TY - CHAP
T1 - Achieving circular economy via the adoption of industry 4.0 technologies
T2 - A knowledge management perspective
AU - De Marchi, Valentina
AU - Di Maria, Eleonora
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020.
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - The chapter discusses the relationship between knowledge management, circular economy strategies and investments in Industry 4.0 technologies. Based on an empirical analysis of about 200 Italian manufacturing firms adopting such technologies, the chapter maps the knowledge implications of adoption comparing firms that achieved and did not achieved sustainability results, with a special focus on circular economy. Results highlight that environmental sustainability is often an unexpected, non-planned result of the adoption, and that sustainability outcomes entail more often the adoption of robotics and augmented reality technologies. Interestingly, adoption resulting in sustainability outcomes is more likely when the technology is adopted in the production process. Stronger intra-firm collaboration and engagement with customers is also more likely to take place for green adopter. Few differences emerge if comparing circular with eco-efficiency-oriented outcomes.
AB - The chapter discusses the relationship between knowledge management, circular economy strategies and investments in Industry 4.0 technologies. Based on an empirical analysis of about 200 Italian manufacturing firms adopting such technologies, the chapter maps the knowledge implications of adoption comparing firms that achieved and did not achieved sustainability results, with a special focus on circular economy. Results highlight that environmental sustainability is often an unexpected, non-planned result of the adoption, and that sustainability outcomes entail more often the adoption of robotics and augmented reality technologies. Interestingly, adoption resulting in sustainability outcomes is more likely when the technology is adopted in the production process. Stronger intra-firm collaboration and engagement with customers is also more likely to take place for green adopter. Few differences emerge if comparing circular with eco-efficiency-oriented outcomes.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85090741697&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/978-3-030-43589-9_7
DO - 10.1007/978-3-030-43589-9_7
M3 - Chapter
AN - SCOPUS:85090741697
T3 - Knowledge Management and Organizational Learning
SP - 163
EP - 178
BT - Knowledge Management and Organizational Learning
PB - Springer
ER -
