An introduction to sustainability and digital engineering management: African case studies in sustainable digital transformation

The principles of digital transformation and sustainability are increasingly shaping the landscape of engineering management. This shift involves leveraging digital tools and technologies to improve engineering processes, foster innovation, gain competitive advantage, enhance efficiency, and create sustainable value within the engineering industry. At the same time, there is a growing emphasis on reducing environmental impact and working towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Despite the widespread recognition of the importance of sustainability, there is a noticeable gap between awareness and implementation. While digitalisation offers substantial benefits, there is a lack of actionable strategies for integrating it in a way that aligns with the SDGs. To address this gap, this chapter introduces case studies that offer practical guidelines for implementing sustainable digital transformation across industries. The section provides a comprehensive overview of the themes covered in the book, offering a summary of all the digital tools implemented in each case study and outlines the chapters within each theme.