Breaking bad habits: A field experiment about how routinized work practices can be made more eco-efficient through IS for sensemaking

We conducted a field experiment to compare the effects of information systems (IS) supporting reflective disclosure and information democratization on the sustainability footprint of a routine organizational work practice, paper printing. We find that both sensemaking processes lead to employees reducing their printing; however, the processes are interchangeable and do not mutually reinforce each other's effects. This finding contrasts a latent assumption of prior research about a co-dependence between reflective disclosure and infor-mation democratization, and suggests organizations have a choice in how they can design and use IS to help employees make sense of different possibilities for more eco-efficient work.

Automated summary

We conducted a field experiment to compare the effects of reflective disclosure and information democratization. Both processes were found to lead to a reduction in paper printing, but they were not mutually reinforcing. This contrasts with prior research and suggests that organizations have flexibility in designing and using information systems to promote eco-efficient work practices.