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Crossing Boundaries for Institutional SustainabilityA/Prof Helen Hasan, Information SystemsFaculty of Commerce, University of WollongongAustralia

think globalact local

The MessageWe should promote the sustainability of our own workplaces and include issues of environmental responsibility in our teaching and research programsSustainability issues cut across every work-unit within our work-places and educational institutions but most of our firms and institutions are structured in ways that limit our ability to cooperate across work-units. So we must learn to cooperate to meet sustainability challengesIS could play an important role here.

I like this example of spanning the boundaries, the Triple Bottom Line: economic, social and environmental or people, profit, planet

My workplace a UniversityOur work includes teaching, conducting research and administrationWe are structured into Faculties and Schools based on Disciplines and these often act as SilosCrossing the boundaries between silos is rarely easyThe imperative to be sustainable where environmental issues are concern requires us to find ways to work across the silos

Adapting this at our University(we have formed a group called EARN the Environmentally Aware Research Network)

Meeting the need for an interdisciplinary understanding of environmental issues is challenging epistemic boundaries

Teaching across silos

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Curriculum ChallengesCreate new subjects within existing coursesCreate new cross-discipline coursesGiving students access to other disciplines without traditional pre-requisitesGiving teachers access to resources from other disciplinesExpand multi-discipline epistemic communities How can this be done without overloading students/teachers or without diluting disciplinary knowledge?

Research across silos

At Wollongong we are forming networks across the disciplines within the Hierarchy :The Social Innovation NetworkThe Green Theme EARN Environmentally Aware Research Network

How (Research) Networks Work

QuestionsWhat is a network? Why have one? How do the attributes of a network compare to a more traditional hierarchical institution?How can it be created, sustained and its value determinedWhat does it mean for those in it.

Networks within the bureaucracyA network is a relatively unfamiliar configuration for a university. A network provides identity to a research collective that is real, having status and support, but is fundamentally different to a hierarchy. In a network, connections and flows of knowledge tend to be horizontal not vertical. A network is flexible, re-configurable, responsive to change, and less formal with potential for lower administrative overheads.

Characteristics of successful (Research) Networksdependent on the vitality of loosely coupled small autonomous, self-directed and self-coordinating groupings. require supporting culture, leadership style, rewards structures, infrastructure and technologies. integrity, maturity, adaptability, flexibility, job competency, and a sense of humour emerged as highly rated skills

Practice across silosGetting academics and administrators involved in the Universitys environmental initiatives

Environment Policy at WollongongEnshrines cooperation between staff and teaching, learning and researchEnvironment Management Plan includes communication and engagement; and teaching, learning and researchEnvironment Advisory Committee representations from staff, students, academia and administration

Transport InitiativesNorth Wollongong Station Shuttle increased frequencyGwynneville/Keiraville Shuttle 450 patrons/day Staying for duration of 2010Carpooling increase to 450 cars per day with 3 GO FREE

The IS experienceThe field of Information Systems spans many of the traditional discipline boundaries and also those between academics, administrators, industry and community. I expect that between us we may have ideas and experiences that can be shared and leveraged to promote cooperation on sustainability programs within and possibly also between institutions.

Particular roles for ISIntroduce and support networksAdding live feedback to websitesCollecting and managing relevant dataProviding information from the data