Sustainability in the Software Industry: A Survey Study on the Perception, Responsibility, and Motivation of Software Practitioners

While the topic of software sustainability is gaining increasing significance in academia, there is a need to explore its implementation in industrial practice. In this paper, we investigate how software practitioners assess sustainability as a topic within their profession. We conducted a survey study with 104 software practitioners, and the data provides evidence that companies assign moderate importance to sustainability. Different occupational roles indicate varying perceptions and levels of responsibility regarding the development of sustainable software products and services. Notably, technology-oriented roles (e.g., Software Engineers) exhibit lower valuation and responsibility of sustainability aspects compared to management-oriented roles (e.g., Project Managers). The motivation to engage with sustainability shows a connection to business factors such as profitability, competitive opportunities, and risk mitigation. Consequently, researchers should give greater consideration to the circumstances and requirements of businesses, incorporating them into practical approaches to contribute to sustainability. © 2024 CRL Publishing Ltd.