Circular ecosystem management: Orchestrating ecosystem value proposition and configuration

Abstract

The transition of the traditional economy towards the circular economy (CE) is strongly linked to the emergence and development of ecosystems that produce a coherent circular value proposition. However, the literature on how firms create and manage circular ecosystems is unclear. We propose a theoretical framework for managing circular ecosystems involving autonomous yet interdependent actors that create and capture circular values. To achieve this goal, we conducted qualitative research through multiple case studies. Our theoretical framework proposes that firms proactively build a circular ecosystem value proposition. Our framework also identifies that firms employ a set of sub-processes to modify ecosystem configuration towards circularity: building circular governance, nurturing circular interdependence, promoting circular integration, and generating circular complementarity. Overall, our study contributes by proposing a new research field: circular ecosystem management.