Toward green computing practices: A Malaysian study of green belief and attitude among Information Technology professionals

The adoption of Green Information Technology (GIT) is important to ensure organizations’ environmental performance through sustainable production, consumption, utilization and disposal of Information Technology (IT) devices. However, research on the adoption of GIT practices has mostly addressed organizational factors and outcomes, with limited emphasis on the cognitive and attitudinal factors associated with behavioral change. Based on the Belief-Action-Outcome (BAO) framework, this research examined the effects of individual, social and organizational factors on GIT attitude among a sample of IT professionals in ISO 14001 certified IT companies in Malaysia and investigated the mediating effects of their beliefs about GIT. Further, this research investigated the relationship between GIT attitudes and behavioral change, as indicated through self-reported engagement in green computing practices. Survey methods were used to collect data from 333 respondents. The results support the direct effects of GIT knowledge, social influence and green management culture on GIT attitude. However, hypothesized indirect effects through the mediation of GIT beliefs were supported for GIT knowledge and social influence, but not for green management culture. The relationship between GIT attitude and engagement in green computing practices was supported. The implications of these results are discussed, and future research directions are suggested.