Sustainable Solutions in a Digital World: A Socio-Technical Approach to Blockchain-based Information Systems

In the face of escalating climate change and environmental degradation, this doctoral project positions itself at the intersection of technology, sustainability and business practices. Its central focus revolves around sustainable information systems (IS) designed to promote environmental sustainability, with a specific emphasis on Blockchain technology. This research aims to shed light on how digital technologies offer viable solutions to issues related to climate-focused sustainable development goals (SDG). Corporations, as significant contributors to these challenges, possess the potential to wield digital technologies, such as blockchain, as instruments for positive change. However, the current landscape reveals a conspicuous gap in both theoretical comprehension and practical guidance for the implementation of sustainable blockchain-based IS[1].

This proposal sets out to bridge this considerable gap by providing a dual approach for generating descriptive and prescriptive insights for both academia and practice. At its core, the research seeks to understand and facilitate the integration of blockchain technology within organizations to foster environmental sustainability, which is urgently required in the face of unremitting natural resource depletion and escalating environmental pollution within the SDG context. The central research question guiding this PhD project is: "How can blockchain technology be designed and integrated within organizations to foster environmental sustainability and contribute to addressing pressing environmental issues " This question encapsulates the essence of this research's project to bridge existing knowledge gaps in theory and practice.

Previous research has underscored the necessity for innovative technological and managerial artifacts on the one hand and mid-range, nascent theories for sustainable IS, both of which furnish pragmatic and actionable insights. This research responds to these calls through an extensive design science research study, in which the goal is to design, develop and evaluate a decision framework. The framework aims to equip project owners with the necessary tools and knowledge to integrate sustainability into their blockchain-based IS projects. The framework will be designed based on real-world case studies and previous academic considerations, ensuring both practical relevance and academic rigor in its design.

The proposed research employs a structured design science research methodology encompassing three distinct studies. Study 1 employs a mixed-methods approach, combining a literature review with a design science research approach with a specific case study. It is exploratory in nature and focuses on the development of design principles, informed by prescriptive and descriptive knowledge, in the context of a sustainable water trade blockchain platform. Study 2 builds upon these design principles and utilizes workshops, interviews, and a survey instrument to create an actionable decision framework tailored for project owners. Finally, Study 3 conducts quantitative validation of the decision framework, employing a survey instrument and qualitative feedback (QCA) to assess the framework’s impact.

The contributions of this study extend to both academia and practice. From a managerial perspective, the research provides decision-makers with a structured approach to align the design of blockchain-based IS for the SDGs, empowering organizations to make informed choices that contribute to an environmentally conscious digital landscape. Academically, the research advances the field of sustainable information systems by offering a holistic understanding of the relationships between digital technologies and environmental sustainability. The design framework fills a literature gap by providing evidence-based guidelines for designing sustainable blockchain-based IS, contributing to the collective efforts to mitigate climate change.