Categorizing Your Green IT Efforts

from the priorities-come-first dept

The Wall Street Journal is handing out some advice on "Green IT" management, telling its readers to categorize eco-friendly investments to help prioritize and assess potential plans. This advice proposes 4 categories, based on a model developed in collaboration with Prof. Leslie Willcocks from the London School of Economics.

• No-Brainers. -- Obviously, if you encounter a cheap, easy and money-saving green technology. Do it. There's almost no downside.
• Promising but Pricey. -- There are technologies that might pay off, but there's some risk that being an early-adopter might be a waste of effort.
• Business Opportunities. -- Adopting some environmentally-friendly initiatives can provide new business opportunities. Be on the lookout for "two birds with one stone" shots.
• Distractions. -- Shiny new solar panels might get some publicity, but as we've seen, a solar-powered data center is not quite practical for many facilities.

Clearly, these categories are just a starting point and are meant to guide more detailed decision-making processes. However, the simple communication of priorities and risks for IT investments can help managers move forward more quickly.