Creating economic, social and environmental value: An information infrastructure perspective

Determining the economic, social and environmental effects of business is a laudable goal. It is often difficult in practice, however, especially if a firm is not in a resource sector, where material and energy flows dominate impacts, but is in a service sector, where technology, culture, and social and environmental impacts are more important. Some of the potential issues involved in such cases can be illustrated by considering the information and communications technology industry, from production of artifacts to services and deeper cultural implications.