Business information Systems Management pgp18

Case Questions
Case: Green IT at Wipro: A Sustainable Solution?
Submission date: 2/02/2015
Submission By: Akshey Bhogra (PGP/18/178)
1. What is the history behind Wipros sustainability practices?
Ans: The various sustainability practices of Wipro include:
Wipro Cares
Constituted in the year 2003 as a community care program

To reach out to around 60,000 people in 53 villages.

Helped people affected by the tsunami rebuild their lives in
TamilNadu, Hurricane Sandy, Uttarakhand Floods, Orissa Floods,
Bihar Floods, Karnataka Floods, Japan Tsunami
Wipro Applying Thought in Schools (WATIS)
First step for bringing school education reforms
To reach out to more than 2000 schools in the country
Mission 10x
Formed in 2007

To increase the employability of engineers

Eco eye
Set up as a governance council in 2008.
Comprised of Seven senior managers, including three who report
directly to the chairman, make up the council.

To date the council has endorsed 120 projects aimed at carbon

neutrality.

2. What factors lead to the success of Wipros green initiative?

Ans:

Every employee, the middle and top management and the customers
looked at the initiatives undertaken in a positive light.
The company had clearly defined objectives and the seamless
integration of Incorporated business and Sustainable strategy enabled
it to provide products and solutions that encouraged its customers to
go green
The company also educated its staff and customers about the benefits
of going green

Business information Systems Management pgp18

Case Questions

With the help of numerous NGOs Wipro was able to successfully

influence the government in favor of its initiative of Green IT.

3. What measures/factors
help make Green IT
sustainable and/or successful? Are they the same?
Ans:

initiatives

A work culture where employees are made aware of the importance of

green business through training, education, seminars/webinars etc.
An exclusive department for Green Initiatives which can communicate
and align each business line to a common agenda
Incentives for initiatives taken in the direction of Green IT
Tracking of Absolute Metrics measuring implementation of sustainable
green technologies and its performance
Compliance with International Environmental Norms

4. How sustainable are the Wipros sustainable initiatives? Do

you think sustainable initiatives should be sustainable or not?
5. Does size of an organization matter when it comes to
implementing sustainable initiatives? How?
Ans: For small scale businesses, ecological sustainability isnt as dominant as
in the corporate world. There has been very less or no contribution towards
sustainability by such businesses. These businesses dont have resources and
time for research and development of sustainable practices. Small firms cant
bear upfront investment cost despite quick paybacks on some energy
upgrades.
6. How

can sustainable
companys culture?
Ans:

initiatives

be

incorporated

in

the

1.Constituting policies that help in ensuring sustainability

2. Incorporating the importance of sustainability into mission and
vision
3. Educating employees via training and seminars etc
4. Rewarding employees for demonstrating
sustainability through promotion.

commitment

to

Business information Systems Management pgp18

Case Questions
5. Bring in speakers to talk about sustainability issues
6. Hosting internal workshops, seminars, conferences or trade shows
7. Organizing sustainability Awards

7. What ways can business processes be made sustainable or green?

Ans:

Transition to Renewables
Eco-efficiency
Waste Reduction
Certification for green initiatives
Increased Resource Productivity
Buying and selling green products

8. How can stakeholder involvement be ensured in sustainability?

Ans

The co-existence of various technologies associated with Green IT is

driven by multiple stakeholders, thus it is essential to effectively
manage the stakeholder relationships to sustain such initiatives
Sustainability is a multi-stakeholder game and collaboration among
them is needed to sustain green initiatives
Subscribing to select charters and aligning with right networks to boost
sustainability programs
Rankings on Green IT initiatives acts as a feedback mechanism to
boost up initiatives for achieving excellence

9. Has there been any recent development in Wipros sustainability

practices?
Ans: The recent developments in Wipros sustainability practices are:

In 2012, Wipro made a commitment in its Environmental Policy to work

with a triple bottom line
On Jan 27, 2015 ,Wipro made a press release stating its goal to be a
leader in the Green Quadrant of companies working with Green IT
On Jan 5, 2015, Wipro made an invitation to IIM Bangalore to partner in
its drive for sustainability

Business information Systems Management pgp18

Case Questions

10. What are

sustainability?

the

regulatory

compliance

to

be

ensured

for

Ans:

Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) prior to the start of new facility

Pollution Control Board (PCB) clearance for
Water treatment, handling and disposal of hazardous materials
India Green Building Council (IGBC)
The Digital Environmental Sustainability Consortium (DESC) India
CII Mission for Sustainable Growth
: Wipro was one of the first
signatories to the CII code for Ecologically Sustainable Business Growth
The Carbon Disclosure Project: Wipro participates in public disclosure of
carbon emissions
UN Global Compact: Provides framework for sustainable initiatives by
companies
CII-GBC Green Company Rating
Indias National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)
Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE)
UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
CII Green Procurement Council:
Energy Efficiency, Material Intensity, End of Life handling, Green IT
procurement
MAIT e-waste task force:
Regularization in IT sector for handling e-waste

11. Should the sustainability agenda be part of the Corporate

Strategy? If so, how it was done in the case of Wipro ?
Ans: Yes, sustainability agenda should be a part of the corporate strategy as it
acts as a competitive advantage as well as a social and environmental
responsibility. It also helps in :

Reducing risks arising from scarcity of raw materials, regulation

changes, reputation and climate changes
Disruptive innovation, new product development, tapping new market
segment and also help in cost reduction