A self-assessment framework to determine the status quo of enterprises in digital sustainability management

Evaluating a company's proficiency in employing digital tools to advance its sustainability objectives is critical in today's business environment. Companies often lack a structured approach to assess and enhance their maturity in digital sustainability management. This paper thus introduces a framework for companies to systematically assesses their performance in five key dimensions of digital sustainability management: general sustainability implementation, sustainability-digitalization-intersection, handling of sustainability data, employee digitalization & sustainability literacy, and sustainable supply chain management. Based on literature review and expert interviews/workshops, we develop a model, inspired by existing maturity models, that comprises five levels: explorer, beginner, advanced, expert and pioneer. By specifically assessing these dimensions, companies can identify their strengths and weaknesses, set strategic priorities and implement targeted measures to improve their sustainability and digitalization practices. A widespread adaptation of the framework could promote the competitiveness and resilience of companies in the age of digital transformation and contributes to the transition into a sustainable economy. Future research should focus on refining the framework based on broader application and feedback, aiming to enhance its impact and ensure its relevance in guiding companies towards the successful implementation of digital sustainability management.