The Impacts of Recent Technological Advancements on Sustainable Managerial Practices

Dear Colleagues,

Recent advances in computing, robotics, and data analytics are revolutionizing managerial practices across diverse industries. Emerging technologies—such as artificial intelligence (AI), extended reality (XR), and robotics—are transforming decision-making, communication, and learning, enhancing or enabling agile and sustainable operations. These innovations extend beyond traditional automation by fostering robust collaboration between human expertise on sustainability and intelligent or virtual systems, ultimately enhancing energy efficiency, optimizing resource use, and minimizing waste.

Improved managerial decision-making is crucial for sustainability because it shifts the focus from short-term gains to long-term considerations of environmental, social, and economic impacts. Sustainable decisions involve responsible resource management, ethical labor practices, community engagement, and long-term profitability, often leading to innovation, reduced risk, and improved stakeholder relationships. By integrating frameworks like Life Cycle Assessment and ESG factors, and by consistently measuring and reporting on progress, managers can ensure that their decisions contribute to a more resilient and sustainable future for both the businesses and the world.

On the demand side, stakeholders now prioritize ethically produced and authentic outputs, underscoring the need for managerial practices that harmonize innovation with responsible decision-making. On the supply side, the convergence of digital technologies, advanced analytics, and AI-driven tools is catalyzing a new era of sustainable management. For example, robotic systems are delivering significant improvements in manufacturing energy efficiency using precision control, predictive maintenance, and smart facility management. In parallel, digital platforms and immersive training frameworks—utilizing AR, VR, and MR—are reshaping managerial learning, as well as helping employees gain crucial skills and experiences; for example, digital twins can simulate manufacturing environment learning experiences.

Moreover, these technological transformations are not confined to traditional manufacturing; creative industries are increasingly integrating advanced simulations and digital learning methods to set new benchmarks for sustainability. The creative industry is enhancing sustainability by using AI to optimize designs, reduce material waste, and improve manufacturing processes, while XR enables virtual prototyping, remote collaboration, and immersive experiences that minimize the need for physical production and travel. These technologies, combined with applications like virtual showrooms and digital fashion, promote conscious consumption, and reduce the environmental footprint of creative industries across the design, production, marketing, and even waste management stages. This convergence of creativity and technological innovation fosters an environment where continuous learning and ethical practice underpin sustainable growth.

This Special Issue invites contributions that explore the multifaceted impact of recent technological advancements on sustainable managerial practices. We encourage research that addresses, but is not limited to, the following themes:

• The role of technology: Investigating how AI, extended reality, robotics, and data analytics empower managers to make informed decisions that enhance sustainability.
• Learning practices: Examining innovative, data-driven approaches and continuous learning frameworks that improve energy management across industries.
• Ethical challenges: Analyzing the ethical, regulatory, and policy implications of integrating advanced technologies in energy-efficient practices.
• Training methods: Evaluating the efficacy of immersive training frameworks and virtual simulations in promoting sustainable managerial practices.
• Creative industries integration: Exploring the adoption of these technologies in creative sectors and their role in setting new standards for sustainability.
• Interdisciplinary perspectives: Proposing future-oriented interdisciplinary research that bridges technological innovation and sustainable energy practices.

We look forward to contributions that will deepen our understanding of how technological advancements are reshaping managerial roles and fostering sustainable and resilient business models across sectors.

Prof. Dr. Andrej Bertoncelj
Prof. Dr. Maja Meško
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• sustainability
• decision-making
• artificial intelligence
• robotics
• data analytics
• extended reality
• continuous learning
• energy efficiency
• creativity
• ethical frameworks