Developing Environmentally Responsible Business Strategies

Abstract

This paper reports on a 3 year-long PhD level research study carried out by the author in the development of Environmentally Responsible Business Strategies (ERBS). Although ERBS has taken a long time to develop, it is maturing into an approach used by many organizations in practice. This paper reports on the major elements that form part of ERBS: the business architecture, Green policies, processes that create waste and emissions, enablement of efficient use of resources, metrics for monitoring the greening of the organization, and implementation of environmental strategies. The ERBS is made up of five phases: 1) Green Business architecture, 2) Green Process mapping, 3) Creation of organization specific ERBS, 4) Implement reengineered processes and employ ERBS, and 5) Improve continuously to monetize emissions. This paper further provides a review of environmental challenges and understanding of the contribution of computing to the environmental strategies of a business and its sustainable management.