http://rare-idc.blogs.herts.ac.uk

Sustainable ICT Maturity Model

An holistic methodology for assisting organisations to achieve

peak performance in ICT sustainability

Steve Phipps, Data Centres Manager, University of Hertfordshire

Sustainable ICT Maturity Model (SIMM)

Agenda

• Why do we need this?

• The Sustainable ICT Maturity Model

• Lessons from an Australian Case Study

• How Can You get Involved?

Sustainable ICT Maturity Model (SIMM)

Why do we need this?

• The Green ICT Agenda becoming more important due to:

– Rapidly rising energy bills

– Concerns about global warming

– Concerns about the sustainability of the planet’s resources

– The UK Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC)

– The European Union Emission Trading Scheme

– “Energy efficiency targets are complemented by general commitments of power and energy management, switching off components not needed, and reducing energy consumption where possible“ (Paolo Bertoldi, European Commission DG JRC)

Sustainable ICT Maturity Model (SIMM)

Why do we need this?

• The role of metrics is to enlighten

• Confusion reigns!

• What initiatives do I embark on first?

• No ICT system works in a silo

• Benchmarking is fraught with problems

• Some organisations try to “chain” metrics to get a wider measure

• “Chained values do not work – systems in the Data Centre are interdependent”

(Liam Newcombe, BCS)

Sustainable ICT Maturity Model (SIMM)

The Idea

• Based on the Capability Maturity ModelTM

• Create a benchmark but also an action plan for improvement

• Require little or no professional assistance for self-assessment

• Return On Investment (ROI) argument for justifying Sustainable ICT initiatives.

― Key to reaping business benefits

― The ability to focus scarce resources on those areas where the ROI is greatest

― Benefits are two-fold: Lower Total Cost of Ownership Increased executive buy-in

― Not all sustainable initiatives will have easily understood or short payback periods

― Some may not be cost-justified at all but may be more brand-related or seen in the light of Corporate Responsibility.

Sustainable ICT Maturity Model (SIMM) The Dart Board

Corporate Governance

Estates / Facilities

Processes

IT & Network

Environment Team / Corporate Responsibility

Organisational Culture

0

1 2

3 4

Peak

Sustainable

ICT

5

Sustainable ICT Maturity Model (SIMM)

Lessons from an Australian Case Study

• “ICT for Eco-Sustainability; An Assessment of the capability of the Australian ICT Sector

– Commissioned by the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) and developed by RMIT University

– Report issued May 2010

– Based on data from 133 ICT firms, exclusively focused on the Australian ICT industry

• Green ICT Capability (GITCAP) represents:

– An ICT firms ability and performance to articulate an eco-sustainability vision;

– To apply eco-sustainability criteria to acquire and manage its tangible and intangible resources;

– To deploy those resources to create products and services that promote the sustainability of industries;

– To generate green economic value

Sustainable ICT Maturity Model (SIMM)

The Green ICT Capability Maturity Distribution of ICT Firms in

Australia

Sustainable ICT Maturity Model (SIMM)

GITCAP Component Maturity Indices

Sustainable ICT Maturity Model (SIMM)

AIIA / RMIT University Findings

• Of the firms in the study:

• Most are developing clearer strategic direction concerning the opportunities associated with climate change

• 75% have yet to acquire any 3rd party certification for their environmental performance

• Remote working technologies are the most mature offerings

• Very large Organisations (>500 FTE) had relatively well developed GITCAP component capability

• ...but...overall the surveyed firms were at a Basic maturity level

• Firms require systems and methodologies for tracking tangible and intangible benefits

• A comprehensive set of indicators can allow firms to choose to measure progress and success in improving Green ICT capability

Sustainable ICT Maturity Model (SIMM)

Conclusions

• Requires a high level of input

• Maturity Models are well-established methodologies

• Can be used to provide a framework whereby

• An organisation can be benchmarked.

• A bespoke roadmap can be built

• Providing guidance on calculating ROI

• Best Practices can be garnered from across industries and provide guidance for organisations to improve their maturity

• Organisations should be able to self-assess against easily-understood criteria

Sustainable ICT Maturity Model (SIMM)

Recommendations

• It should consist of two parts:

• A self-assessment guide for benchmarking against the maturity curve

• A methodology for building a bespoke “Sustainable ICT Roadmap”, with guidance on calculating ROI and interdependencies between activities

• The model should be adapted from the various inputs, to apply in an industry-agnostic manner.

• Needs to remain flexible and easily adaptive to changing circumstances.

• Assists us in calculating our levels of return on investment if we continue to invest in sustainable ICT technologies and methods

• What we require to complete the model are case studies and a framework for assessment.

Sustainable ICT Maturity Model (SIMM)

Recommendations

• We need you!

• Contact me on s.phipps@herts.ac.uk

• Get involved in our Wiki at

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