Planet Earth as a Stakeholder

Most smartphones don’t end up in the trash because of faulty hardware, but because the software no longer works - and this is precisely where one of the biggest levers for sustainability in IT lies. While many think of green data centers, software teams often overlook the social aspects: Accessibility, inclusion and who their systems exclude. A simple shift in perspective - considering the planet as a stakeholder - can have a huge impact in software testing and development without the need for regulatory pressure.

Podcast Episode: Planet Earth as a Stakeholder

Everyone is talking about sustainability, some are excited about it, others roll their eyes. But whichever way you look at it, there is no denying that we have become a throwaway society. In the past, all products, whether it was a washing machine, a television or software, had a much longer “shelf life” and were usable. In the case of software, the reason for this was that a lot of capacity was only available for a very limited period of time, so development was resource-efficient. However, some energy-guzzling systems such as AI have become indispensable and have the potential to advance sustainability - even if this may sound paradoxical at first. There are many ways to conserve resources in software development, for example, you can simply ask yourself the question during a project: What if our planet was the stakeholder?

“We could also ensure that the software we create is usable for much longer and also supports legacy systems and old hardware.” - Jutta Eckstein

Jutta works as a business coach, change manager and consultant with a focus on company-wide agility and sustainability. She is the founder of the “Agile Sustainability Initiative”, co-creator of a sustainability assessment for agile teams and author of the “BOSSA nova book” on corporate agility. With an M.A. in Business Coaching & Change Management, a Dipl.Ing. in Product Engineering and certification as an environmental protection officer, she was recognized as one of the most important personalities in German IT by Computerwoche in 2011.

Highlights der Episode

• Software causes electronic waste - hardware is usually replaced because of outdated software, not because of defects.
• Considering the earth as a stakeholder immediately triggers new thought processes in teams.
• Accessibility makes systems better for everyone - noisy environment is temporary deafness.
• Choosing a data center location based on renewable energy is the biggest infrastructure lever for sustainability.
• Sustainability toggles allow old hardware to continue to be used thanks to slimmed-down software versions for older clients.

Green IT: A dialog about ecological and social sustainability

Today I’m talking to Jutta Eckstein about the role of sustainability in IT and software development. We look at how Planet Earth can be viewed as a stakeholder and what steps teams can take to make their work more sustainable.

The importance of sustainability in IT

Today I spoke with Jutta Eckstein about sustainability in IT and software development. Jutta is widely known for her expertise and contributions to the topic and offered us deep insights on how technology can not only address environmental challenges but also take social aspects into account. Our conversation provides valuable perspectives on why it is essential to consider planet earth as a stakeholder in our work.

The two sides of sustainability

Sustainability is a complex topic with many facets. Jutta explained that in addition to the obvious ecological dimension, there is also a social component. The inclusivity and accessibility of systems are also part of the sustainability discussion. Especially in the IT industry, there is often a tendency to bring products to market quickly without considering sustainable practices or social impact. Our discussion made it clear that a rethink is required in order to treat both aspects equally.

Social sustainability: more than just a nice-to-have

Jutta offered a particularly poignant example of the need for social sustainability by referring to the issue of body scanners at airports for transgender people. This experience illustrates that software development can have a profound impact on people’s lives and that developers need to take their responsibilities seriously. We also talked about the importance of security and privacy and the challenge of making systems more inclusive and accessible.

Ecological sustainability: practical approaches for teams

When asked where there is the greatest need for action in the IT sector, we talked about practical solutions. For example, a first step could be taken by including energy consumption monitoring in the Definition of Done. Jutta also emphasized the importance of architecture and infrastructure decisions as well as the selection of more energy-efficient data centers as key factors for more environmental sustainability.

Creating awareness: The planet as a stakeholder

The idea of considering planet Earth as a stakeholder in our projects was a central idea of our conversation. Through this perspective, teams begin to think differently about their work - be it when planning new features or choosing their technology stacks. This shift in thinking can lead to more sustainable decisions being made that not only benefit the planet but also save costs and make systems more efficient in the long term.

An appeal for action

Our conversation ended with a call to all developers and testers: start thinking and acting more sustainably today.That doesn’t necessarily mean becoming an expert in green technologies.But simple questions, like considering the planet as a stakeholder, can make a big difference.There are already many resources and initiatives, like the Green Software Foundation, that can help educate and integrate sustainable practices into your daily work.