The role of digital technologies in configuring circular ecosystems
International Journal of Operations & Production Management
ISSN: 0144-3577
Article publication date: 9 September 2024
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the use of digital technologies in enabling circular ecosystems. We apply supply network (SN) configuration theory and a novel resource pooling lens, more typically used in financial systems, to identify inventory pools, information repositories and financial exchange models among network actors.
Design/methodology/approach
Five in-depth circular SN case studies are examined where digital technologies are extensively deployed to support circularity, each case representing alternative SN configurations. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews to map SN and resource pooling configurations across each circular ecosystem, with cross-case analysis used to identify distinct pooling and digital strategies.
Findings
Results suggest three digitally enabled circular ecosystem archetypes and their related governance modalities: consortia-based information pooling for resource recovery, intermediary-enabled material and financial pooling for remanufacturing and platform-driven information, material and financial pooling for resource optimisation.
Research limitations/implications
Drawing on SN configuration and resource pooling literature, we recognise distinct configurational, stakeholder and resource pooling dimensions characterising circular ecosystems. While this research is exploratory and the identified archetypes not exhaustive, the combination of resource pooling and configuration lenses offers new insights on circular ecosystem configurations and the critical role of resource pools and enabling digital technologies.
Practical implications
We demonstrate the utility of the resource pooling and configuration approach in the design of digitally enabled circular ecosystems. These archetypes provide practitioners and policymakers with alternative design frameworks when considering circular SN transformations.
Originality/value
This paper introduces a resource netting and pooling configuration lens to circular ecosystems, analogous to financial systems, where cyclical flows and stock are critical and enabled through digital technologies.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
We gratefully acknowledge the support of our industry partners, whose active engagement and collaboration have been instrumental in the successful completion of this research. Their insights have significantly enriched our work, and we appreciate their commitment to advancing circular economy in the field of operations and production management. This work received funding support from United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) via the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for the Industrial Cooperative Awards in Science and Engineering (ICASE) Studentship on Supply Chain Digitalisation towards a Circular Economy (UKRI EP/T517677/1- Project Reference: 2440070). https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2440070
Citation
Rossi, L.A. and Srai, J.S. (2024), "The role of digital technologies in configuring circular ecosystems", International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-12-2023-0973
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited