ADDRESSING INSTITUTIONAL AGENCY IN THE ACCUMULATION OF SMALL WINS: A CASE STUDY ON THE CIRCULAR TRANSITION OF THE DUTCH TEXTILE INDUSTRY

Abstract

This thesis explores the concept of "small wins" as a strategy for driving transformative change in the face of societal challenges. Small wins, while individually modest, can collectively lead to significant transformation by deviating from established practices. The study focuses on how "propelling mechanisms" help small wins overcome institutional barriers, with a particular emphasis on "institutional work" as a means of agency in this process. The research involves an embedded case study of the Dutch textile industry's transition to higher R-strategies, revealing that normative and cultural barriers are prominent, and regulatory barriers play a smaller role. Successful activation of propelling mechanisms amplifies initiatives and enhances their ability to engage in institutional work effectively. The findings have implications for policy, suggesting that support for small wins, especially in areas like social innovation, can be vital for achieving transformative change. Small wins are particularly effective in addressing cultural and normative institutional dimensions, making them essential for a transition to a circular economy that encompasses both technological and social aspects of circularity.