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Get ready to dive into the future of IT organisations and their impact on the sustainability transformation! According to the PwC CEO survey 2024 one-third of company leaders anticipate climate change to revolutionise the way value is created, delivered, and captured – and this change is coming within the next three years. Hereby IT organisations play an important part, which is why we have collected insights with surveys and engaging client conversations over the past months. Our second blog post is dedicated to explore how the role of tech leaders is becoming more multifaceted and what opportunities sustainable IT brings to organisations.
The different roles of IT leaders and their dimensions
The world is changing rapidly, and with this change comes the need for sustainable practices in all sectors and departments, including IT. Having analysed the current drivers and reasons for the change towards sustainability by and within IT in our first blog post (link), the question arises as to what the role of IT leaders is within this change.
The role of IT leaders can take on various forms – from taking on a strategic forward-thinking approach to actively seek out opportunities to implement sustainable solutions. We have found five major roles that IT leaders can take on, each of which plays a crucial part in driving positive change.
The following graph illustrates the different dimensions each role takes on and to what extent. It is important to note that most IT leaders take on several of those roles – highlighting the multifaceted ways of IT leaders' contributions to sustainability within organisations.
Dimensions
Analytics & insights
Data analytics to process and evaluate data, gaining valuable insights into the organisation's environmental footprint and tracking progress towards sustainability goals
Risk management & compliance
Monitoring emerging regulations and standards in order to ensure that the organisation remains ahead of the curve in compliance matters and industry standards
Business enablement
Collaborating with different business units and driving new initiatives in order to enable the organisation to drive positive environmental outcomes through technology
IT infrastructure & hardware
Promoting sustainable practices within IT: designing and managing environmentally-friendly IT infrastructure – exploring energy-efficient technologies, optimising resource utilisation and implementing virtualisation and cloud computing solutions to reduce energy consumption
Applications, tools & platforms
Evaluating, adopting, implementing and managing tools, platforms and processes to support sustainable practices throughout the organisation
Innovation & technology adoption
Fostering a culture of innovation and exploring collaboration with external partners, such as startups or research institutions, to co-develop innovative solutions could also be an area worth exploring
Roles
…aligns the IT strategy with the broader sustainability strategy, ensuring that the digital transformation drives sustainable outcomes.
…leverages data to track and report on progress towards the organisation's broader sustainability objectives
…ensures adherence to environmental regulations, reducing risk and increasing transparency to build trust with stakeholders
…raises awareness and empowers employees with the knowledge and tools to foster a culture of sustainability
…deploys sustainable technologies and practices within the IT organisation, and drives projects to reduce the carbon footprint
Evolving roles and key actions
The shift in focus towards ESG requires IT leaders to evolve beyond their traditional roles. This requires them to adapt to constant change and take on different roles, moving into all the different dimensions shown above. IT leaders must deepen their understanding of ESG topics to effectively contribute to and lead sustainability initiatives. They need to become strategic players, working collaboratively and fostering innovation in sustainability. By focusing on key areas such as governance, skills development, cross-functional teamwork and building industry connections, IT leaders can play a critical role in advancing their organisation’s ESG objectives.
To navigate these changes effectively and successfully, we see four key actions for IT leaders to focus on:
Upskilling
Broadening their expertise by acquiring ESG-related knowledge and skills, as well as familiarising themselves with industry-specific standards
Collaboration
Working cross-functionally across departments to integrate and operationalise sustainable practices throughout the organisation
Governance
Securing a seat at the decision-making table, and taking on more prominent roles to effectively prioritise and lead sustainability initiatives
Network
Connecting with peers or academia within the industry, and leveraging networks and partnerships to push sustainability initiatives
Unlocking the benefits of sustainable IT
By taking on this expanded role, IT leaders do more than just contribute to their organisation's overall sustainability goals but also unlock a range of benefits. As organisations increasingly establish sustainability strategies, the challenge lies in operationalising these initiatives – which means setting tangible and actionable goals and embedding sustainable practices directly into the IT organisation.
Sustainable IT can lead to cost savings through energy-efficient technologies and streamlined processes, reduced resource consumption and enhanced brand image. It also encourages innovation and attracts top talent by aligning with their values. Plus, addressing regulatory requirements upfront ensures compliance and meets sustainability standards.
Let’s start the change together
While challenges exist in implementing sustainable IT, the benefits are significant, driving both innovation and efficiency. Therefore, embracing sustainability is crucial, and we are here to support IT leaders in navigating this transformation with our services at PwC Switzerland.
If you found this article interesting and would like to learn more about the topic, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
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