Sustainability and Information Systems

Research in information systems has been slow to enter into the sustainability debate but recent conferences have increasingly been incorporating sustainability research streams. It is important for information systems as a discipline to be at the forefront of sustainability research. Indeed, the discipline has much to offer organisations as it can support flexible working practices such as teleworking, improve the exchange of knowledge and information to reduce re-work and support efficient organisational forms. The first paper by Chen, Boudreau and Watson examines information systems and ecological sustainability and provides a conceptual model and propositions to guide the role of information systems in its support of ecological sustainability. The second paper by Sarkis and Zhu examines the role that information technology can make to sustainable practices in China. Finally, the third paper in the issue by MaruAYter, Faber, and Peters investigates sustainable practices in information systems development, particularly in relation to the effective management of knowledge.In addition there are two other excellent papers in this e-book, the first by Tian, Martin and Deng on the digitization of business models in the publishing sector and the second by Leppaniemi and Karjaluoto on demographic factors impacting on the use of mobile marketing.