What digital-enabled dynamic capabilities support the circular economy? A multiple case study approach

Neri, Alessandra and Negri, Marta and Cagno, Enrico and Kumar, Vikas and Graza-Reyes, Jose (2023) What digital-enabled dynamic capabilities support the circular economy? A multiple case study approach. Business Strategy and the Environment. ISSN 1099-0836

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Abstract

Circular economy and digital technologies are crucial topics in the current academic and managerial debates. It is largely recognised that - although related to different paradigms - digital technologies could support the industrial circular transition, fostering the adoption of circular economy practices. So far, the relationship has been studied by directly linking the adoption of digital technologies to the implementation of circular economy practices; however, indications for practitioners are unclear. There is thus the need to investigate the relationship at a deeper level. This paper aims at contributing to the debate by adopting a dynamic capabilities theory perspective. By employing an explorative multiple case study methodology and based on an abductive logic, this study investigates 11 Northern-Italy industrial firms in order to understand the transformations that occurred following the adoption of digital technologies and how these transformations supported the adoption of circular economy practices. The results shed preliminary light on which dynamic capabilities – sensing, seizing, and transforming, and their related microfoundations – can be enabled by the different digital technologies and how these capabilities and microfoundations support the circular transition. The study thus provides a first-of-a-kind investigation and suggests propositions for further research to better deepen the knowledge of digital-enabled dynamic capabilities supporting industrial circular economy.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number:	10.1002/bse.3409
Dates:	Date Event 6 March 2023 Accepted 17 March 2023 Published Online
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Circular Economy, Sustainability, Practices, Industry 4.0, Digital Technologies, Digitalisation, Dynamic Capabilities, Case Study
Subjects:	CAH17 - business and management > CAH17-01 - business and management > CAH17-01-02 - business studies CAH17 - business and management > CAH17-01 - business and management > CAH17-01-04 - management studies
Divisions:	Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences > College of Accountancy, Finance and Economics Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences > College of Business, Digital Transformation & Entrepreneurship
Depositing User:	Vikas Kumar
Date Deposited:	09 Mar 2023 10:20
Last Modified:	20 Jun 2024 12:05
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/14232

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