Digitaliseringens roll för hållbarhet i IT-beroende arbetssystem : En socioteknisk analys av strategier och utmaningar för att främja hållbar utveckling

In an era of increasing sustainability demands and accelerating digitalization, organizations face the challenge of integrating technological solutions with long-term sustainability goals. This bachelor's thesis explores how digital transformation influences sustainability work within IT-dependent work systems, adopting a sociotechnical perspective. The aim is to analyze the opportunities and challenges that emerge from the interaction between technology, organizations, and human actors, as well as how responsibility for sustainability initiatives is distributed and coordinated across IT, operations, and sustainability units. The study employs a qualitative research approach based on in-depth interviews with professionals from organizations operating in a Swedish context. The theoretical framework combines five established theories: the Integrated Sustainability Framework, the Belief–Action–Outcome framework, the Digital Transformation Process Model), sustainability integration through socio-environmental indicators, and the affordance theory for sustainability practices. A deductive conceptual model is developed to guide the analysis. Findings indicate that digital technologies can act as enablers of sustainability by supporting automation, information dissemination, and organizational transformation. However, organizational silos, unclear responsibility structures, and cultural resistance pose significant barriers. The study highlights that functional affordances—such as sensemaking and sustainable practices—are critical for realizing the potential of digitalization in sustainability initiatives. This thesis contributes to the field of information systems by providing insights into how IT-dependent work systems can be structured to support sustainable development, emphasizing the need for integrated efforts across organizational levels in digital transformation processes.