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Communications of the Association for Information Systems

Author ORCID Identifier

Julia Andersson: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-9473-7236

Daniel Skog: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2492-4171

Katrin Jonsson: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0668-846X

Abstract

Innovative use of digital technology is an enabler of sustainable development. The public sector, and especially local government organizations, hold a unique position in promoting large-scale sustainable development on a local level. However, there has been limited focus in digital sustainability literature on understanding how such initiatives can be effectively organized. To address this gap, we study how explorations of digital sustainability are organized drawing on a contextual perspective on emerging technology as our theoretical lens. We conduct a case study of a Swedish local government organization renowned for its innovative digital sustainability initiatives. Our findings highlight four exploratory approaches adopted by the organization in utilizing emerging technology for sustainable development. This paper contributes to digital sustainability research by addressing how organizations may organize explorations in digital sustainability initiatives under uncertainty. This includes understanding of how explorations are contextually dependent, the tensions that occur between short-term exploration and scaling for long-term impact, and how collaboration with external actors may support digital sustainability initiatives. As practical implications, our findings identify barriers and provide suggestions for organizations aiming to explore and unlock the full potential of emerging technology to advance sustainable development.

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