A Renewal Energy Certificate (REC) is another mech­anism for offsetting carbon emissions. As explained by Claudio Lima, RECs are issued to accredited generators of renewable energy. These credits can then be traded in energy markets where consumers looking to offset their own fossil fuel energy consumption can buy the credits. Since a REC is essentially a record of a quasi-observable event (i.e., renewable energy fed into the grid), this data is susceptible to manipulation and transaction errors. Similar to carbon markets, or any market for that matter, lack of credibility can under­­mine the effectiveness of the market. Lima explains how blockchain can be used to ensure the authenticity of RECs and improve their market credibility.

A Renewal Energy Certificate (REC) is another mech­anism for offsetting carbon emissions. As explained by Claudio Lima, RECs are issued to accredited generators of renewable energy. These credits can then be traded in energy markets where consumers looking to offset their own fossil fuel energy consumption can buy the credits. Since a REC is essentially a record of a quasi-observable event (i.e., renewable energy fed into the grid), this data is susceptible to manipulation and transaction errors. Similar to carbon markets, or any market for that matter, lack of credibility can under­­mine the effectiveness of the market. Lima explains how blockchain can be used to ensure the authenticity of RECs and improve their market credibility.

We continue the trend of the last CBTJ issue with an interview of a top-notch expert whose company is helping to make great strides toward sustainability. Cutter Consortium Fellow Lou Mazzucchelli talks with Carlos Silva of Pachama, a company that uses satellite imagery and ML to measure the carbon captured by forests and how it evolves over time. This measurement allows us to determine whether a carbon credit that is traded on an exchange represents a “real” reduction in emissions. The verifiability and accuracy of such measurements form the foundation for robust carbon markets. Silva explains how the technology works to ensure the integrity of forest carbon credits.

We continue the trend of the last CBTJ issue with an interview of a top-notch expert whose company is helping to make great strides toward sustainability. Cutter Consortium Fellow Lou Mazzucchelli talks with Carlos Silva of Pachama, a company that uses satellite imagery and ML to measure the carbon captured by forests and how it evolves over time. This measurement allows us to determine whether a carbon credit that is traded on an exchange represents a “real” reduction in emissions. The verifiability and accuracy of such measurements form the foundation for robust carbon markets. Silva explains how the technology works to ensure the integrity of forest carbon credits.

Cutter Consortium Senior Consultant San Murugesan provides a broad overview of the many areas where we can use IoT to improve environmental sustainability, from energy management to food waste reduction. He explains that “the power of IoT lies in its efficiency, accessibility and controllability, and scalability in connecting disparate, distributed devices and appliances.” Many of the applications Murugesan describes rely on sensors to collect data in settings where previously it would have been prohibitively expensive or infeasible. These sensors then feed information to data analytics software that can optimize decisions. His article gives us a sense of how pervasive IoT already is, and how much potential it still has.

The four articles in this companion issue of CBTJ on sustainability explore the ways that technology can be used to monitor and improve the sustainability of a wide range of processes, industrial and otherwise.

The four articles in this companion issue of CBTJ on sustainability explore the ways that technology can be used to monitor and improve the sustainability of a wide range of processes, industrial and otherwise.

Speed, productivity, quality, and engagement — the benefits of Agile — are vital to your business. Business leaders across industries strive to cultivate these essential qualities on a day-to-day basis. The sheer volume of podcasts, books, seminars, and articles centering on these elements indicate an impressive collective interest in becoming Agile. However, many leaders are slow to start the Agile journey — at least right now.

Explore the unintended consequences, such as erosion of human skills and the scope expansion that takes us from reconnecting with old friends online to channels that broadcast un-fact-checked news, that AI can bring. In this Advisor, Paul Clermont offers no-nonsense advice for dealing with these issues.

For a KRI framework to be successful, it is vital that KRIs are well selected so they can support the business and its objectives within the risk appetite. This Advisor explores some of the means by which KRIs can be established.

There is no better way to socialize and gain traction with business architecture than to deliver results using it. This Advisor explores best practices, tips, and hacks for establishing and socializing business architecture, ensuring it is appreciated and embedded within the fabric of the organization.

As artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) gain attention for their potential to tackle the environmental challenges posed by climate change, their requirement of heterogeneous data takes center stage. This Advisor addresses the fact that while heterogeneous data plays a critical role in the use of AI and ML to combat climate change, there is a dual side that is not environmentally friendly.

The pressure on telecom companies’ cash flow has never been so intense. Now more than ever, it has become imperative to unlock value through asset reconfiguration in order to finance growth and transformation via 5G and diversification.

Over the course of the pandemic, employees and managers have developed their knowledge and skill sets related to virtual work and now look to optimize the benefits of virtual work post-pandemic. This Advisor includes three steps for hybrid success that organizational leaders can consider as they iden­tify what adoption of — and reliance on — flexible, hybrid work may look like in the post-pandemic world.

Technology — artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), in particular — shows enormous promise in tackling the complexity inherent in sustainability problems. However, technology itself can leave its own environmental footprint. This issue of Cutter Business Technology Journal explores the challenge of leveraging technology to move us toward a more sustainable future, while mitigating its own impact.

Security threats and compulsions are increasing. Attacks on critical infrastructure and ransomware attacks are not unusual, and it's only a matter of time until we see insider attacks and attacks on IoT devices. In this Advisor, the author asserts that architecture's time has come to help address the complexity and sprawl in the security landscape.

In this latest edition of The Cutter Edge, find out why IT is late to its industrial revolution, how AI/ML technologies are driving post-pandemic change, and more!

AI and other advanced, innovative technologies are being applied to precision agriculture to help reduce the environmental impact of such operations. This Advisor explores how one cutting edge company, Iron Ox, is using ML, machine visioning, and autonomous robots to transform the agricultural industry.

As we explore in this Executive Update, there are tangible benefits to basing corporate purpose on sustainability drivers, and sustainable business models are gaining pace. Therefore, businesses should rethink their role in the context in which they operate and adapt their strategy, organization, resources, processes, and culture accordingly.

Prof Tima Bansal leads executive teams in examining: What does sustainable development mean for your business? What can your organization do to tackle sustainable development? How can you assess the success of your initiatives?

This Executive Update presents best practices to help you succeed on your journey of establishing business architecture within your organization, whether you are just starting out or seeking ways to fine-tune engagement with your existing practice.

The value of a great team has never been questioned. What thriving teams have in common is a single vision, a customer on which they can focus, a coach or leader to help them focus, and the authority to work within guardrails without having to stop to get permission to make decisions.

The demonstration of human resilience may end up being more noteworthy than the disruption experienced through the COVID-19 pandemic. Managers, mentors, coaches, and colleagues who are able to identify moments of low resilience can be of the greatest help to the individual employee and overall workplace morale and productivity.

The hype and reality of artificial intelligence (AI) bombards today’s enterprises on an almost daily basis, but what does it take to actually implement it? Simply put, organizations need to address issues across several critical steps in making AI work to their best advantage, including acquiring AI and machine learning (ML) tools. This Advisor explores six main components of AI and ML tools.

Simon Schillebeeckx proposes a focus on regeneration as a way for small carbon footprint firms (e.g., consulting, financial services firms) to make a positive sustainability impact. He highlights that service industry firms can proactively contribute to the regeneration of common pool resources, such as forests and lakes, which often become neglected or overused. What makes regeneration different compared to more traditional donations to a conservation nonprofit is the use of digital technology that enables an organization to lay claim to the eco­system benefits it generates through its support. The digitization of benefits claims provides a transparent accounting system for environmental benefits. Schillebeeckx explains how transparency and accountability can lay the foundation for firms to work together to preserve and restore common pool resources.