Independent research supporting the foundations of Digital Green Lean. Twenty selected readings from the bibliography of the doctoral thesis; each connects to a practical question about integration, people, circularity or assessment. Links lead to publisher pages or institutional repositories; full-text access depends on the publication.
01 · Lean leadership
Lean Leadership – Fundamental Principles and their Application
Dombrowski & Mielke · 2013 · Procedia CIRP · Open access · publisher
Connects daily improvement with employee development and leadership.
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02 · Designing an assessment
Understanding the Main Phases of Developing a Maturity Assessment Model
de Bruin, Freeze, Kulkarni & Rosemann · 2005 · ACIS 2005 Proceedings · Open access · conference repository
Sets out the stages of maturity model development.
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03 · Culture and problem solving
An Assessment of Organizational Culture Traits Impacting Problem Solving for Lean Transformation
Fadnavis, Najarzadeh & Badurdeen · 2020 · Procedia Manufacturing · Open access · publisher
Examines the relationship between organisational culture and structured problem solving.
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04 · Lean and Digital integration
Industry 4.0 implies Lean Manufacturing: Research activities in Industry 4.0 function as enablers for Lean Manufacturing
Sanders, Elangeswaran & Wulfsberg · 2016 · Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management · Open access · publisher
Explores how Digital technologies can support Lean Manufacturing.
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05 · Data, learning and people
Real-Time Data Utilization Barriers to Improving Production Performance: An In-depth Case Study Linking Lean Management and Industry 4.0 from a Learning Organization Perspective
Saabye, Kristensen & Wæhrens · 2020 · Sustainability · Open access · publisher
Shows why access to real-time data alone is insufficient.
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06 · The three agendas
Evaluation of the Relation between Lean Manufacturing, Industry 4.0, and Sustainability
Varela, Araújo, Ávila, Castro & Putnik · 2019 · Sustainability · Open access · publisher
Examines relationships among Lean Manufacturing, Industry 4.0 and sustainability.
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07 · Lean and environmental performance
Lean Manufacturing and Environmental Sustainability: The Effects of Employee Involvement, Stakeholder Pressure and ISO 14001
Chen, Luján-Blanco, Fortuny-Santos & Ruiz-de-Arbulo-López · 2020 · Sustainability · Open access · publisher
Links Lean practices, people and environmental management.
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08 · Circular Economy and sustainability
The Circular Economy – A new sustainability paradigm?
Geissdoerfer, Savaget, Bocken & Hultink · 2017 · Journal of Cleaner Production · Open access · accepted manuscript
Clarifies the relationship between Circular Economy and sustainability.
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09 · Circularity in manufacturing
Circular Economy in manufacturing companies: A review of case study literature
Bjørnbet, Skaar, Fet & Schulte · 2021 · Journal of Cleaner Production · Open access · research repository
Reviews implementation evidence in manufacturing and calls for a broader view of sustainability.
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10 · Lean and Digital maturity
A Maturity Model to Become a Smart Organization Based on Lean and Industry 4.0 Synergy
Treviño-Elizondo, García-Reyes & Peimbert-García · 2023 · Sustainability · Open access · publisher
Connects Lean and Industry 4.0 through maturity stages and a strategic roadmap.
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11 · Culture and Lean implementation
Successful lean implementation: Organizational culture and soft lean practices
Bortolotti, Boscari & Danese · 2015 · International Journal of Production Economics
Shows why organisational culture and practices involving people matter alongside Lean tools. Connects to the foundations in The Concept and the culture and leadership assessment.
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12 · Lean leadership competencies
Lean leadership competencies: a multi-method study
Seidel, Saurin, Marodin & Ribeiro · 2017 · Management Decision
Identifies leadership competencies for implementing and sustaining Lean. Supports the leadership dimension of DGL and practical development priorities in the assessment.
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13 · Lean and Digital integration
The link between Industry 4.0 and lean manufacturing: Mapping current research and establishing a research agenda
Buer, Strandhagen & Chan · 2018 · International Journal of Production Research
Maps the relationship between Lean Manufacturing and Industry 4.0. Provides a starting point for the Lean + Digital integration explained in The Concept.
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14 · Integrated operational performance
The complementary effect of lean manufacturing and digitalisation on operational performance
Buer, Semini, Strandhagen & Sgarbossa · 2020 · International Journal of Production Research · Published online
Examines the complementary effects of Lean and digitalisation on operational performance. Connects to integrated improvement and technology assessment in Engage with us.
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15 · Digital and Circular integration
Industry 4.0 and the circular economy: A proposed research agenda and original roadmap for sustainable operations
Lopes de Sousa Jabbour, Jabbour, Godinho Filho & Roubaud · 2018 · Annals of Operations Research
Proposes a roadmap for using Industry 4.0 to support Circular Economy principles. Connects Digital and Green in The Concept and the operational flow.
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16 · Circular strategies and business models
Product design and business model strategies for a circular economy
Bocken, de Pauw, Bakker & van der Grinten · 2016 · Journal of Industrial and Production Engineering
Translates circularity into design and business model strategies for slowing, closing and narrowing resource loops. Connects to the Green foundation and the efficiency–circularity tension.
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17 · Defining Circular Economy
Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions
Kirchherr, Reike & Hekkert · 2017 · Resources, Conservation and Recycling
Clarifies the scope of Circular Economy through an analysis of definitions. Supports a shared understanding of Green beyond recycling alone in The Concept.
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18 · Paradox and tension management
Toward a theory of paradox: A dynamic equilibrium model of organizing
Smith & Lewis · 2011 · Academy of Management Review
Provides a theoretical basis for managing persistent competing demands over time. Connects directly to the four operational tensions and the micro level of the three-level explanation.
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19 · Institutional context
The iron cage revisited: Institutional isomorphism and collective rationality in organizational fields
DiMaggio & Powell · 1983 · American Sociological Review
Explains how institutional pressures shape organisational practices. Connects to the macro level in Integration and the tension between compliance and competitive advantage.
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20 · Dynamic capabilities
Explicating dynamic capabilities: The nature and microfoundations of (sustainable) enterprise performance
Teece · 2007 · Strategic Management Journal
Explains sensing opportunities, seizing them and reconfiguring capabilities. Connects to the meso level in Integration and the balance between short-term performance and long-term capability development.
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