ABSTRACT
Data integration is an important part of the Circular Economy (CE) strategic process, where the results of prior assessments on resources and capabilities of the firm, industry dynamics, and Political, Economic, Social, and Technology (PEST) are brought together to an actionable level. One of the most effective ways to harness the results of a PEST analysis is to link them to an industry analysis, hence creating a PEST x five forces matrix. The Dynamic CE-strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) has been specifically conceived to guide the analytical process of integrating CE consideration into a SWOT analysis. The CE-TOWS Matrix takes into deeper consideration the connections among the four categories Strengths–Weaknesses–Opportunities–Threats of the SWOT, allowing strategic action to become clearer. The Dynamic CE-SWOT is a four-step process that starts with a detailed investigation of the global socio-economic and environmental trends shaping the firm’s industry.
