Unraveling the cognitive underpinnings: Exploring IT managers’ meanings of Green IT practices in SME

Information Technology (IT) plays a central role in the environmental performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); however, the meanings that IT managers attribute to Green IT practices remain insufficiently understood. This study examines how IT managers make sense of sustainable IT practices, drawing on sensemaking theory to investigate the cognitive foundations that inform their decisions. A qualitative study was conducted with SMEs from various sectors, utilizing semi-structured interviews and content analysis to identify patterns of interpretation, barriers, and drivers that shape Green IT adoption. The findings reveal that managers predominantly interpreted Green IT through sensemaking dimensions related to identity, experience, organizational environment, contextual dynamism, evidence management, plausibility, and social interaction. Managers associate sustainability primarily with actions such as virtualization, energy efficiency, reduced printing, and recycling; however, financial and technical constraints remain significant challenges. The study contributes to the literature by presenting a framework that explains how individual cognition and organizational context jointly shape the integration of Green IT into business operations. The results provide practical insights for SME leaders seeking to strengthen sustainable IT strategies and underscore the strategic importance of aligning managerial cognitive frameworks with organizational sustainability goals.