A Design Theory for Energy and Carbon Management Systems in the Supply Chain

Authors

Eleni Zampou, Athens University of Economics and BusinessFollow
Ioannis Mourtos, Athens University of Economics and BusinessFollow
Katerina Pramatari, Athens University of Economics & BusinessFollow
Stefan Seidel, University of LiechtensteinFollow

Abstract

Energy and carbon management systems (ECMS) are a class of green information systems that has the potential to increase environmental sustainability in organizations and across supply chains. Employing a design science research approach, we define the scope of ECMS in the supply chain context, identify requirements, design an expository instantiation, and develop an information systems design theory, including key constructs and design principles. We instantiate this theory in four supply chain contexts to validate and revise the proposed design in two rounds. We identify six system components data collection, energy monitoring, supply chain coordination, ECMS workflow engine, reporting, and carbon footprint estimator that integrate and coordinate four types of information flows (transactional, contextual, energy, and product environmental), and formulate design principles. Our evaluation indicates that the ECMS design theory, if instantiated, supports energy and carbon measurement and environmentally aware decision-making and practice in supply chains. We also highlight how considering energy information flows in combination with material features that afford environmentally aware decision-making and practice are key to qualifying information systems as green.

Recommended Citation

Zampou, Eleni; Mourtos, Ioannis; Pramatari, Katerina; and Seidel, Stefan (2022) "A Design Theory for Energy and Carbon Management Systems in the Supply Chain," Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 23(1), 329-371.
DOI: 10.17705/1jais.00725
Available at: https://aisel.aisnet.org/jais/vol23/iss1/2

DOI

10.17705/1jais.00725