Hidden and Latent Factors’ Influence on Digital Technology Sustainability Development

Abstract

The modern world can be described as a sociotechnical system, the existence and development of which are determined by the successful interaction of technology and society. When introducing a technology, it is important to assess its potential sustainability. There are currently more than a hundred different sustainability assessment methods that allow for the sustainability of a technology to be predicted on the basis of a quantitative assessment of basic impact indicators. However, as the complexity of technology increases, there are hidden and latent factors inherent in technology that sooner or later affect the sustainability of technology and pose significant risks. Identifying these factors is particularly important for digital technologies, as they are the backbone of any other current technology. The aim of this article is to identify and explain the impact of a set of hidden and latent factors on the sustainability of digital technologies by using a system dynamics simulation and the possibilities offered by Bayesian networks. The results of this study are useful for technology sustainability researchers, technology authors, and investors.