Computer Support for Cooperative Sustainability Communication

The following chapter explores computers and communication in organizations from the language-action perspective (LAP). This helps clarify the role of email, instant messaging and online social networks in organizations. But the most important result is that two different forms of coordination of action can be distinguished – communication-based and delinguistified – together with possible transitions between the two. A two-phase approach to sustainable development in organizations is presented. Based on Habermas’s theory of communicative action, it is argued that sustainability communication is necessary to overcome traditional generalized actions in conflict with sustainable development. This also requires appropriate computer support.