| In the business arena, executives must be economically thriving, socially responsible, and have dependable sustainable processes to secure a competitive advantage as industry leaders. Many business leaders are unable to obtain a reliable information technology (IT) sustainability index to evaluate an IT environment, despite the existence of management theories to address such an issue. Guided by organizational performance concepts, sustainability perceptions, business models, and technology management theories, this phenomenological study gathered interview data from 30 IT professionals working in Texas, regarding which elements best capture the sustainability of technology. The data were explored to discover emerging ideas, concepts, and patterns regarding sustainability management in organizations. The major themes that emerged from the population of IT professionals were (a) business and sustainability; (b) organizational performance, tools, and criteria; and (c) the sustainability of IT. An internal certification program emerged as a recommended practice to improve organizational performance, sustainable processes, and community. Such an internal certification program will encourage social change by promoting corporate responsibility and inspiring leaders to protect the environment, augment the economy, and enrich society as a whole. |
