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Green Enterprise Architecture (GREAN)—Leveraging EA for Environmentally Sustainable Digital Transformation

Author

Listed:
  • Niels Vandevenne

    (IC Institute, 2580 Beerzel, Belgium)

  • Jonas Van Riel

    (Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, 9000 Gent, Belgium)

  • Geert Poels

    (Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, 9000 Gent, Belgium
    Flanders Make@UGent, CVAMO Core Lab, 9000 Gent, Belgium)

Abstract

Digital Transformations (DT) play an increasingly important role in academia and business, yet their significant Environmental Footprint (EF) is often overlooked, sidelining their potential for Environmental Sustainability (ES). This paper bridges this gap by integrating ES into the discourse of DT, proposing Green Enterprise Architecture (GREAN) as a method for sustainable transformation. Utilizing a Design Science Research approach, we developed an artefact outlining a comprehensive strategy for embedding ES in DT across various layers of an organization. The tool’s need was validated via a systematic literature review (SLR), highlighting the significant research gap in Green Enterprise Architecture. The artefact provides concrete Courses of Action (CoAs) for incorporating ES into the organizational strategy, business, data, application, and technology layers and proposes relevant capabilities to address this. The paper further presents an ES-aware business capability modelling, an innovative business modelling approach that integrates environmental sustainability principles by using (in a novel way) the presentation and analysis methods that capability mapping offers. The proposed artefact serves as a starting point for environmentally sustainable DTs. Future research directions include in-depth exploration of each enterprise layer for ES, real-world validation of our proposed tools and concepts, and the expansion of these into a full framework.

Suggested Citation

  • Niels Vandevenne & Jonas Van Riel & Geert Poels, 2023. "Green Enterprise Architecture (GREAN)—Leveraging EA for Environmentally Sustainable Digital Transformation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-39, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:19:p:14342-:d:1250151
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Guandalini, Ilaria, 2022. "Sustainability through digital transformation: A systematic literature review for research guidance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 456-471.
    2. Abdul Karim Feroz & Hangjung Zo & Ananth Chiravuri, 2021. "Digital Transformation and Environmental Sustainability: A Review and Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-20, February.
    3. Felix Laumann & Torben Tambo, 2018. "Enterprise Architecture for a Facilitated Transformation from a Linear to a Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-16, October.
    4. Sascha Kraus & Paul Jones & Norbert Kailer & Alexandra Weinmann & Nuria Chaparro-Banegas & Norat Roig-Tierno, 2021. "Digital Transformation: An Overview of the Current State of the Art of Research," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(3), pages 21582440211, September.
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