy, R., & Sushil. (2003). Achieving organizational flexibility and competitive advantage through information systems flexibility: A path analytic study. Journal of Information & Knowledge Management, 2(3), 261–277.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Post, J., & Altman, B. (1992). Models of corporate greening how corporate social policy and organizational learning inform leading edge environmental management. Research in Corporate Social Performance and Policy, 13, 3–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Powell, P. (1993). Information technology and business strategy: A synthesis of the case for reverse causality. Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 2, 320–334.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prahalad, C. K., & Krishnan, M. S. (2002). The dynamic synchronization of strategy and information technology. MIT Sloan Management Review, 43(4), 24–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prothero, A., & McDonagh, P. (1997). Green management: A reader. London: Dryden.

    Google Scholar 

  • Purser, D. M. (1994). Guest editorial: ‘Shallow’ versus ‘deep’ organizational development and environmental sustainability. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 7, 4–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robey, D., & Boudreau, M. C. (1999). Accounting for the contradictory organizational consequences of information technology: Theoretical directions and methodological implications. Information Systems Research, 10(2), 167–185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sambamurthy, V., Bharadwaj, A., & Grover, V. (2003). Shaping agility through digital options: Reconceptualizing the role of information technology in contemporary firms. MIS Quarterly, 27(2), 237–263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaltegger, S., & Sturm, A. (1998). Eco-efficiency by eco-controlling. Zurich: VDF.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schein, E. H. (1989). The role of the CEO in the management of change: The case of IT management in the 1990s (Working paper, August, No. 89–075). MA: Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, R., Lyytinen, K., Keil, M., & Cule, P. (2001). Identifying software project risks: An international delphi study. Journal of Management Information Systems, 17(4), 5–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schot, J. (1991). The greening of the chemical industry: An assessment. The Netherlands: TNO Center for Technology and Policy Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walley, N., & Whitehead, B. (1994). It’s not easy being green. Harvard Business Review, 72(3), 46–52. May-June.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitten, J. L., Bentley, L. D., & Dittman, K. C. (2001). Systems analysis and design methods. McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zelenovic, D. M. (1982). Flexibility—a condition for effective production systems. International Journal of Production Research, 20(3), 319–337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indian Institute of Management-Kozhikode, Kozhikode, Kerala, India

    Krishnadas Nanath & Dr. Radhakrishna R. Pillai

Authors
  1. Krishnadas Nanath
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dr. Radhakrishna R. Pillai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Krishnadas Nanath .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Strategic Management Area, Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode, Kunnamangalam, Kozhikode, Kerala, India

    M. K. Nandakumar

  2. Quantitative Methods and Operations Management Area, Indian Institute of Management Kozhlkode, Kunnamangalam, Kozhlkode, Kerala, India

    Sanjay Jharkharia

  3. Finance, Accounting and Control Area, Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode, Kunnamangalam, Kozhikode, Kerala, India

    Abhilash S. Nair

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer India

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Nanath, K., Pillai, R. (2014). Information Systems Flexibility for Green Technologies. In: Nandakumar, M., Jharkharia, S., Nair, A. (eds) Organisational Flexibility and Competitiveness. Flexible Systems Management. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-1668-1_13

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation