Software and Information Systems for Sustainability: A Systematic Literature Review of Models, Applications, and Evaluation Metrics
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Abstract:
Background: The existing literature on sustainable software and information systems is fragmented, with research often siloed into specific models, applications, or evaluation metrics without a cohesive overview. This fragmentation hinders the development of a unified understanding necessary for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to effectively implement sustainability principles.
Aims: This study aims to systematically analyze and synthesize research on software and information systems for sustainability. Its scope is to identify the dominant models, primary application domains, and key evaluation metrics used in the field to establish a consolidated understanding and guide future efforts.
Methods: A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) following PRISMA screened 314 Scopus documents (2017–2026) to 25 articles, analyzed using Biblioshiny, VOSviewer, and thematic synthesis.
Result: The analysis reveals a field in a consolidative phase, dominated by systematic review-based research (76%) focused on theoretical synthesis. While geographically diverse, the research centers on "sustainability" and "information systems" as core themes. A critical gap exists between conceptual frameworks and practical application, evidenced by a scarcity of empirical studies (only 4% quantitative) and the absence of standardized evaluation metrics.
Conclusion: This review concludes that while significant progress has been made in mapping the conceptual landscape, the field of software and information systems for sustainability must now prioritize empirical validation, the development of AI-driven systems, and the establishment of uniform measurement standards to bridge the gap between theoretical promise and tangible real-world outcomes.
Keywords: Evaluation metrics , Information systems , Sustainable software , Sustainability models , Systematic literature review
Copyright (c) 2026 Deki Saputra, Eko Risdianto, Mohammad Qais Rezvani, Putri Wiji Rahayu
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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