scholarly journals Circular economy: a conceptual model to measure readiness for manufacturing SMEs

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
John Thorley ◽  
Jose Arturo Garza-Reyes ◽  
Anthony Anosike

PurposeOver the last decade, circular economy (CE) has gathered interest from both industrialists and academics alike. Whilst CE research is widespread in such areas as supply chain and larger organisations, there is limited research into how small to medium enterprises (SMEs) can prepare for adopting CE. There is no comprehensive readiness model for SMEs adopting CE. The purpose of this paper is to explore the literature on change readiness and generate knowledge to fill this gap by developing a conceptual model to measure change readiness for SMEs' adopting CE.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on a comprehensive literature review of change readiness models and frameworks. The paper reviews publications from Science Direct, Web of Science, Emerald, Scopus and Google Scholar. The readiness for change models and frameworks from the selected publications are evaluated and synthesised to develop a comprehensive conceptual model for change readiness for SMEs adopting a circular economy.FindingsA readiness conceptual model is developed by incorporating several factors as precursors to readiness, i.e. individual/collective difference, structural, contextual factors and related barriers. Eleven factors make up the individual/collective difference. Three factors make up the structural and contextual factors.Practical implicationsThis paper develops a conceptual model that can aid academics and practitioners in better understanding SMEs readiness to adopt CE.Originality/valueThis paper makes a unique contribution by proposing a comprehensive conceptual model of readiness for SMEs adopting CE.

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 921-936 ◽  
Author(s):  
Poonam Singh ◽  
Elisa Giacosa

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the cognitive biases of consumer and explain how they are creating barriers in transition towards circular economy (CE). Design/methodology/approach This is a conceptual paper which adopts a consumer-centric conceptualization of CE by focussing on cognitive biases as an underlying and unifying mechanism which is creating barriers in the adoption of CE. This conceptualization explains consumers’ non-adoption of circular business model, highlight synergies across disconnected theories and streams of research originating in different disciplines and at the individual, societal and cultural levels of analysis. Findings The findings of this paper suggest that circular business models are not fulfilling the psychological, social and cultural needs of the consumers and that in turn lead to barriers in diffusion of the CE. Consumers have a negative connotation with the different circular business model due to their cognitive biases. Practical implications The paper details about key implications to design effective interventions to modify consumer behaviour in the desired direction for hassle-free transition to CE from the linear economy. Originality/value This paper offers a shift in CE research from a deterministic approach to conceptualising consumers to a positivist approach to conceptualising consumers.


2014 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 299-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanley Ross

Purpose – The goal of the leadership development process is to enable the individual to learn how to become a self-leader and for any organization to develop leaders. Self-leadership represents an individual's ability to exercise control (self-efficacy) over his or her choice of situations in which to participate in and to provide intrinsic rewards that are usually associated with achieving goals. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – This study presents and describes a conceptual model that will help us to understand the critical dimensions (e.g. self-esteem) associated with self-leadership and the interrelatedness of these dimensions. Findings – The conceptual model that the author describes in this paper provides a comprehensive overview of self-leadership that extends Neck and Manz's (2010) conceptual model. It does so by identifying all the critical super ordinate mediators referred to by Deci et al. (1981) as internal states (referred to in this study as “dimensions”). These “dimensions” are then organized into his or her own singular system which leads to specific types of behavior. Through elucidating the important mediators and learning about and understanding how behavior, an individual's internal processes and external forces influence each other (in what Manz, 1986; Bandura, 1978 refer to as reciprocal determinism), we can begin to understand how to design more effective leadership development programs. Additionally, by studying these mediators any organization can develop clearly defined profiles of potential leaders; in turn, this will help an organization screen candidates more effectively to fill leadership jobs. Originality/value – This concept piece offers a comprehensive model of the self-leadership process that includes all the important issues and the relationship among the important issues.


2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 953-970 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepak Singhal ◽  
Sushant Tripathy ◽  
Sarat Kumar Jena

Purpose Acceptance of remanufactured products by the consumers is highly essential for the success of closed loop supply chain and for achieving the goal of circular economy. However, the literature shows that consumers are reluctant to purchase remanufactured products. Therefore, the study of attitude and purchase intention (PI) of the consumers toward remanufactured products becomes inevitable for popularizing these products. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach This research proposes a conceptual model to examine the critical factors influencing the PI of Indian consumers toward remanufactured products. Further, this model is empirically tested, using structural equation modeling technique, based on the data obtained from 1,534 respondents. Findings The findings of this research suggest that PI of consumers is influenced by attitude, personal benefits, remanufactured product knowledge, risk perception, subjective norm and market strategy. However, perceived behavior control and green awareness have a non-significant impact on the PI of Indian consumers. Research limitations/implications The proposed conceptual model is tested only against the data received from the students of Indian universities who possess electronic gadgets. Practical implications The circular economy can be realized through remanufacturing if the attitude of consumers is shaped positively toward remanufactured products through the dissemination of comprehensive product information. Originality/value This research is the first attempt to assess the PI of Indian consumers by developing and testing the conceptual model. Further, this research provides guidelines to remanufacturing firms for attracting the consumers toward the purchase of remanufactured products.


2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 703-728 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl Kühl ◽  
Michael Bourlakis ◽  
Emel Aktas ◽  
Heather Skipworth

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to test the link between servitisation and circular economy by synthesising the effect of product-service systems (PSS) on supply chain circularity (SCC). Design/methodology/approach Following a systematic literature review methodology, the study identified 67 studies and synthesised them using content analysis. Findings A conceptual model is developed illustrating how PSS business models impact SCC through increased product longevity, closure of resource loops and resource efficiency. It also identifies six contextual factors affecting the implementation of SCC including: economic attractiveness of SCC; firm sustainability strategy; policy and societal environment; product category; supply chain relationships; and technology. Research limitations/implications The conceptual model proposes that SCC increases with servitisation. It also proposes that the main circularity effect stems from increased product longevity, followed by closed resource loops and finally resource efficiency. The model is deduced from the literature by using secondary data. Practical implications The review provides practitioners with a framework to increase SCC through PSS business models. It also gives insight into the various contextual factors that may affect how a manufacturer’s servitisation strategy contributes to SCC. Originality/value This review contributes to the understanding of the relationship between servitisation and SCC by synthesising the different effects that exist. Moreover, it creates new knowledge by identifying a range of contextual factors affecting the relationship between PSS and SCC.


2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 288-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernadett Koles ◽  
Peter Nagy

Purpose – The current paper aims to embrace an interdisciplinary approach to illustrate some of the ways in which virtual worlds expanded upon the individual, social and professional options of employees in organizational settings. Design/methodology/approach – Through an extensive literature review, the paper compiles the latest and most fundamental research capturing relevant concepts from the fields of psychology, pedagogy, management and human-computer interaction. Findings – The current conceptual model incorporates individual- and group-level outcomes associated with virtual world participation, along three primary dimensions, namely self-reference, role experimentation and social capital, accounting for potential variation based on the extent of organizational engagement. Practical implications – The three proposed dimensions elaborated in the current model, including reflexivity/transference, role playing/role identification, and group collaboration/virtual teams, enable organizations to understand the likely outcomes of their virtual presence from the perspective of their structural and social attributes. Originality/value – The proposed conceptual model offers a theoretical base for academics and practitioners to expand upon and develop concrete practical examples and cases.


2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 1097-1117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Kashif Imran ◽  
Chaudhry Abdul Rehman ◽  
Usman Aslam ◽  
Ahmad Raza Bilal

Purpose In recent times, progression of technology and growing demands of customers have substantially influenced the services sector to introduce fast real-time mechanisms for providing up-to-mark services. To meet these requirements, organizations are going to change their end-user operating systems but success rate of change is very low. The purpose of this paper is to address one of the practitioners’ complaint “no one tells us how to do it” and uncovers the indirect effects of knowledge management (KM) strategies: personalization and codification, toward organizational change via organizational learning and change readiness. The current study also highlights how organizational learning and change readiness are helpful to reduce the detrimental effects of organizational change cynicism toward success of a change process. Design/methodology/approach Temporal research design is used to get the appropriate responses from the targeted population in two stages such as pre-change (Time-1) and post-change (Time-2). In cumulative, 206 responses have been obtained from the banking sector of Pakistan. Findings The results of the current study are very promising as it has been stated that KM strategies have an indirect effect on successful organizational change through organizational learning and change readiness. Moreover, change cynicism has a weakening effect on a change process and can be managed through effective learning orientation of employees and developing readiness for change in organizations. Research limitations/implications Change agents have to use an optimal mix of personalization and codification strategies to develop learning environment and readiness for change in organizations that are beneficial for implementing a change successfully. Moreover, change readiness and organizational learning in the context of change are equally beneficial to reduce organizational change cynicism as well. Originality/value This study is introducing a unique model to initiate a change with the help of KM strategies, organizational learning and readiness for change.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohit Agrawal ◽  
Vishal Ashok Wankhede ◽  
Anil Kumar ◽  
Arvind Upadhyay ◽  
Jose Arturo Garza-Reyes

PurposeThis study aims to conduct a comprehensive review and network-based analysis by exploring future research directions in the nexus of circular economy (CE) and sustainable business performance (SBP) in the context of digitalization.Design/methodology/approachA systematic literature review methodology was adopted to present the review in the field of CE and SBP in the era of digitalization. WOS and SCOPUS databases were considered in the study to identify and select the articles. The bibliometric study was carried out to analyze the significant contributions made by authors, various journal sources, countries and different universities in the field of CE and SBP in the era of digitalization. Further, network analysis is carried out to analyze the collaboration among authors from different countries.FindingsThe study revealed that digitalization could be a great help in developing sustainable circular products. Moreover, the customers' involvement is necessary for creating innovative sustainable circular products using digitalization. A move toward the product-service system was suggested to accelerate the transformation toward CE and digitalization.Originality/valueThe paper discusses digitalization and CE practices' adoption to enhance the SP of the firms. This work's unique contribution is the systematic literature analysis and bibliometric study to explore future research directions in the nexus of CE and SP in the context of digitalization. The present study has been one of the first efforts to examine the literature of CE and SBP integration from a digitalization perspective along with bibliometric analysis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eija Vaittinen ◽  
Miia Martinsuo ◽  
Roland Ortt

Purpose For successful servitization, manufacturing firms must understand how their customers adopt new services. The purpose of this paper is to explore customers’ readiness for a manufacturer’s new services to complement its goods. The goal is to increase knowledge of the aspects that manufacturers should consider when bringing new kinds of services to market. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative case study design is used to analyze readiness for services and interest in service adoption in three customer firms of a manufacturer. The interview data were collected from 14 persons at customer sites and were content analyzed. Findings The results show that readiness – a concept that is often used in the field of technology – is relevant also for the service adoption process. In a business-to-business context, readiness for service adoption concerns the individual and organizational levels, and hence a new dimension of organizational culture and habits had to be added to the concept that originally focuses on individuals. People consider different factors when making consecutive decisions during the service adoption process and these factors can vary even within a company. The cornerstone for new service adoption is the customer firm’s actual need for the service. Originality/value The results offer new knowledge about service adoption in a business-to-business context by taking a customer firm’s perspective. They, thus, complement previous studies on the supplier perspective of servitization and service adoption in consumer business. The contributions help manufacturers focus their efforts when bringing new services to market.


2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 1204-1223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fariza Hanim Rusly ◽  
Peter Yih-Tong Sun ◽  
James L Corner

Purpose – This study aims to show how change readiness shapes the knowledge acquisition process. The study elicits change readiness factors, at the individual and firm levels, that influence the knowledge acquisition process and are based on the context of professional service firms. Design/methodology/approach – The qualitative study is grounded in interpretive philosophy and adopts a multiple-case study design. Three New Zealand Professional Service firms were analyzed for this study. Using grounded theory analysis, categories and concepts of change readiness that shape knowledge acquisition were identified. Findings – Knowledge acquisition understanding, knowledge acquisition context and individual differences, represent primary dimensions defining change readiness for the knowledge acquisition process. Finally, distinctive firm archetypes, inter-profession differences and professionals’ demography, affect the way change readiness elements shape the knowledge acquisition process in the firms studied. Research limitations/implications – The study develops a theoretical model that shows how elements of change readiness, at the individual and organizational levels, influence knowledge acquisition. The study offers several propositions that could be tested in future studies. The study involves three professional service firms; hence, interpretation of the findings is limited. Practical implications – A holistic understanding of change readiness factors that influence knowledge acquisition could mitigate failures of knowledge management processes in organizations. Originality/value – It is the first empirical study that seeks to develop a theory on how change readiness elements influence knowledge acquisitions in the organization. To offer more contextualized findings, the study is done within the professional service industry.


2020 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Vikas Rai Bhatnagar

Purpose Practitioners’ literature on coaching has swelled as compared to the theoretical grounding and academic research on coaching, thereby questioning if coaching is a profession. Furthermore, the increasing investments in coaching seek a higher return on investments. These trends call for a deeper theoretical grounding of coaching and evolving innovative approaches that increase the effectiveness of coaching. Against this backdrop, this study aims to describe a process a coach can adopt for objectively and systemically understanding the context of the coachee at multiple levels (organizational, teams/dyadic and intrapersonal) to develop and execute an effective coaching intervention. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a radical humanistic paradigm, deploys ecosystems theory, develops a conceptual model and uses it for action researching in an Indian manufacturing organization. This study uses a non-experimental purposive sampling and makes use of a cross-sectional survey method for gathering data by using validated instruments. Guided by the ecosystems theory, data is gathered at three levels of nested systems – the microsystem (intrapersonal and direct reports of coachee), mesosystem (peers and manager of coachee) and the macrosystem (cultural) levels. Analysis of data helps the coach to design and execute an effective coaching intervention at multiple levels – intrapersonal, dyadic and organizational. Findings This study provides an alternative approach to systemically diagnose at three levels of the environment (microsystem, mesosystem and macrosystem) and uses validated instruments for assessing the areas of opportunity and concerns for carrying effective coaching. The use of employee strengths that conceives strengths as a dynamic interaction of personal attributes and contextual factors instead of the trait-based conceptualizations in extant literature leads to rich data for designing effective coaching interventions. Using the ecosystems theory for carrying out systemic coaching is an effective approach for professionalizing coaching and increasing the effectiveness of coaching. Originality/value The originality of this study lies in using the ecosystems theory for guiding the research, developing the conceptual model, collecting data by using validated instruments and in making use of data across multiple levels of systems (micro, meso and macro) for carrying out systemic coaching. The use of a new higher-order construct of employee strengths at work that conceives strengths as a dynamic interaction of personal traits and contextual factors is yet another originality of the research. Finally, this study identifies key systems variables and provides a proof of concept by executing a generalizable systemic coaching process in an organization.


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