Setting Goals in a Digital Transformation of Environmental Assessment: A Case Study

Abstract

Since The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emerged in 2015, they have become a guide for managing present sustainability challenges. However, we have limited knowledge about inter-organizational goal setting for digital transformations towards sustainable development. Recognizing this shortcoming, we report an in-depth case study of an inter-organizational digital transformation and the challenges of setting goals towards promoting progress on SDGs in environmental assessments. An environmental assessment is an obligatory procedure securing environmental concerns are considered before a decision is made, either for individual projects or public plans and programs. From analyzing the activities in environmental assessments, we outline their distinct digitalization goals and the stakeholders’ associated experiences. These findings extend preliminary research on what drives digital transformation in environmental assessment and highlight environmentally responsible activities where information systems can make a difference. The paper discusses how these findings show a further need for research on the digital transformation of environmental assessment.