Abstract

Introduction

Literature Review

ECO-Innovation Management Information System (EiMIS)

Results

Discussion

Conclusion

References

Abstract

     It is vital for firms to measure, and, report on, the impact of eco-innovation towards their environmental performance. Additive Manufacturing is an eco-innovation that contributes towards reducing the environmental impact of manufacturing. However, there is a lack of practical tools for management to monitor and report on firms’ eco-innovation implementation and performance. This paper presents a prototype Eco-innovation Management Information System (EiMIS), developed to enable a firm’s management to systematically manage and report on eco-innovation performance. Using a top-down approach, the EiMIS is developed through utilizing the C# and SQL programming languages for the Graphical User Interface (GUI), Database Management System (DBMS) and other technologies to collect, store (into a relational database) and manage eco-innovation performance data. A 4-tier architecture enables the EiMIS to: store, view and retrieve or generate eco-innovation performance reports; and generally, manage firms’ eco-innovation performance data. This developed prototype could, help introduce information system platforms that: assist firms to collect data that can model their additive manufacturing; ease firms’ eco-innovation performance reporting; improve environmental data management capabilities; and complement firms’ digital transformation strategy.

Introduction

     Eco-innovation encompasses any innovation that, upon implementation, aims to minimize negative impacts to the natural environment whilst, maximizing economic gains from the onset [1]. As a result of eco-innovation’s ability to simultaneously reduce harm to the natural environment whilst generating positive economic returns, eco-innovation has been credited with providing firms an avenue to engage in value creation activities in an environmentally and economically sustainable manner [2], [3]. Specifically, eco-innovation enables firms to lower the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions their value creation efforts generate (e.g., lowering the Carbon Dioxide (CO2) footprint of their value creation activities), in an economically cost effective and efficient manner [4]. This then, enables firms to buttress the notion of sustainable development viz the firms’ value creation [5]. However, to enable firms and their stakeholders the ability to monitor and/or gauge the impact eco-innovation has towards their value creation efforts, it is imperative for firms to report on the impact of their eco-innovation implementation in a transparent and proactive manner [6]. Additive manufacturing (AM) is a prominent eco-innovation implementation, which aids firms to create value in an economically and environmentally sustainable manner i.e., by reducing the negative environmental impacts and economic costs of manufacturing [7]. Increasing availability of data and information concerning the value creation impact of eco-innovations like AM would facilitate standard reference points for industries and firms to base comparisons on [8], vis-à-vis their environmental performance.

Results

     To process information, the proposed EiMIS provides an avenue for the firm’s accountable managers to input the firm’s eco-innovation data and subsequently store this data into a database. The EiMIS begins on the home page where users are presented with choices regarding their next course of action. First time users of EiMIS have the option to register their firm’s details. Users wishing to register and utilize the EiMIS will be directed to the registration page. Users are prompted to enter the details of their respective firm, such as the firm’s trading name, registration number, address and contact information. These details relating to the firm can be inserted by the respective user. This data helps in creating the profile for the firm and storing the information securely in the user database. Also required will be the user’s chosen password so that users are able to securely sign-in or securely key-in data. Most of this required can utilize the text data type with character masking utilized for the password. Other options include creating eco-innovation report, viewing previous eco-innovation report, and viewing eco-innovation performance information.