It and Sustainable Development

8/6/2019 It and Sustainable Development

1/6

May 2010

UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIAIT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

A Central Issue for the Future

Prepared to:

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zulfifli Mohamed Udin

Suhaili Binti Mohd Zain (ID: 806611)

Master of Business Administration (General)

STIM 5013 IT FOR MANAGERS


2/6

IT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

2

1.0 INTRODUCTIONInformation technology (IT) is comprised of computers, networks, satellite

communications, robotics, electronic mail, automated office equipment and many

more that can simplified and give benefits to today humans job. Completing tasks

using IT can improve reliability and integrity of processed information. IT has

advanced tremendously since its invention and will continue to advance in the future.

In today's world, owing to its wide applications, sound knowledge of information

technology is a must for everybody to get the better future and to access the

sustainability development.

2.0 TREND AND CHALLENGES FOR IT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTIT is currently taking center stage and can help every spec of our life. IT can help us

in reduction in resource consumption. To leverage the impact of ICT and particularly

to stop the exponential growth of resource consumption, a series of activities need to

be done. These activities typically refer to energy efficient hardware technology and

reduction of unsafe chemicals used.

IT also helps to eliminate of absolute and relative poverty. In the era of globalization,

new technologies are rapidly reshaping the livelihoods and lifestyles of people

throughout the world. New and improved technologies, which human living in

poverty can use in ways which are appropriate to their context and needs, where they

can expand and improve their livelihood options, increase their productivity and

incomes, improve the quality of the goods and services that they use, and also

enhance the quality of their lives.


3/6


3

Other than that, IT is also dealing with demographic changes which are increase in the

elderly population. This enormous increase in the average lifespan is largely due to

the contributions from improved medical standards, nutrition and sanitation that have

sprung from advances in science and technology. In general, today's children can

grow up without fear of infectious diseases and the elderly are able to maintain better

health in comparison to people of the same age in the past.

Various technology breakthroughs are expected in area such as bio technology,

materials and information technology. As these are interrelated, new opportunities and

threats will emerge requiring international cooperation.

3.0 GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE WHICH IT DEVELOPMENT CONTRIBUTESTO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Government have to play their role to support IT development that contributes to

sustainable development. Firstly, a clearly vision can help government to focus on the

technological and economic aspects of introducing sustainable development.

Governments can encourage the development and implementation of clean

technologies through the use laws and regulations. Economic aspects also take the

main role where it is the central driving forces for IT contributes to sustainable

development.

Government also can support on resources both personal and monetary. They can

support with giving special allocations for IT projects and encourage all relevant

parties to involve in IT development with sustainable development.


4/6


4

Besides that, government also must know their responsibility and be a pioneer of IT

initiatives for sustainable development, particularly in the chosen priority area. It is

follow by the final prerequisite for creating an efficient framework for gathering and

supporting initiatives in which IT development contributes to sustainable

development which is focus and structure. Each clearly vision identified must be

followed up and evaluated.

4.0 FOUR PRINCIPAL ON IT AND SUSTAINABILITY IN PRIVATE ANDPUBLIC SECTORS

Four principles could serve as a basis for integrating discussion on IT and

sustainability in all organisations. First, shift the focus from products to services.

When we want to market any product, try to provide more services to sell the product

that will convenient customers such as market it virtually like in a website so that this

can reducing traffic jam and petrol.

Second, highlight the issue of environmental benefits in all major IT investments. For

example apply IT solutions to enable and encourage remote collaboration with

individuals, governments and organizations to reduce or remove the need for

individual travel.

Third, reduce rebound effects and calculate total gains. This can see from

transformation of business method by using e-commerce that can reduce resource

consumption. The final principal is use parallel time horizons. This will be the

solution of long term reductions in carbon dioxide and resource consumption.


5/6


5

5.0 FOUR PROPOSED AREAS INVOLVING IT AND SUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT

A limited number of focus areas should be defined to prevent IT and sustainability.

Firstly, focus on energy environmental impacts of IT products. Develop a product that

can save energy and provide users with clearer information about the environmental

impact when used in various ways. Secondly, focus on transport and communication

which is also known as virtual mobility. We have to encourage information or

communication via mobile phones, video and telephone conference and also home-

base telework means that we minimised the need for physical transport.

Other than that, we also must focus on community planning which is can minimising

transport between the home and the workplace. Intelligent housing projects must be

support which is we can controlling lighting, heating, air conditioning, security

systems, audio-visual equipment or appliances that can save of energy, money and

also reduce carbon footprint. It also come with solutions to reduce the level of

emissions from buildings and core infrastructure through improved design,

monitoring and control, as well as engineering and construction industry support

through appropriate tools to reduce energy needs. Finally, we also focus on

production and consumption patterns. Technology improvement cannot only focus in

the city but also concentrate in the rural area. This can eliminate the issue of bridging

digital divide.


6/6


6

7.0 CONCLUSION

This article provides an introductory overview of the IT on contributing and the

challenges on sustainability development. Everybody needs to involve at each level

and consider what approaches are needed to support IT and sustainable development.

IT must look beyond the areas and the societal level issues of sustainable

development.

Documents

It and Sustainable Development