Paper Type
Short
Paper Number
PACIS2026-1946
Description
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) pressures are reshaping organizational strategies and digital infrastructures, yet the information systems (IS) mechanisms through which Enterprise Architecture (EA) facilitates ESG transformation remain insufficiently understood. This study examines how EA affordances enable dynamic capabilities that drive sustainability-oriented organizational change. Drawing on affordance theory and dynamic capabilities theory, we conceptualize EA as a set of structural action potentials that enable organizations to sense evolving sustainability demands, seize emerging opportunities, and reconfigure enterprise systems accordingly. Using an exploratory qualitative approach, we conducted interviews with twelve industry experts across banking, superannuation, and digital financial services. The findings reveal distinct EA affordances (including enterprise-wide visibility, data lineage and traceability, cross-domain coordination, and readiness for future requirements) that activate sensing, seizing, and reconfiguring capabilities. We contribute to IS research by introducing an integrated framework explaining how EA affordances enable dynamic capabilities to enhance ESG outcomes.
Recommended Citation
Alshehri, Maryam Hamoud; Dilnutt, Rod; and Kurnia, Sherah, "Enterprise Architecture Affordances for ESG Transformation" (2026). PACIS 2026 Proceedings. 19.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/pacis2026/general_topic/general_topic/19
Enterprise Architecture Affordances for ESG Transformation
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) pressures are reshaping organizational strategies and digital infrastructures, yet the information systems (IS) mechanisms through which Enterprise Architecture (EA) facilitates ESG transformation remain insufficiently understood. This study examines how EA affordances enable dynamic capabilities that drive sustainability-oriented organizational change. Drawing on affordance theory and dynamic capabilities theory, we conceptualize EA as a set of structural action potentials that enable organizations to sense evolving sustainability demands, seize emerging opportunities, and reconfigure enterprise systems accordingly. Using an exploratory qualitative approach, we conducted interviews with twelve industry experts across banking, superannuation, and digital financial services. The findings reveal distinct EA affordances (including enterprise-wide visibility, data lineage and traceability, cross-domain coordination, and readiness for future requirements) that activate sensing, seizing, and reconfiguring capabilities. We contribute to IS research by introducing an integrated framework explaining how EA affordances enable dynamic capabilities to enhance ESG outcomes.
Comments
17-General