An application of soft systems methodology on a holistic level: Recommendations for developing and implementing green ICT strategies in New Zealand

Abstract

This thesis has been conducted in order to identify and explore the issues involved in the development and implementation of Green ICT strategies in ICT recycling in New Zealand. There were interactions with five stakeholders – the New Zealand government, a green organization, an ICT leasing company, an ICT scholar, and an IT manager, to develop recommendations for “systemically desirable” and “culturally feasible” solutions by adopting systems approaches. Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is applied to this research. Three levels of models that represent the real world situation have been built based on the information derived from a comprehensive literature review on Green ICT related issues. A survey was conducted with five relevant stakeholders and then the data was used to construct five conceptual models. A mapping of the real world (level 3 holistic model) was then constructed. Then five conceptual models were derived from the data. These models have been summarised into a table in the data analysis chapter. At the end of the thesis, a list of recommendations is presented based on the mapping results in the “Three Analyses” of SSM about the situation. The solutions derived then form the basis upon which recommendations for this research are presented that is both systemically desirable and culturally feasible.

This research indicates that the impact of ICT on a “green” manner is highly complex and far-reaching across technology, society, economy, education, politics, academics, and the environment. Therefore, for this case, the development and implementation of Green ICT strategies has been conducted with consideration given to the issues on a holistic level with cooperation of other sectors, as such the government, “green” organizations, industry associations, academics, and external service providers.

Furthermore, SSM has been further applied and tailored in a more holistic level, which is higher than a concept of an “organization” or “corporation” which commonly SSM addresses – within collection of interconnected group of stakeholders who have a common concern on a same issue, instead of within a physical organization.