Examining Critical Success Factors for Sustainable Information Society - Lessons Learned from Poland

The sustainable information society (SIS) is one of the most important topics of our time. ICTs play a key role in this society. Unfortunately, factors determining the successful ICTs adoption and consequently the SIS development are not sufficiently established. Therefore, the aim of this study is to answer the question about critical success factors for the SIS in Poland. These factors were identified based on a critical review of literature, the Delphi study, brainstorming, practical collaboration, logical deduction, survey questionnaire and statistical analysis. The paper continues as follows. Firstly, an explanation of the SIS is offered which implies understanding the role of ICTs as enablers of economic, socio-cultural, political and ecological sustainability. Secondly, a methodology of examining critical success factors for the SIS and a framework of critical success factors are presented. Thirdly, the factors for the SIS in Poland are identified followed by the discussion of the research findings. The study results show that economic, socio-cultural, technological and organisational fit have significant influence on the SIS. Moreover, the stakeholders’ access to ICTs, their competences and ICTs usage are important for the SIS. This paper concludes with a presentation of the study’s contribution and limitations, implications for the findings and the stream of future work.