Sustainable and Green Information Systems (GIS) – Leveraging MIS for Organizational

Abstract

This research investigates the role of Green Information Systems (GIS) in enhancing organisational performance and environmental responsibility in Saudi organisations in which the variables that potentially affect the outputs are organisational culture and managerial support. The research is carried out on the background of the Resource-Based View (RBV) and the Stakeholder Theory to comprehend how a competitive advantage and environmental accountability can be developed using the sustainability-oriented information system in line with the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030. Data was collected through the survey and analysis was carried out with the help of reliability tests, correlation analysis and hierarchical regression analysis of 100 respondents represented in different sectors. The findings have shown that Organisational Performance and Environmental responsibility are strong predictors of the GIS adoption with the latter being the most significant. Conversely, the predictive power of the managerial support and organisational culture had a positive relationship though the predictors were not significant in the regression model. This underscores the fact that outside forces and performance pressures are more likely driving forces behind the adoption of green IS than the internal cultural or management factors. The research has theoretical value since it builds on RBV and Stakeholder Theory when considering the process of GIS adoption, as well as provides practical advice that organisations and policymakers should consider when introducing environmental sustainability into strategy, improving managerial commitment, and enabling collaboration between the public and the private sector.

Introduction

Green Information Technology (GIT), or sustainable IT, focuses on environmentally sound design, use, and disposal of IT systems to reduce environmental impact and promote sustainability (Guthrie, 2024). Its adoption has grown due to environmentally conscious customers and organisational interest in social responsibility, sustainability, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions (Karim et al., 2024). Organisational sustainability, often guided by frameworks like the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is linked to improved business performance, financial stability, and customer satisfaction, though much prior research is outdated and limited in the context of Saudi firms.

Problem Statement & Research Gap:
Saudi organisations face pressure to balance economic growth with environmental responsibility. While Management Information Systems (MIS) support financial and operational performance, their role in promoting sustainability is underexplored. Existing studies suggest weak to moderate links between MIS adoption and sustainability outcomes, highlighting the need to investigate the relationship between Green Information Systems (GIS), organisational sustainability, and environmental responsibility in Saudi companies.

Research Objectives & Questions:
The study aims to explore GIS usage in Saudi organisations, its role in promoting sustainable practices, and its impact on environmental responsibility. The central research question asks: What is the impact of GIS on the environmental responsibility and overall performance of Saudi organisations?

Contributions:
The study offers theoretical insights on GIS and its link to environmental and organisational performance in Saudi Arabia and practical guidance for CEOs and policymakers to optimize MIS adoption for sustainability.

Literature Review:

• MIS & Sustainability: MIS supports decision-making, data management, and sustainable operations through tools like IoT, smart logistics, and energy management systems (Magableh et al., 2024; Esmaeilian et al., 2020).

• Drivers of GIS Adoption: Companies adopt GIS proactively (competitive advantage, market opportunities) or defensively (regulatory compliance, resource scarcity). Management support is critical for adoption (Radu & Popescul, 2024; Reznik et al., 2024).

• Benefits in Saudi Context: GIS, coupled with technologies like AI, blockchain, and Big Data Analytics, improves sustainability, efficiency, and economic performance while reducing waste. Challenges include cost, technical expertise, and small firm limitations (Madkhali & Sithole, 2023; Setyaningrum et al., 2023; Adiguzel & Sonmez Cakir, 2025).

• Theoretical Frameworks:

  • Resource-Based View (RBV): GIS is treated as a strategic resource enhancing performance and competitive advantage.

  • Stakeholder Theory: GIS helps organisations meet stakeholder expectations for environmental responsibility.

Research Gaps:
Limited empirical evidence exists on the quantitative relationship between GIS, environmental responsibility, and organisational performance in Saudi Arabia, with mediating factors such as organisational culture, managerial support, policies, and technology environment needing further exploration.

Conceptual Framework & Hypotheses:

• GIS monitors environmental business practices.

• Organisational Performance (H1): Expected to positively influence GIS adoption.

• Environmental Responsibility (H2): Expected to positively associate with GIS adoption.
  Managerial support and organisational culture are proposed as mediating variables in these relationships.

Conclusion

This research paper examined the contributions of Green Information Systems towards organisational performance and environmental responsibility of Saudi organisations. The findings have affirmed that performance deliverables and ecological responsibility are the major driving factors of GIS adoption, and managerial support and organisational culture are the second most potent factors. The findings provide an insight into the opportunities and challenges: although Saudi organisations are adapting to the global sustainability trends and the vision 2030 goals, the integration of the cultural and managerial aspects is low. The study makes a contribution to the academic and practical discussion as it puts GIS in the context of RBV and Stakeholder Theory and provides us with the idea of interaction between the technology and sustainability and the organisational results. Future research should further increase the sample size, and carry out sector analysis and use more sophisticated methods of modelling like Hierarchical Regression to improve the definition of mediating relationships. Finally, GIS is not just a technology but it is also a strategic facilitator of sustainability and competitiveness. With the inclusion of environmental responsibility as part of strategy, increased commitment by the managers, and favourable policies, Saudi organisations will be able to use GIS as a tool to attain sustainable growth and long-term stability.

References

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Copyright © 2025 Aljwhrh Abdalaziz Almtrf. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.