Sustainable Development: Issues in Information,Knowledge,and Systems Management

Abstract

Sustainable development refers to the fulfillment of human needs through simultaneous socioeconomic and technological progress and conservation of the earth's natural systems. Sustainable world progress is dependent upon continued economic, social, cultural, and technological progress. To achieve this, careful attention must also be paid to preservation of the earth's natural resources. Sustainable development is a term generally associated with the achievement of increased techno-economic growth coupled with preservation of the natural capital that is comprised of environmental and natural resources. It requires the development of enlightened institutions and infrastructures and appropriate management of risks, uncertainties, and information and knowledge imperfections to assure intergenerational equity, and intragenerational equity, all in support of enhanced human capital and conservation of the ability of earth's natural systems to serve humankind. This paper provides an overview of issues associated with sustainability. Of particular interest in this connection are systems management strategies for sustainabilty and the development of appropriate lifecycles for industrial processes that assist in the attainment of sustainable development that take into consideration risks, uncertainties, and information and knowledge imperfections. These efforts provide essential support in development of the knowledge capital and human capital that are necessary for all aspects of human and ecosystem survival and health. These issues are especially important at this time since we are in the midst of a major expansion in information and knowledge management capabilities, and the systems that enable this. It is the thesis of this paper that these resources can be used to greatly enhance sustainable development throughout the world.