Design of sustainable IT solutions: An approach based on systems principles

Abstract

Sustainability is the capacity to endure. In ecology, the word describes how biological systems remain diverse and productive over time. In the field of IT, the competition, the changing ecosystem, and the fact that users (and society in general) are becoming increasingly reliant on software, require that the software must change and evolve over time. Yet, very few software organizations are equipped with the mindset, discipline, and practices to both manage and respond to this complexity and change. The answer to this complexity and the challenges placed on software organizations lies in designing sustainable solutions. IT solutions are largely influenced by the reductionist approach. To conceive sustainable IT solutions, there is a need for new “tools of thought'. Systems thinking herald a new paradigm shift to the thinking and design process. This paper outlines key systems principles and their application for designing sustainable IT solutions.