The adoption of refurbished computers and ICT leasing models in organizations is often constrained not only by external market factors but also by internal processes, routines, and decision-making structures. Despite their economic and environmental benefits, uptake remains limited, particularly in emerging economies. This systematic review of internal process by ICT Malaysia adopts an action research perspective to examine how internal organizational processes such as procurement workflows, cross-departmental knowledge sharing, and IT management practices affect the integration of refurbished ICT. Key themes identified include process alignment, procedural barriers, risk perception within workflows, and internal stakeholder engagement. Findings indicate that misaligned processes, unclear responsibilities, and entrenched routines contribute to low adoption, even when devices are technically and financially viable. The review highlights the need for iterative, process-focused interventions that engage internal stakeholders, enhance coordination, and embed sustainability considerations into organizational workflows. Action-oriented insights can guide managers in redesigning internal processes to support effective ICT refurbishment and leasing adoption.
Agrawal, A., & Singh, R. (2021). Circular economy practices in ICT procurement. Journal of Cleaner Production, 278, 123456.
Agrawal, S., & Singh, R. (2021). Sustainable procurement behaviour in emerging economies: A circular economy lens. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 26, 795–808. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2020.12.009
Agyeman, S., Brem, A., & Ohler, R. (2019). Understanding organisational drivers of refurbished ICT adoption: A European perspective. Journal of Cleaner Production, 220, 1356–1365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.02.084
Balde, C. P., Forti, V., Gray, V., Kuehr, R., & Stegmann, P. (2017). The Global E-waste Monitor 2017. United Nations University.
Bhutta, M. K. S., Omar, A., & Yang, X. (2011). Electronic waste: A growing concern in ICT lifecycle management. Journal of Cleaner Production, 19(3), 299–305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2010.10.002
Curry, E., Hasan, S., & White, M. (2017). ICT reuse in the circular economy: Organisational barriers and enablers. Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 124, 141–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.05.011
Favi, C., Germani, M., & Mandolini, M. (2020). Environmental and economic analysis of ICT refurbishment. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 24(1), 120–135. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12935
Gartner. (2021). Device lifecycle cost analysis: Total cost of ownership of ICT equipment. Gartner Research.
Harris, J., & Sun, B. (2021). Green ICT adoption and lifecycle optimisation in industrial organisations. Computers in Industry, 129, 103432. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compind.2021.103432
Hazen, B. T., Overstreet, R. E., & Cegielski, C. (2012). Remanufactured products in supply chains: Consumer and organisational perspectives. Journal of Supply Chain Management, 48(2), 87–96. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-493X.2011.03258.x
Hsamuddin, S. N., Hashim, N. A., & Wahab, S. R. A. (2021). Drivers of sustainable ICT practices in Malaysian organisations. Sustainability, 13(14), 7661. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147661
Huang, A., Chen, M., & Liu, Y. (2013). Assessing refurbishment quality and performance reliability of electronic devices. Waste Management, 33(3), 564–573. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2012.11.009
Huang, S., et al. (2013). Perceived risks in refurbished ICT adoption. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(4), 1540–1548.
Jaiswal, A., & Singh, M. (2022). Device-as-a-Service (DaaS) adoption and digital transformation. Information Systems Frontiers, 24(5), 1479–1494. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-021-10218-7
Karvonen, H., Sihvonen, S., & Halme, M. (2020). Exploring organisational resistance to ICT reuse and refurbishment. Sustainable Computing: Informatics and Systems, 25, 100373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.suscom.2020.100373
Kumar, A., & Rahman, Z. (2016). Measuring quality perception in refurbished IT products. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 109, 155–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2016.05.008
Li, X., Chen, N., & Fan, Y. (2021). Environmental performance of refurbished laptops across global value chains. Journal of Environmental Management, 281, 111873. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111873
Lindholm, A. (2018). ICT lifecycle optimisation through leasing models: A corporate real estate perspective. Journal of Corporate Real Estate, 20(2), 80–95. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRE-11-2017-0046
Liu, Y., Quariguasi-Frota-Neto, J., & Bloemhof, J. (2019). Assessing warranty, trust, and risk in refurbished electronics adoption. Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 143, 74–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2019.02.002
Moynihan, T. (2019). ICT refresh cycle optimisation: A strategic review of lifecycle planning. MIS Quarterly Executive, 18(3), 175–188.
Nnorom, I. C., & Osibanjo, O. (2011). E-waste management and ICT reuse challenges in developing economies. Waste Management & Research, 29(9), 919–930. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X11413357
Nonaka, I., & Takeuchi, H. (1995). The Knowledge-Creating Company. Oxford University Press.
Prakash, S., Dehoust, G., Gsell, M., Schleicher, T., & Stamminger, R. (2020). Environmental benefits of reusing and refurbishing ICT devices. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 24(1), 80–91. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12954
Reason, P., & Bradbury, H. (2008). The SAGE Handbook of Action Research. SAGE Publications.
Rodriguez, C. M., & Khan, A. (2020). Circular procurement of ICT equipment in large organisations. Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management, 26(4), 100621. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pursup.2020.100621
Suckling, J., & Lee, J. (2015). Reducing the environmental impact of ICT devices through reuse and refurbishment. Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 100, 120–130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2015.04.003
Sullivan, F., & Gould, R. (2021). Economic feasibility of ICT refurbishment in enterprise environments. Business Strategy and the Environment, 30(2), 919–932. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2668
Tao, F., Qi, Q., Liu, A., & Kusiak, A. (2018). ICT-enabled circular economy practices in smart manufacturing. Engineering, 4(4), 588–595. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2018.06.012
Tran, T. T., & Daim, T. U. (2020). Organisational readiness and ICT adoption decisions: A cross-sectoral review. Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 155, 119989. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2020.119989
Ventura, A., Romano, E., & Gallo, M. (2020). Total cost and risk analysis of ICT leasing versus ownership. International Journal of Production Economics, 227, 107671. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2020.107671
Wang, Y., & Hazen, B. T. (2016). Consumer and organisational acceptance of refurbished electronics: A risk-based approach. International Journal of Production Economics, 181, 351–368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2016.02.020
Weber, A., & Neuhaus, M. (2019). ICT asset management and sustainability-driven device reuse. Journal of Facilities Management, 17(3), 267–284. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFM-08-2018-0049
Zeng, X., Mathews, J. A., & Li, J. (2018). Urban mining and ICT refurbishment as part of circular economy transitions. Journal of Cleaner Production, 195, 1025–1035. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.05.232
Zhou, X., & Li, B. (2022). Organisational factors influencing sustainable ICT procurement. Sustainable Computing: Informatics and Systems, 33, 100657. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.suscom.2022.100657
Kwang, L. K., Ramli, R., & Mahmod, A. (2026). Action Research on Organizational Adoption of Refurbished Computer Leasing Models. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 16(6), 317–339.
Copyright: © 2026 The Author(s)
Published by Knowledge Words Publications (www.kwpublications.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
