Enabling Factors for Circular Transition from the Perspective of the Microfoundations of Dynamic Capabilities

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36661/2596-142X.2026v8n1.15114

Keywords:

Circular Economy, Experts' Interviews, Framework

Abstract

This article proposes and validates a framework that relates capabilities for the circular economy (CE), called capabilities for the circular economy (CEC), with the microfoundations of dynamic capabilities (McDC) (sensing, seizing, and reconfiguring), showing how these are formed from factors. The McDC of sensing is related to the ability to identify opportunities and threats in the environment; seizing is related to the ability to exploit market opportunities and mitigate threats; and reconfiguring refers to the ability to protect organizational competitiveness through the improvement and reconfiguration of assets in the face of market evolution. The research was initially conducted through a systematic literature review (SLR) to identify factors and microfoundations linked to these capabilities, with the aim of relating them to an initial theoretical framework. This initial framework contained three capabilities linked to sensing; five to seizing; and four to reconfiguring; all of them having a total of 27 related factors. Next, the framework was refined through expert opinion. After refinement, it was found that the McDC of sensing was related to one CEC (market tracking); the seizing one to five (planning and management; learning and absorption; collaborative; technological; innovation); and the reconfiguring one to six (institutional; R+ capability; flexibility and restructuring; supply chain; circular design). Of the 27 factors, 3 were excluded, 2 were adapted, and 1 was created based on expert opinion, reducing the total to 24. A key contribution is the refinement of the theoretical framework based on expert insights, which enabled verification of the relationship between capabilities, a relationship not previously identified in the analyzed literature.

 

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Author Biographies

  • Espanhol, Universidade Federal da Paraíba

    Keren Karolyne Nóbrega Silva holds a degree in Production Engineering from the Federal University of Campina Grande in Brazil. She has professional experience in auditing, process management, and quality management. Her areas of interest include strategic management, corporate sustainability, the circular economy, and quality management. Currently, she is a master's student in the Postgraduate Program in Production and Systems Engineering

  • Cláudia Fabiana Gohr, Universidade Federal da Paraíba - UFPB

    .

  • Espanhol, Universidade Federal da Paraíba

    Luciano Costa Santos is a professor at the Department of Industrial Engineering, Federal University of Paraíba (Brazil). He has received his M.S. and Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from Federal University of Santa Catarina (Brazil). Currently, he has more than 17 years of teaching/research experience and he had participated in some consultancy and training programs with industry. His current research interest includes lean manufacturing, circular economy, lean and green assessment, operations strategy, and service operations. 

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Published

01-01-2026

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 1 (2026): Revista Gestão & Sustentabilidade

Section

Organizational Sustainability

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Copyright (c) 2026 Keren Karolyne Nóbrega Silva, Cláudia Fabiana Gohr, Luciano Costa Santos

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How to Cite

INGLÊS, Português; GOHR, Cláudia Fabiana; INGLÊS, Português. Enabling Factors for Circular Transition from the Perspective of the Microfoundations of Dynamic Capabilities. Revista Gestão & Sustentabilidade, Brasil, v. 8, n. 1, p. e15114, 2026. DOI: 10.36661/2596-142X.2026v8n1.15114. Disponível em: https://periodicos.uffs.edu.br/index.php/RGES/article/view/15114. Acesso em: 16 jan. 2026.