Concept for Device Life Cycle Thinking in an IT Company
Kotomaa, Senni (2021)
2021
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021111019653
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021111019653
Tiivistelmä
The objective of this Thesis was to formulate a concept for IT device life cycle thinking for an IT service house. Currently, there is no established end-to-end practice how to deal with the issue. State of affairs must be put in order the quickest, as the Group's executives had paid attention to the case company's reputation as a black sheep in terms of re-use and recycling matters.
The theoretical framework focused on the principles of circular economy studied from several points of view and latest frameworks supporting circular economy were explored.
The practical part of the study used qualitative research methods inside the Design Research approach. Data for this study was collected by conducting interviews and analyzing internal company documents and best practice. Twenty different individuals representing 21 different roles were interviewed in group sessions or in personal interview meetings. The results showed that considerable work had already been done in the company internally in terms of device re-use and recycling, but unfortunately, these internal best practices were hidden in the organizational units.
The outcome of this Thesis is a concept how to adopt IT device life cycle thinking in an IT company. The concept was created by combining ready-made, updateable internal practices, adapting those for commercial use, and merging decentralized re-use and recycling processes under the command of one new organizational unit. With the help of an active communication plan and training sessions, this change is prepared to be implemented into the practice in the case company of this thesis.
As a result of this thesis, the case company has adopted a concept of IT device life cycle thinking and thus has started operating fully in accordance with the Finnish waste legislation, ISO 14 011 environmental management standard, and the Group's environmental policy in terms of circular economy. With this concept, the case company can contribute to reducing consumption and directing equipment to sustainable re-use and recycling.
The theoretical framework focused on the principles of circular economy studied from several points of view and latest frameworks supporting circular economy were explored.
The practical part of the study used qualitative research methods inside the Design Research approach. Data for this study was collected by conducting interviews and analyzing internal company documents and best practice. Twenty different individuals representing 21 different roles were interviewed in group sessions or in personal interview meetings. The results showed that considerable work had already been done in the company internally in terms of device re-use and recycling, but unfortunately, these internal best practices were hidden in the organizational units.
The outcome of this Thesis is a concept how to adopt IT device life cycle thinking in an IT company. The concept was created by combining ready-made, updateable internal practices, adapting those for commercial use, and merging decentralized re-use and recycling processes under the command of one new organizational unit. With the help of an active communication plan and training sessions, this change is prepared to be implemented into the practice in the case company of this thesis.
As a result of this thesis, the case company has adopted a concept of IT device life cycle thinking and thus has started operating fully in accordance with the Finnish waste legislation, ISO 14 011 environmental management standard, and the Group's environmental policy in terms of circular economy. With this concept, the case company can contribute to reducing consumption and directing equipment to sustainable re-use and recycling.