The Ecology of the New Economy: Sustainable Transformation of Global Information, Communications and Electronics Industries

by Nigel Roome (Author), Jacob Park (Author)

New
Hardcover
2002
$156.64

A revolution is taking place in the development of global information and communications technologies. In slightly more than a decade, the World Wide Web has gone from the idea of an obscure English scientist to a consumer-oriented technology system with an expected one billion users by 2005. The technologies that enable this to happen are advancing rapidly, which is leading to both an unprecedented number of start-up companies and a host of innovative new alliances between companies.

The growth has been so rapid and unexpected that little research and analysis has yet been done on what impact this transformation has had or will have on the ability of companies to meet the global sustainability challenge.

As environmental strategy has traditionally been portrayed in terms of risk cutting and resource efficiency, there is a danger that critical business issues such as information technology, R&D and e-commerce development are examined in isolation from the wider sustainable business perspective.

An important objective of the book is to explore, document and raise awareness of sustainability concerns arising from the emerging global information economy. The information economy is defined in the broadest sense possible, including software, hardware, telecommunication - traditional and wireless - and advanced communication technologies.

Some of the key issues and questions that are examined include:Case studies on how and to what degree sustainability concerns are being integrated into the business model of electronic, telecommunication and dot.com firms.

The relationship between the diffusion of information and communication technologies and the energy and resource intensity of companies.

The role of information and communication technologies in the shaping of policies for sustainability, its impacts on sustainable or unsustainable lifestyles and its implications for the interaction between companies and other actors.

Corporations and the global digital divide.

The Ecology of the New Economy will be of interest to academics, governments, businesses, and non-governmental groups who are trying to understand the linkages and relationship between the two of our greatest global challenges: the information revolution and environmental sustainability.

Synopsis

A revolution is taking place in the development of global information and communications technologies. In slightly more than a decade, the World Wide Web has gone from the idea of an obscure English scientist to a consumer-oriented technology system with an expected one billion users by 2005. The technologies that enable this to happen are advancing rapidly, which is leading to both an unprecedented number of start-up companies and a host of innovative new alliances between companies.

The growth has been so rapid and unexpected that little research and analysis has yet been done on what impact this transformation has had or will have on the ability of companies to meet the global sustainability challenge.

As environmental strategy has traditionally been portrayed in terms of risk cutting and resource efficiency, there is a danger that critical business issues such as information technology, R&D and e-commerce development are examined in isolation from the wider sustainable business perspective.

An important objective of the book is to explore, document and raise awareness of sustainability concerns arising from the emerging global information economy. The information economy is defined in the broadest sense possible, including software, hardware, telecommunication - traditional and wireless - and advanced communication technologies.

Some of the key issues and questions that are examined include:Case studies on how and to what degree sustainability concerns are being integrated into the business model of electronic, telecommunication and dot.com firms.

The relationship between the diffusion of information and communication technologies and the energy and resource intensity of companies.

The role of information and communication technologies in the shaping of policies for sustainability, its impacts on sustainable or unsustainable lifestyles and its implications for the interaction between companies and other actors.

Corporations and the global digital divide.

The Ecology of the New Economy will be of interest to academics, governments, businesses, and non-governmental groups who are trying to understand the linkages and relationship between the two of our greatest global challenges: the information revolution and environmental sustainability.

$156.64

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More Information

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 284
Edition: 1
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 01 May 2002
ISBN 10: 1874719470
ISBN 13: 9781874719472
Book Overview: 'Offers opportunities, challenges and perspectives in the relationship of ICCE with ecology and economy. Tremendously stimulating; touching a multitude of issues which are under hot debate in the industry. Will ICCE simply happen or is there a choice? Stirring, intriguing and helpful!' Professor Ab Stevels

Media Reviews

This book is an informative read and well recommended. It provides the reader with current information and diverse analyses from the worlds of research, business and government/policy makers on this increasingly topical issue. Further it provides some inspirational thoughts for integrating sustainability into the digital economy. - Environmental Assessment Policy and Management.

Wow! This book will convince even the most hard-nosed bean counter ... that environmental stewardship, green thinking and sustainable development have a place in the global arena of communication, dot.com, e-commerce and information technology. All the sections make extensive use of case studies and examples which help to give a reality perspective which is crucial for the skeptic and the conservative. - Eagle Bulletin

The volume provides an excellent snapshot of the dot-com era and its long-term effects on corporate citizenship theory and practice ... The authors clearly believe that understanding the evolution and importance of the digital economy requires macro- and microanalysis along natural, digital and competitive domains. Sustainable e-business practice demands a competent grasp of the interdependencies among these realms. - The Journal of Corporate Citizenship

... the doomsayers predict ICCE technologies will fuel further need for electricity, whereas the optimists project net savings. The scholarship encompassed by The Ecology of the New Economy suggests the truth is probably somewhere in between and is largly dependent on how these new technologies are deployed and whether their deployment is guided by sustainable development considerations... The Ecology of the New Economy is an important work in beginning that debate. - The Journal of Industrial Ecology

Author Bio

JACOB PARK is a research scholar in the Harrison Program on the Future Global Agenda, University of Maryland, USA, and a senior research consultant specialising in Japanese and Asian equities for corporate governance and socially responsible investment, Friends Ivory & Sime. A fellow of the Environmental Leadership Program, a working interim group member of the Greening of Industry Network and a member of Center for Environmental Citizenship's board of directors, he will become an assistant professor in the business and economic department at Green Mountain College (Vermont, USA) in the fall of 2002. NIGEL ROOME is the Head of Department and Chair of Sustainable Enterprise and Transformation, Erasmus Centre for Sustainable Development and Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam. He is also the Chair of the Information and Communication Technologies Project, Industrial Transformation Programme, International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environment Change.