Sustainable circular economy
Unpacking the unintended consequences of digital transformation in Japanese SMEs
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21401979 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Leanne Chung (0000-0001-9916-1602, Cardiff University), Kim Hua Tan (0000-0003-3787-5006, University of Nottingham, corresponding author), Osamu Yoshie (0000-0002-4192-554X, Waseda University) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 221 |
| Pages | 124335 |
| Publication date | 2025-12-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Technological Forecasting and Social Change (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0040-1625 • E-ISSN: 1873-5509 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.techfore.2025.124335 |
| OpenAlex | W4413941904 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 20 |
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
Business · Circular economy · Digital economy · Digital transformation · Economic system · Economics · Industrial organization · Political science · Sustainable development · Transformation (genetics) · Unintended consequences · Unpacking · Computer Science · Innovation and Socioeconomic Development · Sustainable Industrial Ecology · Sustainable Supply Chain Management
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Exploring the dark and unexpected sides of digitalization
The sustainability impact of a digital circular economy
Foundations of the Theory of Organization
The Unanticipated Consequences of Purposive Social Action
| Unique citing works | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 2 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |