Sustainable circular economy: Unpacking the unintended consequences of digital transformation in Japanese SMEs

IF 13.3 1区管理学 Q1 BUSINESS

Technological Forecasting and Social Change Pub Date : 2025-09-03 DOI:10.1016/j.techfore.2025.124335

Leanne Chung , Kim Hua Tan , Osamu Yoshie

{"title":"Sustainable circular economy: Unpacking the unintended consequences of digital transformation in Japanese SMEs","authors":"Leanne Chung , Kim Hua Tan , Osamu Yoshie","doi":"10.1016/j.techfore.2025.124335","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Digital transformation (DX) and the shift toward a sustainable circular economy are reshaping industries, raising both practical and theoretical questions about power, collaboration, and ecosystem dynamics. While DX offers opportunities for efficiency and sustainability, it also induces unintended consequences—particularly in altering inter-organizational power relations and blurring traditional industrial boundaries. Drawing on circular economy and ecosystem perspectives, this study investigates these unintended consequences through multiple in-depth case studies of Japanese SMEs. The research reveals how organisations renegotiate constraints and resources to adapt to evolving digital ecosystems. Unlike much of the existing literature that focuses on benefits, this paper uniquely explores the dual nature of unintended consequences—highlighting not only risks but rather, some present exploitable opportunities. The findings offer novel theoretical insights into digital circular economy-era and provide actionable guidance for policymakers and practitioners navigating digital transformation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48454,"journal":{"name":"Technological Forecasting and Social Change","volume":"221 ","pages":"Article 124335"},"PeriodicalIF":13.3000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Technological Forecasting and Social Change","FirstCategoryId":"91","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004016252500366X","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"BUSINESS","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Digital transformation (DX) and the shift toward a sustainable circular economy are reshaping industries, raising both practical and theoretical questions about power, collaboration, and ecosystem dynamics. While DX offers opportunities for efficiency and sustainability, it also induces unintended consequences—particularly in altering inter-organizational power relations and blurring traditional industrial boundaries. Drawing on circular economy and ecosystem perspectives, this study investigates these unintended consequences through multiple in-depth case studies of Japanese SMEs. The research reveals how organisations renegotiate constraints and resources to adapt to evolving digital ecosystems. Unlike much of the existing literature that focuses on benefits, this paper uniquely explores the dual nature of unintended consequences—highlighting not only risks but rather, some present exploitable opportunities. The findings offer novel theoretical insights into digital circular economy-era and provide actionable guidance for policymakers and practitioners navigating digital transformation.

查看原文本刊更多论文

可持续循环经济：揭示日本中小企业数字化转型的意外后果

数字化转型（DX）和向可持续循环经济的转变正在重塑行业，提出了有关权力、协作和生态系统动态的实践和理论问题。虽然数字化转型为效率和可持续性提供了机会，但它也带来了意想不到的后果——尤其是在改变组织间的权力关系和模糊传统行业界限方面。利用循环经济和生态系统的观点，本研究通过对日本中小企业的多个深入案例研究来调查这些意想不到的后果。该研究揭示了组织如何重新协商约束和资源以适应不断发展的数字生态系统。与大多数关注收益的现有文献不同，本文独特地探讨了意外后果的双重性质——不仅强调了风险，而且还强调了一些可利用的机会。研究结果为数字循环经济时代提供了新颖的理论见解，并为政策制定者和实践者在数字化转型中提供了可行的指导。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Technological Forecasting and Social Change Multiple-

CiteScore

21.30

自引率

10.80%

发文量

813

期刊介绍： Technological Forecasting and Social Change is a prominent platform for individuals engaged in the methodology and application of technological forecasting and future studies as planning tools, exploring the interconnectedness of social, environmental, and technological factors. In addition to serving as a key forum for these discussions, we offer numerous benefits for authors, including complimentary PDFs, a generous copyright policy, exclusive discounts on Elsevier publications, and more.