Bridging BPM and Sustainability Journeys in Navigating Sustainability Paradoxical Tensions

Ika Nurkasanah; Amy Van Looy

doi:10.1007/978-3-032-02936-2_6

Bridging BPM and Sustainability Journeys in Navigating Sustainability Paradoxical Tensions

Ika Nurkasanah^*
, Amy Van Looy

^*Corresponding author for this work

Laboratory of Enterprise Systems

Ghent University

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

Since Business Process Management (BPM) and sustainability often evolve along separate journeys, few organizations fully recognize the potential of integrating both disciplines to address shared tensions and to optimize sustainability-driven business process transformation. Hence, this study investigates the convergence of BPM and sustainability journeys through multiple case studies, applying paradox theory and BPM capability frameworks to analyze emerging tensions and response strategies. The findings reveal that despite their different starting points, both BPM and sustainability journeys face shared paradoxical tensions. Our research also contextualizes existing BPM capability areas for identifying shared solutions to navigate the tensions. This study offers theoretical contributions by extending BPM capability frameworks to address sustainability paradoxes and by introducing process-level capability considerations to sustainability research. Our research provides practical insight into fostering collaboration between BPM and sustainability functions that enable organizations to more effectively navigate the complexities of managing sustainable processes.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Business Process Management
Subtitle of host publication	Responsible BPM Forum, Process Technology Forum, Educators Forum - BPM 2025 RBPM, PT, and Educators Forum, Proceedings
Editors	Mahendrawathi ER, Avigdor Gal, Thomas Grisold, Flavia Santoro, Mathias Weske, Remco M. Dijkman, Dimka Karastoyanova, Banu Aysolmaz, Wasana Bandara, Kate Revoredo
Publisher	Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages	66-71
Number of pages	6
ISBN (Print)	9783032029355
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-02936-2_6
Publication status	Published - 2026
Event	23rd International Conference on Business Process Management, BPM 2025 - Seville, Spain Duration: 31 Aug 2025 → 5 Sept 2025

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing
Volume	565 LNBIP
ISSN (Print)	1865-1348
ISSN (Electronic)	1865-1356

Conference

Conference	23rd International Conference on Business Process Management, BPM 2025
Country/Territory	Spain
City	Seville
Period	31/08/25 → 5/09/25

Keywords

BPM Capability
Business Process Management
Paradox Theory
Sustainability

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-032-02936-2_6

Cite this

Nurkasanah, I., & Van Looy, A. (2026). Bridging BPM and Sustainability Journeys in Navigating Sustainability Paradoxical Tensions. In M. ER, A. Gal, T. Grisold, F. Santoro, M. Weske, R. M. Dijkman, D. Karastoyanova, B. Aysolmaz, W. Bandara, & K. Revoredo (Eds.), Business Process Management: Responsible BPM Forum, Process Technology Forum, Educators Forum - BPM 2025 RBPM, PT, and Educators Forum, Proceedings (pp. 66-71). (Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing; Vol. 565 LNBIP). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-02936-2_6

Nurkasanah, Ika ; Van Looy, Amy. / Bridging BPM and Sustainability Journeys in Navigating Sustainability Paradoxical Tensions. Business Process Management: Responsible BPM Forum, Process Technology Forum, Educators Forum - BPM 2025 RBPM, PT, and Educators Forum, Proceedings. editor / Mahendrawathi ER ; Avigdor Gal ; Thomas Grisold ; Flavia Santoro ; Mathias Weske ; Remco M. Dijkman ; Dimka Karastoyanova ; Banu Aysolmaz ; Wasana Bandara ; Kate Revoredo. Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2026. pp. 66-71 (Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing).

@inproceedings{fdb38923beaf4e3c8bf1ddf5f953c48e,

title = "Bridging BPM and Sustainability Journeys in Navigating Sustainability Paradoxical Tensions",

abstract = "Since Business Process Management (BPM) and sustainability often evolve along separate journeys, few organizations fully recognize the potential of integrating both disciplines to address shared tensions and to optimize sustainability-driven business process transformation. Hence, this study investigates the convergence of BPM and sustainability journeys through multiple case studies, applying paradox theory and BPM capability frameworks to analyze emerging tensions and response strategies. The findings reveal that despite their different starting points, both BPM and sustainability journeys face shared paradoxical tensions. Our research also contextualizes existing BPM capability areas for identifying shared solutions to navigate the tensions. This study offers theoretical contributions by extending BPM capability frameworks to address sustainability paradoxes and by introducing process-level capability considerations to sustainability research. Our research provides practical insight into fostering collaboration between BPM and sustainability functions that enable organizations to more effectively navigate the complexities of managing sustainable processes.",

keywords = "BPM Capability, Business Process Management, Paradox Theory, Sustainability",

author = "Ika Nurkasanah and \{Van Looy\}, Amy",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.; 23rd International Conference on Business Process Management, BPM 2025 ; Conference date: 31-08-2025 Through 05-09-2025",

year = "2026",

doi = "10.1007/978-3-032-02936-2\_6",

language = "English",

isbn = "9783032029355",

series = "Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing",

publisher = "Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH",

pages = "66--71",

editor = "Mahendrawathi ER and Avigdor Gal and Thomas Grisold and Flavia Santoro and Mathias Weske and Dijkman, \{Remco M.\} and Dimka Karastoyanova and Banu Aysolmaz and Wasana Bandara and Kate Revoredo",

booktitle = "Business Process Management",

address = "Germany",

}

Nurkasanah, I & Van Looy, A 2026, Bridging BPM and Sustainability Journeys in Navigating Sustainability Paradoxical Tensions. in M ER, A Gal, T Grisold, F Santoro, M Weske, RM Dijkman, D Karastoyanova, B Aysolmaz, W Bandara & K Revoredo (eds), Business Process Management: Responsible BPM Forum, Process Technology Forum, Educators Forum - BPM 2025 RBPM, PT, and Educators Forum, Proceedings. Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing, vol. 565 LNBIP, Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, pp. 66-71, 23rd International Conference on Business Process Management, BPM 2025, Seville, Spain, 31/08/25. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-02936-2_6

Bridging BPM and Sustainability Journeys in Navigating Sustainability Paradoxical Tensions. / Nurkasanah, Ika; Van Looy, Amy.
Business Process Management: Responsible BPM Forum, Process Technology Forum, Educators Forum - BPM 2025 RBPM, PT, and Educators Forum, Proceedings. ed. / Mahendrawathi ER; Avigdor Gal; Thomas Grisold; Flavia Santoro; Mathias Weske; Remco M. Dijkman; Dimka Karastoyanova; Banu Aysolmaz; Wasana Bandara; Kate Revoredo. Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2026. p. 66-71 (Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing; Vol. 565 LNBIP).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Bridging BPM and Sustainability Journeys in Navigating Sustainability Paradoxical Tensions

AU - Nurkasanah, Ika

AU - Van Looy, Amy

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - Since Business Process Management (BPM) and sustainability often evolve along separate journeys, few organizations fully recognize the potential of integrating both disciplines to address shared tensions and to optimize sustainability-driven business process transformation. Hence, this study investigates the convergence of BPM and sustainability journeys through multiple case studies, applying paradox theory and BPM capability frameworks to analyze emerging tensions and response strategies. The findings reveal that despite their different starting points, both BPM and sustainability journeys face shared paradoxical tensions. Our research also contextualizes existing BPM capability areas for identifying shared solutions to navigate the tensions. This study offers theoretical contributions by extending BPM capability frameworks to address sustainability paradoxes and by introducing process-level capability considerations to sustainability research. Our research provides practical insight into fostering collaboration between BPM and sustainability functions that enable organizations to more effectively navigate the complexities of managing sustainable processes.

AB - Since Business Process Management (BPM) and sustainability often evolve along separate journeys, few organizations fully recognize the potential of integrating both disciplines to address shared tensions and to optimize sustainability-driven business process transformation. Hence, this study investigates the convergence of BPM and sustainability journeys through multiple case studies, applying paradox theory and BPM capability frameworks to analyze emerging tensions and response strategies. The findings reveal that despite their different starting points, both BPM and sustainability journeys face shared paradoxical tensions. Our research also contextualizes existing BPM capability areas for identifying shared solutions to navigate the tensions. This study offers theoretical contributions by extending BPM capability frameworks to address sustainability paradoxes and by introducing process-level capability considerations to sustainability research. Our research provides practical insight into fostering collaboration between BPM and sustainability functions that enable organizations to more effectively navigate the complexities of managing sustainable processes.

KW - BPM Capability

KW - Business Process Management

KW - Paradox Theory

KW - Sustainability

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105015744616

U2 - 10.1007/978-3-032-02936-2_6

DO - 10.1007/978-3-032-02936-2_6

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:105015744616

SN - 9783032029355

T3 - Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing

SP - 66

EP - 71

BT - Business Process Management

A2 - ER, Mahendrawathi

A2 - Gal, Avigdor

A2 - Grisold, Thomas

A2 - Santoro, Flavia

A2 - Weske, Mathias

A2 - Dijkman, Remco M.

A2 - Karastoyanova, Dimka

A2 - Aysolmaz, Banu

A2 - Bandara, Wasana

A2 - Revoredo, Kate

PB - Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH

T2 - 23rd International Conference on Business Process Management, BPM 2025

Y2 - 31 August 2025 through 5 September 2025

ER -

Nurkasanah I, Van Looy A. Bridging BPM and Sustainability Journeys in Navigating Sustainability Paradoxical Tensions. In ER M, Gal A, Grisold T, Santoro F, Weske M, Dijkman RM, Karastoyanova D, Aysolmaz B, Bandara W, Revoredo K, editors, Business Process Management: Responsible BPM Forum, Process Technology Forum, Educators Forum - BPM 2025 RBPM, PT, and Educators Forum, Proceedings. Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH. 2026. p. 66-71. (Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing). doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-02936-2_6

Bridging BPM and Sustainability Journeys in Navigating Sustainability Paradoxical Tensions

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this