Abstract
The increasing complexity and dynamism of business environments has led to a significant growth in the risks related to the management of supply chain relationships. Trust and visibility between supply chain partners have been increasingly considered paramount aspects to manage these relationships and reduce risks. This paper aims to analyze and discuss the role of trust and visibility in supply chains, considering the complexity of multi-tier supply chains and multi-aspects visibility. Two cases of the textile sector from Portugal have been studied. After the analysis of the level of visibility and trust, a set of recommendations is provided. © 2022, IFIP International Federation for Information Processing.

Abstract
Digital transformation is a broad description of efforts to introduce new technologies within and across organizations with the potential to revolutionize the way they function and perform. Digital transformation may be addressed at multiple levels of analysis, and this paper focuses on the enterprise level. This includes the organization, its people, systems, tools and technologies, and suppliers and partners that combined create valued outcomes that sustain the enterprise and advance its objectives. Collectively, this is a complex sociotechnical system (STS), and digital transformation is an intervention in a STS of potentially profound scope. Classical STS theory emerged from analysis of individuals and work groups and principles have been defined for the design of work systems at that level. We explore how STS design principles may be applied to the enterprise-level challenges associated with digital transformation. We present an enterprise-level framework that describes a process and methods that are consistent with STS design principles and illustrates how existing systems analysis methods and artifacts may be used to design an enterprise level STS. We review some artifacts employed in digital transformation efforts, including enterprise reference architectures, to better understand how they might function as means to foster communication and collaboration across multiple disciplines and domains in the STS design process.

Abstract
Recent studies have highlighted the potential of supply chain visibility (SCV) to improve companies' performance, support the decision-making process and increase the resilience and sustainability of supply chains (SC). However, the definition and the approaches to manage visibility are not consensual, especially when it comes to its assessment. This paper studies the influence that some characteristics of the information shared among SC partners have on SCV and provides a model that allows to assess the level of visibility. Focus group research was used to discuss the visibility assessment model with academic and practical experts and case studies were conducted to evaluate the implementation of the model in real contexts. The results support the applicability of the model in complex SCs and show that the visibility indices proposed can help managers to identify the SC partners where improvement actions are needed. This study contributes to literature and practice by means of a model to assess the visibility throughout the SC by considering different types and characteristics of the information shared.

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract
The Circular Economy, an alternative to the linear make-use-dispose system, promotes sustainable development through novel business models. Thus, Circular Business Models emerge as systems that minimize resource input and waste by slowing, closing, and narrowing material and energy loops. Circular Startups play a crucial role in the transition to a Circular Economy. Despite their significance, there is a research gap in how these companies scale. Moreover, the slow transition is attributed to the limited scalability of Circular Business Models, which leads to the need to scale current practices. The present study aims to fill this gap by defining a typology of scalability strategies employed by circular startups. A qualitative case studies methodology is adopted, using document analysis and semi-structured interviews conducted in the context of the European project SoTecIn Factory. This research identifies five scalability strategies used by Circular Startups-impact, commercial, ecosystem, institutional and cultural-with the commercial strategy being the main focus in terms of growth approach. The findings underline a strong commitment across the observed value chains to minimize environmental impact, enhance social welfare, and foster economic growth. Other key findings reveal the presence of R-imperatives across different value chains, leading to industry-specific approaches. In addition to the theoretical contribution, this research can support sustainable growth by practitioners in their scaling efforts, thus, accelerating the circular transformation. © 2025 The Authors.