CONTRIBUTOR
Object Management Group (OMG), a not-for-profit technology standards consortium, recently announced Responsible Computing (RC), its newest initiative to address sustainable development goals.
With the help of founding members IBM and Dell, the new consortium will take a systemic approach to address challenges such as sustainability, ethics and professionalism. The consortium’s RC framework is outlined in its manifesto, which focuses on six domains.
“Responsible Computing aims to shift thinking and, ultimately, behavior within the IT industry and affect real change,” said Bill Hoffman, Chairman, and CEO of RC and OMG. “We’ve made our manifesto and framework freely available, and we’ve asked every RC member to implement RC principles. Our goal is that someday every IT professional will adhere to RC principles.”
The first domain, data centers, emphasizes the use of green energy and the responsible disposal of toxic materials. Similarly, the second domain seeks to establish a more sustainable infrastructure, which includes monitoring energy usage of products and technologies.
“Now is the time for companies to adopt a holistic approach that places sustainability strategy at the center of their business,” said Sheri Hinish, Global Lead, IBM Consulting Sustainability Services. “IBM is proud to be a founding member of the RC consortium and through this collaboration we hope to help companies establish new and innovative ways to transform their business operations through ethical, impactful ways that can help contribute to a more sustainable future.”
By reaching greater operational efficiency and meeting sustainability goals, companies can reduce power consumption and packaging waste, save money on heating and cooling, and improve supply chain efficiency, according to IBM.
Furthermore, the third domain focuses on choosing code that optimizes environmental, social and economic impact.
“Dell is proud to be a founding member of the RC consortium. We are aligned with and driven by a similar passion to help leading technology organizations realize their sustainable development goals, in line with the planet’s,” said Marc O’Regan, CTO EMEA, Dell Technologies.
The fourth domain, data usage, spotlights the safe use of data that will create transparency, fairness, privacy and respect within the community. This works in tangent with the fifth domain, systems, which addresses bias and discrimiation by prioritizing equality for all users.
By bringing ethical sustainability to the forefront, the RC consortium shows that increasing operational efficiency isn’t its only concern.
“We need to be careful about deploying technology to make sure that we harvest the benefits without exposing ourselves to unintended consequences,” said Jim Morrish, Founding Partner, Transforma Insights. “AI deployed to support building automation can unlock significant energy savings, to name one example, but we need to ensure this isn’t at the cost of individual privacy.
Finally, the sixth domain aims to drive widespread positive impact, like building to improve human conditions and easing social risk.
Since its inception, five organizations have joined RC: Purdue University, the University of Edinburgh, Slingshot Simulations, Transforma Insights, and BCS.
“BCS became a groundbreaking member of Responsible Computing because our membership community shares the belief that technology can and must drive positive change in society,” said Rob Deri, Chief Executive at BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT. “We are proud to be part of an international coalition that prioritizes the role of IT in understanding and reducing climate change, closing the digital divide, promoting equality of opportunity and growing public trust in tech through global professional standards.”
For more information, visit the Responsible Computing website.
