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Understanding the Environment: How Generative AI Reshapes Organizations’ Sensemaking in Sustainability Reporting

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  • Brune, Niclas
  • Vetter, Oliver A.
  • Walter, Philipp
  • Buxmann, Peter

Abstract

This paper explores how the integration of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI)reshapes organizational sensemaking in sustainability reporting. While reporting iscritical to environmental progress, small enterprises often lack the resources to engagemeaningfully in the necessary sensemaking processes. GenAI technologies offer newopportunities to support these processes, yet their impact remains underexplored. Toinvestigate how GenAI integration affects sensemaking, we conducted an exploratorycase study in six companies using a prototype Green Information System (IS) forsustainability reporting. We found that GenAI can support sensemaking by providingcontext-specific information and adaptive guidance. It can trigger sensemaking bytaking an active role, enabling joint human-AI sensemaking. We contribute to Green ISresearch by illustrating how GenAI fosters sustainability-oriented reflection and action.We extend the sensemaking support systems research by demonstrating that GenAI canfunction not just as an analytical tool but as an active trigger of sensemaking processes.

Suggested Citation

  • Brune, Niclas & Vetter, Oliver A. & Walter, Philipp & Buxmann, Peter, 2025. "Understanding the Environment: How Generative AI Reshapes Organizations’ Sensemaking in Sustainability Reporting," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 158247, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    • Handle: RePEc:dar:wpaper:158247
    Note: for complete metadata visit http://tubiblio.ulb.tu-darmstadt.de/158247/
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