TY - JOUR

T1 - Frames of systems change in sustainability transformations: Lessons from sociotechnical systems and circular economy case studies

AU - Eising, Leonie

AU - Savaget, Paulo

AU - Zomer, Thayla

AU - Brophy, Aoife

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Authors

PY - 2024/11/10

Y1 - 2024/11/10

N2 - Tackling the world's most complex challenges requires transforming systems purposefully, which involves reflecting on the directionality of ongoing systems transformations and the design of policy mixes capable of steering systems in more desirable directions. It is argued that a framing lens helps to advance understanding of this challenge by surfacing situated and heterogeneous perspectives on systems change. Frames are knowledge structures and default assumptions that help to guide action. This paper examines the frames of ‘systems change’ in purposeful sustainability transformations. To this end, a meta-synthesis of 155 case studies of sociotechnical systems change for sustainability and circular economy was conducted. Inductively coding these cases and comparing the emergent themes, four frames of systems change for sustainability were identified, varying depending on what they deem feasible and desirable change, the mechanisms and processes of change-making, and the different actor roles in these pursuits. A process model is developed to explain how explicit attention to frames can support opening up the directionality of purposeful systems transformations in ways that inform the design and implementation of more plural policy mixes. This contributes to the literature on directionality by providing insights on the boundaries of frames for systems change and the policy mix literature by identifying ways to engage directly with key assumptions guiding change-making efforts.

AB - Tackling the world's most complex challenges requires transforming systems purposefully, which involves reflecting on the directionality of ongoing systems transformations and the design of policy mixes capable of steering systems in more desirable directions. It is argued that a framing lens helps to advance understanding of this challenge by surfacing situated and heterogeneous perspectives on systems change. Frames are knowledge structures and default assumptions that help to guide action. This paper examines the frames of ‘systems change’ in purposeful sustainability transformations. To this end, a meta-synthesis of 155 case studies of sociotechnical systems change for sustainability and circular economy was conducted. Inductively coding these cases and comparing the emergent themes, four frames of systems change for sustainability were identified, varying depending on what they deem feasible and desirable change, the mechanisms and processes of change-making, and the different actor roles in these pursuits. A process model is developed to explain how explicit attention to frames can support opening up the directionality of purposeful systems transformations in ways that inform the design and implementation of more plural policy mixes. This contributes to the literature on directionality by providing insights on the boundaries of frames for systems change and the policy mix literature by identifying ways to engage directly with key assumptions guiding change-making efforts.

KW - Management studies

KW - frames

KW - Directionality

KW - Policy mixes

KW - Circular economy

KW - Sociotechnical systems

KW - Sustainable systems change

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85206997823&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.143976

DO - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.143976

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 479

JO - Journal of Cleaner Production

JF - Journal of Cleaner Production

SN - 0959-6526

M1 - 143976

ER -