Green IT - A Global Problem and an Imperative Business Opportunity

Doctoral Thesis / Dissertation from the year 2009 in the subject Organisation and administration - Miscellaneous, grade: 60, University Of Wales Institute, Cardiff, language: English, abstract: Economic crisis and environmental sustainability are two major concerns the world is facing globally in recent times. Enterprises with their toughest times of economical survival need to pay attention on the environmental problem that is endangering existence. Although they are attempting to strongly hold their corporate social responsibility and aggressively planning Green Initiatives. But in this current time of crisis, unless an initiative does not satisfy their bottom line will have a short term consideration. The study attempts to highlight contemporary solution of Green IT which turns the climate change issue into an area of business opportunity. Typically Green IT adoption is associated as an investment towards acquiring energy efficient hardware devices in data centers to save power and reduce carbon emissions. The paper uncovers Green IT approach of server consolidation; through which enterprises can achieve eco-efficiency that relates to controlling environmental impacts as well as reducing cost of operations. Server consolidation in data centers are proven in the study to be strongly correlated with cost saving business advantages. The correlation analysis done from the survey responses clarifies the general misconception that Green solutions are not always cost driven but can also be cost effective. Out of detailed interviews conducted for the research, it is evident that enterprises are at a slow pace to accept Green IT solutions in UAE as they are not entirely realizing the benefits it derives. Realization of benefits is ambiguous due to the lack of appropriate tools that can quantify benefits gained from implementing Green IT. For the same, the recommendation include a measurement model to signify and provide strong business case showing imperative cost saving values for Green IT approach. The model calculates total operational as well as environmental savings with Green solution implementation in data centers. To further streamline Green IT benefit realization, the study finally recommends Rapid Business Justification process by which organizations can evaluate how Green IT solutions can save power, save cost and ultimately save the environment. The process aims to measure business benefits of Green IT initiative and justify tangible economical value. With the implementation of the process, enterprises will be able to substantiate quantitative business benefits that will encourage adoption of Green solutions aggressively.