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ABSTRACT
Given the widespread use of computer technologies and mounting concerns over its impact on climate change, energy consumption and environmental degradation, one would imagine that IT workers would be practicing and advocating green computing behaviors. Employing the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), this study therefore set out to examine the influence of factors such as attitude, social influence, media influence, perceived behavioral control and environmental concern on the IT worker's green computing intention. The research model was tested using survey data collected from 149 respondents within a large financial services firm in Gauteng. Descriptive statistics suggest that personal awareness, knowledge and actual green computing behaviors are low. Regression analysis indicates that environmental concern, perceived behavioral control, attitude, and media influence are important predictors while social influence plays almost no role -- suggesting that IT workers are under no social pressure to practice green computing. The paper recommends that responsible peers, firms, higher education institutions, and media focus their attention on driving environmental awareness in order to promote green computing behaviors among seemingly unaware and disempowered IT workers.
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Index Terms
- Exploring Factors Influencing IT Workers' Green Computing Intention at a South African Firm
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