Sustainability-Oriented Information Systems to Support a Network’s Sustainability Transition: Lights and Shadows

This article aims to understand how network SMEs engage in the transition toward sustainability, leveraging information systems to support sustainable management of their networks. The present study analyzes a 3-year in-depth longitudinal case study of an Italian business network orchestrated by the “Brun Gelmino” Company. The leading firm developed sustainability-oriented network information systems with the collaboration of “Feelera”, an intermediary operating in the industry of sustainability-oriented information systems and platforms development. The results provide insights into the implementation of a sustainable shift of a business network by leveraging sustainability-oriented information systems to develop a network sustainability platform. Indeed, a sustainability-oriented information system may be a key driver to increase a business network’s understanding of sustainability-related issues, improving the network’s sustainability performance, and fostering a network’s sustainability transition through the implementation of new organizational practices. However, the implementation of a sustainability-oriented information system may also generate negative dynamics, resulting in a series of tensions between the network leading firm, the network firms, and external stakeholders such as clients or institutions.