Corresponding Manager: Vinicius Muraro (vinicius.muraro@circle.lu.se)
Track Manager(s): Vinicius Muraro, Wen Pan Fagerlin, Olga Welinder, Max Angenuis, Lars Bengtsson
Description
The interconnections between sustainability and digitalization are increasingly recognized as crucial for managing transformative change and developing business models that integrate environmental, social, and economic objectives1. Digital transformation (DT) advances sustainability transition by lowering organizations’ environmental footprint and fostering interaction within digital ecosystems; it involves the strategic orchestration of resources and capabilities to enhance organizational performance and redefine value proposition for its stakeholders2.
This track examines how organizations develop, mobilize, and integrate competences and capacities to align digital transformation with sustainability goals. We invite contributions that examine how organizational learning and capability-building processes shape sustainable digital transformation3.
We welcome research investigating the effects of digitalization on organizational structures, culture, and value creation, including critical and reflexive perspectives on the unintended consequences of digital transformation, ranging from digital divides, social inequalities, algorithmic bias, and environmental externalities4. Contributions connecting digital transformation to themes of organizational change, capability dynamics, sustainability transitions, and responsible digitalization are particularly encouraged.
Keywords
Sustainable Digital Transformation; Responsible Digitalization; Organizational Change
Key References
1. Isensee, C., Teuteberg, F., Griese, K.-M., & Topi, C. (2020). The relationship between organizational culture, sustainability, and digitalization in SMEs: A systematic review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 275, 122944. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122944
2. Gong, C., & Ribiere, V. (2021). Developing a unified definition of digital transformation. Technovation, 102, 102217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2020.102217
3. Hassan, S. S., Meisner, K., Krause, K., Bzhalava, L., & Moog, P. (2024). Is digitalization a source of innovation? Exploring the role of digital diffusion in SME innovation performance. Small Business Economics, 62(4), 1469–1491. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-023-00826-7
4. Trittin-Ulbrich, H., Scherer, A. G., Munro, I., & Whelan, G. (2021). Exploring the dark and unexpected sides of digitalization: Toward a critical agenda. Organization, 28(1), 8–25. https://doi.org/10.1177/1350508420968184
Research Partnerships and Promotion Channels
Our partners and promotion channels include:
– Spårbanken Skåne Center for Sustainable Enterprising (SSCEN): hosted at Lund University, the center operates at the intersection of academia and industry, focusing on interdisciplinary research to transition society toward sustainability.
– Nordic Sustainability Alliance: a network of sustainability scholars from institutions in Sweden, Finland, and Norway for connect sustainability researchers from Nordics, including the University of Eastern Finland’s Research Center for Sustainable Circular Economy (CECE), BI Norwegian Business School, Blekinge Institute of Technology, University of Inland Norway’s Center for Research on Digitalization and Sustainability (CREDS).
– Center for Innovation Research (CIRCLE): hosted at Lund University, the Center is an interdisciplinary research environment that works to deliver scientific and societal impact.