How IS contribute to the development of a sustainable procurement policy

Abstract

Sustainability has become a central corporate concern as well as a key factor of success in terms of both image and productivity. In turn, the procurement function is crucial to the definition and implementation of a sustainability policy. It drives a company's sourcing activities and connects its other functions (i.e. internal customers) to external suppliers and providers. IS, which have come under heavy criticism due to their negative environmental effects, can provide support services while also stimulating and disseminating sustainable purchase policies. The present study combines a literature review with a qualitative study to illustrate this emergence and show how IS can and will contribute to the development of corporate sustainable procurement policies. Using an exploratory approach and constructivist positioning, a "business forecasting" method is implemented to suggest a possible future for sustainable procurement management, along with a new role for IS. Towards this end, a scenario is co-constructed by 12 procurement function experts responding to questions about their customs and practices and talking about their experiences, the effects of the rising wave of environmentalism, the problems they face in implementing and optimizing IS and their professional. They also offer a few predictions and suggest new methods and modes of coordination. Procurement functions and IS departments work together to reduce the environmental footprint of technology and to exert greater influence on collaboration and teamwork by building an economic environment that is more viable and livable and also fairer. © 2010 IFIP.