Operationalizing contested problem-solution spaces: The case of Dutch circular construction

Wiarda, Martijn; Coenen, Tom B.J.; Doorn, Neelke

doi:10.1016/j.eist.2023.100752

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…CSUs’ network interactions are purposeful and driven by CSUs’ strong circular missions, high ambition levels, holistic approaches to CE, and a lack of institutional support. This article creates a better understanding of CSUs’ missions and engagement strategies to inform the operationalization of CE on the micro‐level and contribute to the reflexive governance of transitions (Voß & Bornemann, 2011; Wiarda et al., 2023). This insight can serve as base for inclusive and aspirational mission formulation that appeals to impactful solutions in CE transformation processes and address the demand for innovation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The research question of this paper does not link directly to the respective frameworks but explores a distinct group of actors that operationalize a common concept (CE) to address societal challenges through various technical and non-technical solution pathways (cf. Wiarda et al, 2023). Mission-oriented innovation systems (MISs) emerged from a partly similar research paradigm as TIS, MLP, and SM (Hekkert et al, 2020) but are related to societal (and not only technological) problems wherefore the concept was considered well suited as theoretical foundation for this study.…”

Section: Orcidmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bottom‐up dynamics in circular innovation systems: The perspective of circular start‐ups

Henry,

Kirchherr,

Raven

et al. 2024

J of Industrial Ecology

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The concept of circular economy (CE) is proposed to lead humanity toward a sustainable future. Public authorities increasingly build on CE narratives. The progress of private sector actors is key to enable more circular resource flows. Still, the world falls far short from becoming circular and large‐scale implementation of CE in actual problem–solution spaces is scarce. This study sheds light into the external strategies of circular start‐ups (CSUs) in building an adequate socio‐institutional embedding for circular business models (CBMs) and puts the findings in the context of CE and sustainability transformations research. CSUs are a distinct group of CE‐oriented actors that build and implement CBMs wholistically and from scratch. Thereby, they can directly and indirectly contribute to the creation of circular innovation systems. This study defines the common CE mission of CSUs, sets it in context of respective socio‐political CE missions, and scrutinizes the roles that CSUs adopt to drive systemic CE implementation. We observe that CSUs’ strategic interventions go further than only novelty creation. This article proposes and elaborates on four roles that CSUs adopt: conveners, reinforcers, pioneers, and champions. The roles differ according to the CSU business models, stakeholders, the institutional elements that are addressed, as well as the directionalities that CSUs set. The findings are discussed considering the governance, policies, and strategic management of various directionalities in which CE innovation develops. It sheds light on inadequacies and limitations for bottom‐up CE innovation in existing norms and cognition, policy, and network governance.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Orcidmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bottom‐up dynamics in circular innovation systems: The perspective of circular start‐ups

Henry,

Kirchherr,

Raven

et al. 2024

J of Industrial Ecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Aligning practices towards a circular economy in the architecture, engineering, and construction sector: seven transitions in different stages of reconfiguration

van Uden,

Wamelink,

van Bueren

et al. 2024

Construction Management and Economics

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Diversity and directionality: friends or foes in sustainability transitions?

Bulah,

van Mierlo,

Beumer

et al. 2024

Science and Public Policy

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Literature on mission-specific innovation systems (MIS) highlights the crucial role of directionality when achieving sustainability transitions, while diversity literature emphasizes the need to keep diverse directions open. Like directionality, diversity is created by innovation system actors to tackle the complex and uncertain nature of transitions. While these two literature strands are presented largely independent of one another, both are deemed necessary to achieve sociotechnical transitions. We thus aim to uncover how diversity and directionality unfold in parallel in a MIS. We conduct a qualitative single-case study of the Wageningen alternative protein ecosystem to provide insights into the types of sociotechnological trajectories actors pursue and how different selection environments shape the development of each solution. We observe a mission exhibiting a clear direction toward (meat) substitutes. Underlying this mission, diversity is visible. We propose that the interplay between diversity and directionality in a MIS can be best understood by distinguishing two different sociotechnical “levels” in which they play out: the levels of transition paths (“first-order” directionality) and search directions (“second-order” directionality). We therefore call for a more nuanced understanding of the role of diversity and directionality in transitions.

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Operationalizing contested problem-solution spaces: The case of Dutch circular construction

Cited by 3 publications

References 65 publications

Bottom‐up dynamics in circular innovation systems: The perspective of circular start‐ups

Bottom‐up dynamics in circular innovation systems: The perspective of circular start‐ups

Aligning practices towards a circular economy in the architecture, engineering, and construction sector: seven transitions in different stages of reconfiguration

Diversity and directionality: friends or foes in sustainability transitions?

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