Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T15:00:17.607Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

CIRCULAR ECOSYSTEM STRUCTURE AND ORCHESTRATION: OUTLINING ACTIONS TO INNOVATE, INTEGRATE, AND INVEST

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 June 2023

Adriana Hofmann Trevisan*
Affiliation:
São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, Department of Production Engineering, Av. Trabalhador São Carlense, 400, 13566-590, São Carlos, SP, Brazil;
Camila Gonçalves Castro
Affiliation:
São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, Department of Production Engineering, Av. Trabalhador São Carlense, 400, 13566-590, São Carlos, SP, Brazil; Federal Institute of Education, Science, and Technology of Minas Gerais – Campus Congonhas, Av. Michael Pereira de Souza, 3007, 36415-000, Congonhas, MG, Brazil
Leonardo Augusto de Vasconcelos Gomes
Affiliation:
Business Administration Department, School of Economics, Business Administration and Accounting, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Luciano Gualberto, 908, 05508-010 São Paulo, SP, Brazil;
Janaina Mascarenhas
Affiliation:
São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, Department of Production Engineering, Av. Trabalhador São Carlense, 400, 13566-590, São Carlos, SP, Brazil;
*
Hofmann Trevisan, Adriana, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, adrianatrevisan@usp.br

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Circular ecosystem is a growing research field that is gaining attention due to representing a more robust alignment structure than a single firm. However, prior research lacks empirical evidence on how circular ecosystems are structured and how orchestrators coordinate a set of actors towards a coherent circular value proposition. By studying nine organizations related to the carton packaging recycling ecosystem, we reveal the complexity of recovering and co-creating value in a systemic network with actors competing and collaborating simultaneously. Based on that, we propose a framework for orchestrating circular ecosystems. Our results indicate that orchestrators should integrate strategic actors, invest in infrastructure, and innovate in product design. We also discuss ecosystem resilience during and after the covid 19 pandemic, showing how the orchestrator was fundamental to the sustainability of the ecosystem. Overall, this paper contributes to increasing the understanding of inter-organizational relationships towards the circularity of resources.

Type
Article
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BYCreative Common License - NCCreative Common License - ND
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is unaltered and is properly cited. The written permission of Cambridge University Press must be obtained for commercial re-use or in order to create a derivative work.
Copyright
The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press

References

Aarikka-Stenroos, L., Ritala, P. and Thomas, D. W., L. (2021), “Circular economy ecosystems: a typology, definitions, and implications”, Research Handbook of Sustainability Agency, No. September 2020, pp. 260276.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Adner, R. and Kapoor, R. (2010), “Value Creation in innovation ecosystems: how the structure of technological interdependence affects firm performance in new technology generations”, Strategic Management Journal, Vol. 31, pp. 306333.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Aminoff, A., Valkokari, K., Antikainen, M. and Kettunen, O. (2017), “Exploring disruptive business model innovation for the circular economy”, Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, Vol. 68, pp. 525536.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Asgari, A. and Asgari, R. (2021), “How circular economy transforms business models in a transition towards circular ecosystem: the barriers and incentives”, Sustainable Production and Consumption, Elsevier B.V., Vol. 28, pp. 566579.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barquete, S., Shimozono, A.H., Trevisan, A.H., Castro, C.G., Gomes, L.A. de V. and Mascarenhas, J. (2022), “Exploring the Dynamic of a Circular Ecosystem: A Case Study about Drivers and Barriers”, Sustainability (Switzerland), Vol. 14 No. 13, pp. 122.Google Scholar
Dagnino, G.B. and Padula, G. (2002), “Coopetition strategy: A new kind of interfirm dynamics for value creation”, The European Academy of Management Second Annual Conference - “Innovative Research in Management”, available at: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203874301-11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eisenhardt, K.M. (1989), “Building Theories from Case Study Research Published by: Academy of Management Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/258557 Linked references are available on JSTOR for this article: Building Theories from Case Study Research”, Vol. 14 No. 4, pp. 532550.Google Scholar
Eisenhardt, K.M. and Graebner, M.E. (2007), “Theory Building from Cases: Opportunities and Challenges Linked references are available on JSTOR for this article: Theory building from cases: opportunities and challenges”, Organizational Research Methods, Vol. 50 No. 1, pp. 2532.Google Scholar
Gioia, D.A., Corley, K.G. and Hamilton, A.L. (2012), “Seeking Qualitative Rigor in Inductive Research: Notes on the Gioia Methodology”, Organizational Research Methods, Vol. 16 No. 1, pp. 1531.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gomes, L.A. de V. and Barros, L.S. da S. (2022), “The role of governments in uncertainty orchestration in market formation for sustainability transitions”, Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, Elsevier B.V., Vol. 43 No. May 2021, pp. 127145.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gomes, L.A. de V., Chaparro, X.A.F., Facin, A.F.F. and Borini, F.M. (2021), “Ecosystem management: Past achievements and future promises”, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier Inc., Vol. 171 No. November 2020, p. 120950.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gomes, L.A. de V., dos Santos, , M.G. and Facin, A.L.F. (2022), “Uncertainty management in global innovation ecosystems”, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier Inc., Vol. 182 No. May, p. 121787.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Graça, P. and Camarinha-Matos, L.M. (2017), “Performance indicators for collaborative business ecosystems — Literature review and trends”, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Vol. 116, pp. 237255.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grodal, S., Anteby, M. and Holm, A.L. (2021), “Achieving rigor in qualitative analysis: The role of active categorization in theory building”, Academy of Management Review, Vol. 46 No. 3, pp. 591612.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Handmer, J.W. and Dovers, S.R. (1996), “A typology of resilience: Rethinking institutions for sustainable development”, Organization and Environment, Vol. 9 No. 4, pp. 482511.Google Scholar
Iansiti, M. and Levien, R. (2004), “Strategy as Ecology”, Harvard Business Review, Vol. 82 No. 3.Google ScholarPubMed
Jacobides, M.G., Cennamo, C. and Gawer, A. (2018), “Towards a theory of ecosystems”, Strategic Management Journal, Vol. 39 No. 8, pp. 22552276.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kanda, W., Geissdoerfer, M. and Hjelm, O. (2021), “From circular business models to circular business ecosystems”, Business Strategy and the Environment, Vol. 30 No. 6, pp. 28142829.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ketokivi, M. and Choi, T. (2014), “Renaissance of case research as a scientific method”, Journal of Operations Management, Elsevier B.V., Vol. 32 No. 5, pp. 232240.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Konietzko, J., Bocken, N. and Hultink, E.J. (2020), “Circular ecosystem innovation: An initial set of principles”, Journal of Cleaner Production, Elsevier Ltd, Vol. 253, p. 119942.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lee, T.W., Mitchell, T.R. and Sablynski, C.J. (1999), “Qualitative Research in Organisation and Vocational Phycology”, Journal of Vocational Behavior, Vol. 55, pp. 161187.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liu, Q., Trevisan, A.H., Yang, M. and Mascarenhas, J. (2022), “A framework of digital technologies for the circular economy: Digital functions and mechanisms”, Business Strategy and the Environment, No. February, pp. 122.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mishra, J.L., Chiwenga, K.D. and Ali, K. (2019), “Collaboration as an enabler for circular economy: a case study of a developing country”, Management Decision, Vol. 59 No. 8, pp. 17841800.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moggi, S. and Dameri, R.P. (2021), “Circular business model evolution: Stakeholder matters for a self-sufficient ecosystem”, Business Strategy and the Environment, Vol. 30 No. 6, pp. 28302842.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Paavilainen, A., Heikkinen, A. and Kujala, J. (2021), “Inter-organisational Collaboration in Circular Economy Ecosystems”, Sustainable Entrepreneurship: Innovation and Transformation, No. July, pp. 1123.Google Scholar
Paavo, R., Välimäki, K., Blomqvist, K. and Henttonen, K. (2009), “The role of intrafirm coopetition in knowledge creation and innovation process”, In: Coopetition Strategy - Theory, Experiments and Cases. Routledge.Google Scholar
Parida, V., Burström, T., Visnjic, I. and Wincent, J. (2019), “Orchestrating industrial ecosystem in circular economy: A two-stage transformation model for large manufacturing companies”, Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, Vol. 101 No. June 2018, pp. 715725.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pidun, U., Reeves, M. and Kunst, N. (2020), “How Do You Manage a Business Ecosystem?”, BCG Hendersen Institute, pp. 115.Google Scholar
Ponomarov, S.Y. and Holcomb, M.C. (2009), Understanding the Concept of Supply Chain Resilience, The International Journal of Logistics Management, Vol. 20, available at:https://doi.org/10.1108/09574090910954873.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Press, M., Robert, I. and Maillefert, M. (2019), “The role of linked legitimacy in sustainable business model development”, Industrial Marketing Management, Elsevier, No. April, pp. 01.Google Scholar
Ramezani, J. and Camarinha-Matos, L.M. (2019), “A collaborative approach to resilient and antifragile business ecosystems”, Procedia Computer Science, Elsevier B.V., Vol. 162 No. Itqm 2019, pp. 604613.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scholten, K. and Fynes, B. (2017), “Risk and Uncertainty Management for Sustainable Supply Chains”, Springer Series in Supply Chain Management, Vol. 4, pp. 413436.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tate, W.L., Bals, L., Bals, C. and Foerstl, K. (2019), “Seeing the forest and not the trees: Learning from nature's circular economy”, Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Elsevier, Vol. 149 No. November 2018, pp. 115129.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Trevisan, A.H., Castro, C.G., Gomes, L.A.V. and Mascarenhas, J. (2022), “Unlocking the circular ecosystem concept: Evolution, current research, and future directions”, Sustainable Production and Consumption, Elsevier B.V., Vol. 29, pp. 286298.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Trevisan, A.H., Zacharias, I.S., Castro, C.G. and Mascarenhas, J. (2021), “Circular economy actions in business ecosystems driven by digital technologies”, Procedia CIRP, Elsevier B.V., Vol. 100, pp. 325330.CrossRefGoogle Scholar