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In our previous study, we found that sustainability in software engineering is perceived in multiple ways. Some view it as balancing environmental, economic, and social aspects, while others emphasize its role in improving software longevity and efficiency. Key perspectives include:
Sustainability decisions often involve trade-offs between different dimensions: environmental, economic, technical, individual, and social. Below is an example scenario from the financial services industry, where a company must choose between migrating to a cloud-based infrastructure or maintaining an on-premise system.
This dimension considers the impact of software on the environment, including energy consumption and resource usage.
Trade-Off Concern: Migrating to the cloud can reduce direct energy consumption and physical infrastructure needs. However, reliance on cloud data centers may shift the environmental burden elsewhere, depending on the energy source of the provider.
This dimension focuses on cost efficiency, long-term financial viability, and reducing unnecessary expenses.
Trade-Off Concern: Cloud solutions can reduce upfront capital expenses and provide scalable cost models. However, long-term costs may increase due to subscription fees, reliance on a third party, and potential price hikes over time.
This dimension focuses on the maintainability, scalability, and adaptability of software systems over time.
Trade-Off Concern: Cloud systems can offer better scalability, reliability, and disaster recovery options. However, vendor lock-in, compliance challenges, and data security concerns may arise, affecting long-term system resilience.
This dimension considers the impact on employees, including workload, job stability, and well-being.
Trade-Off Concern: Cloud migration can reduce the workload for IT staff managing hardware, allowing them to focus on innovation. However, sudden shifts in technology may require reskilling, leading to short-term job uncertainty.
This dimension includes ethical responsibility, accessibility, and the broader impact on society.
Trade-Off Concern: Cloud services may improve accessibility and global collaboration. However, dependence on large cloud providers could centralize power, potentially affecting market competition and local employment in data management roles.
The company must decide whether to prioritize cost efficiency and scalability (economic, technical) over workforce stability (individual) and environmental responsibility. The ideal solution balances these dimensions while aligning with long-term sustainability goals.