Green bytes : leveraging knowledge management for sustainable organizations

Abstract

In today’s ubiquitous computing environment, organizations rely heavily on Information Technology (IT) to drive business value and economic success. However, true organizational sustainability extends beyond economics to include environmental and social dimensions, particularly in how IT equipment is disposed of, how software is developed, how data is generated and managed, how digital infrastructure is powered, and how end-user behaviour influences energy consumption. Energy-intensive data centers and growing data volumes contribute significantly to carbon emissions, necessitating greener IT practices. This study explores key knowledge management (KM) strategies and tactics that support green IT initiatives to promote organizational sustainability. Based on 539 survey responses, factor analysis revealed three core KM strategies: performance tracking and measurement, dark data management, and knowledge exchange. A multiple-factor analysis further examined the perspectives of KM practitioners, organizational learning practitioners, and data analysts, uncovering a notable divergence between the KM and learning communities versus data professionals. The results are synthesized into a KM strategies and tactics work system designed to guide organizations in aligning KM efforts with sustainability objectives by fostering interdisciplinary engagement and collaboration.