Download This PaperA Framework for Mapping Potential Sustainability Impact of Digitalization Solutions
15 Pages Posted: 29 Jun 2023
Date Written: June 20, 2023
Abstract
There is an increased willingness to discuss and include sustainability thinking in research and development (R&D) projects within the Information and Communication industry sector. The interest in understanding the sustainability impact of digitalization has increased in recent years. However, applying the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during the technical development of different solutions is difficult as they can feel too complex and on a too high level and therefore hard to grasp without thorough background in the sustainability area. Therefore, a framework for a sustainability assessment resulting in potential sustainability impacts was developed. The intention was both to widen the scope and understanding of potential positive (gains) and negative (losses) impacts, and to provide a surmountable entrance to applying sustainability-thinking more broadly in digitalization R&D projects. The framework is divided into three main steps: i) identifying relevant impact areas relating to an environmental or socio-economic dimension, ii) list potential gains and losses and iii) estimate consequences of each gain and loss and evaluate whether the losses are mitigatable or not. An example of applying the framework to a massive sensor network in a factory is provided. The framework constitutes a first move to get a more holistic understanding of the impact of technical solutions early on that allows for adjustments already in the R&D phase.
Keywords: sustainability assessment, sustainability impact, digitalization, framework, ICT, key value, societal impact, Industry 5.0
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