Overcoming barriers to circularity for internal ICT management in organizations

Overcoming barriers to circularity for internal ICT management in organizations: A change management approach

McMahon, K.S. (TU Delft Responsible Marketing and Consumer Behavior)
Mugge, R. (TU Delft Responsible Marketing and Consumer Behavior)
Hultink, H.J. (TU Delft Responsible Marketing and Consumer Behavior)

2024

Circularity-conscious management of information and communications technology (ICT) owned by organizations is important to achieving a circular economy. However, changes in organizational management toward circularity has been met with multiple challenges. This study uses 11 semi-structured interviews with on-the-ground ICT decision-makers in organizations to determine what barriers prevent the development and implementation of circularity-related changes in organizational ICT management. We identified 13 barriers relating to information and knowledge transfer, access to circular equipment, finances and contracts, and prioritization over circularity. Barrier-based interventions were further structured by Lewin's 3-step change management model – unfreeze, change, refreeze – highlighting the role of information access, relationships with contracted partners, and internal accountability and priority structures. These results bridge a currently underdeveloped link between circularity and management research as well as provide policy makers, researchers, and ICT managers insight on facilitating ICT's impactful role in society's transition to circularity.

Information and communications technology\
(ICT)
Lifetime extension
circularity
Change management
Organizational change

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:9d702a9a-2857-49ce-b8c3-de7feb163461

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2024.107568

0921-3449

Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 205

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2024 K.S. McMahon, R. Mugge, H.J. Hultink