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SOPA: a framework for sustainability-oriented process analysis and re-design in business process management

Author

Listed:
  • Finn Klessascheck

    (Technical University of Munich
    Weizenbaum Institute
    Technical University Berlin)

  • Ingo Weber

    (Technical University of Munich
    Fraunhofer Gesellschaft)

  • Luise Pufahl

    (Technical University of Munich
    Weizenbaum Institute)

Abstract

Given the continuous global degradation of the Earth’s ecosystem due to unsustainable human activity, it is increasingly important for enterprises to evaluate the effects they have on the environment. Consequently, assessing the impact of business processes on sustainability is becoming an important consideration in the discipline of Business Process Management (BPM). However, existing practical approaches that aim at a sustainability-oriented analysis of business processes provide only a limited perspective on the environmental impact caused. Further, they provide no clear and practically applicable mechanism for sustainability-driven process analysis and re-design. Following a design science methodology, we here propose and study SOPA, a framework for sustainability-oriented process analysis and re-design. SOPA extends the BPM life cycle by use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for sustainability analysis in combination with Activity-based Costing (ABC). We evaluate SOPA and its usefulness with a case study, by means of an implementation to support the approach, thereby also illustrating the practical applicability of this work.

Suggested Citation

  • Finn Klessascheck & Ingo Weber & Luise Pufahl, 2025. "SOPA: a framework for sustainability-oriented process analysis and re-design in business process management," Information Systems and e-Business Management, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 489-537, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:infsem:v:23:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s10257-024-00695-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10257-024-00695-x
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