ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES AS ENABLERS FOR THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND SUSTAINABILITY

Barboza, Luisa Lavagnini; Bertassini, Ana Carolina; Gerolamo, Mateus Cecilio; Ometto, Aldo Roberto

doi:10.1590/S0034-759020220509

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FORUM • Rev. adm. empres. 62 (5) • 2022 • https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-759020220509 copy

ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES AS ENABLERS FOR THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND SUSTAINABILITY

Valores organizativos como apoyo para la economía circular y sostenibilidad

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

ABSTRACT

The transition towards the circular economy (CE) requires that organizational values be examined in more depth and understood more fully, which can encourage innovation and sustainable attitudes. The majority of the studies on this matter, however, only address the technical aspects of the transition to a CE. The aim of this paper was to identify and analyze those organizational values that are essential for sustaining a culture that incorporates concepts of circularity and sustainability. Using a multi-method approach, we identified a list of 29 circular values and proposed a definition for each one. The values identified were discussed with regard to their importance in achieving sustainability. By way of a case study we also exemplified the adoption of circular values and how the specific organization we studied is nurturing those values. This seminal study enriches discussion of the importance of soft factors for the transition to a CE. It also embraces the relevance of human resource management in organizations for boosting sustainability.

Keywords:
circular economy; organizational culture; organizational values; sustainability; innovation

Demographic Group	Variables	Frequency n=60	%
Gender	Female	28	46.7
Gender	Male	32	53.3
Age	24-30 years old	17	28.3
	31-37 years old	12	20.0
	38-44 years old	13	21.7
	45-51 years old	9	15.0
	> 51 years old	9	15.0
Location	Brazil	40	66.6
	Denmark	4	6.6
	Italy	3	5.0
	United Kingdom	3	5.0
	Colombia	2	3.3
	The Netherlands	2	3.3
	Albania	1	1.7
	Australia	1	1.7
	France	1	1.7
	Lebanon	1	1.7
	Spain	1	1.7
	Taiwan	1	1.7
Workplace	Educational Institution	54	90.0
Workplace	Private Company	6	10.0

Not important	Not very important	Moderately important	Important	Very important/Essential
(0.0; 0.0; 0.25)	(0.0; 0.25; 0.5)	(0.25; 0.5; 0.75)	(0.5; 0.75; 1.0)	(0.75; 1.0; 1.0)

Relationship sustaining a CE-oriented OC	Between
Relationship sustaining a CE-oriented OC	>	≤
Strong	0.8	1.0
Moderate	0.5	0.8
Weak	0.2	0.5
Nonexistent	0.0	0.2

Organizational Value	Definition
Adaptability	The ability or willingness to change to suit different conditions.
Availability	The quality or condition of someone who is open to influences or ideas.
Awareness	Internalizing the importance of inclusion and respect for ethical values, preservation, sustainable development, and the quality of life.
Collaboration	Working with other people or organizations to create or achieve something in common.
Commitment	The state or quality of being dedicated to a cause or activity. A strong motivation to make efforts to achieve the organization's goals and values.
Communication	Two-way process of reaching mutual understanding, in which participants not only exchange information, news, ideas and feelings, but also create and share meaning.
Concern	Paying attention to implement mechanisms that stimulate production, consumption, and sustainable development.
Continuous improvement	The desire to make the results better, more efficient and more effective.
Diversity	Feature of a mixed workforce that provides a wide range of abilities, experience, knowledge, and strengths.
Effectiveness	Achieving the desired results in the best way possible, so that the organization uses its resources intelligently and rationally.
Engagement with business ecosystems	The openness to participate in business ecosystems and associate with various types of companies, aiming to create a constantly evolving relationship in which each entity is flexible and adaptable in order to survive.
Ethics	The set of beliefs about what is morally right and wrong. The fundamental assumption of human behavior under which natural resource management decisions should be aimed at present consumption, without prejudice to future generations.
Future-oriented	Planning ahead before acting. Having a long-term view.
Humanitarian	An individual who desires the good of humanity. Being involved in, or linked to improving people’s lives and reducing suffering.
Impact	The powerful effect or influence that something has on a situation, person, organization, society, or the environment. Positive impact in different areas (economic, social, and environmental).
Innovation	Creating and implementing new ideas that can be applied in products/services, processes, business models and value chains.
Longevity	The durability of something. Extending product life.
Openness	The ability to listen to comments, feedback, concerns, and new ideas, receive criticism, and engage in dialogue.
Proximity	Investing in a positive relationship with the different stakeholders of the organization.
Resilience	The ability to return to its original state after being disturbed.
Responsibility	Accepting responsibility for one’s actions, admitting mistakes and learning from them. Considering the interests of society, assuming the impact of one’s activities on customers, suppliers, employees, shareholders, communities, and other stakeholders, as well as on the environment.
Sharing	Sharing relevant information, ideas, suggestions and experiences with suppliers, research institutions, technology centers, universities, users, society, and other organizations.
Sustainability	Meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Providing economic, social and environmental benefits simultaneously.
Synergy	The potential ability of individual organizations or groups to be more successful or productive as a result of cohesion and mutual efforts around a common goal.
Systemic innovation	An interconnected set of innovations, where each influences the other, with innovation both in parts of the system and in the ways in which they interconnect.
Systemic thinking	Understanding the interdependent relationships between the various components that make up the organization, as well as the environment with which they interact.
Transparency	A situation in which activities are conducted openly, without secrets, so that people can trust that they are fair and honest.
Waste reduction	Minimizing waste at source to reduce the amount needed to be treated and disposed of, which is usually achieved by better product design and/or process management.
Welcoming	Something or someone that invites or attracts by its characteristics.

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[1] AUTHORS’ CONTRIBUTION

Luisa Lavagnini Barboza and Ana Carolina Bertassini worked on the conceptualization and theoretical-methodological approach. The theoretical review was conducted by Luisa Lavagnini Barboza. Data collection was coordinated by Luisa Lavagnini Barboza and Ana Carolina Bertassini. Data analysis included by Luisa Lavagnini Barbosa. All authors worked together in the writing and final revision of the manuscript was coordinated by Aldo Roberto Ometto and Mateus Cecilio Gerolamo.