The present study evaluates how the joint implementation of circular economy (CE) and operational excellence (OE) practices supported by the adoption of industry 4.0 technologies (Internet of Things and Big Data Analytics) influence manufacturing firms' operational performance and environmental sustainability. Drawing from the paradox theory, it also investigates the moderating role of managing paradoxical tensions arising from these implementations. To test the hypothesized relationships, survey data are collected from 147 Indian manufacturing firms implementing CE, OE practices, and internet of things (IoT) and big data analytics (BDA)‐enabled digital systems. The data are analyzed using structural equation modeling and moderated mediation analysis. Results indicate a direct significant effect of adoption of IoT and BDA‐enabled digital systems on operational performance and environmental sustainability, and partial mediation by CE and OE implementations, respectively. There is a strong moderation of managing paradoxical tensions on the impact of CE and OE implementations on performance. Additionally, the conditional indirect effect of CE implementations on the environmental sustainability outcomes of the IoT and BDA adoption increases with greater effort in managing paradoxical tensions. The study answers the call for empirical research on the organizational tensions that surface due to conflicting demands of initiatives related to operational efficiency and environmental sustainability.

中文翻译：

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循环经济和卓越运营实践的数字化：制造企业绩效改进的悖论理论视角


本研究评估了由采用工业 4.0 技术（物联网和大数据分析）支持的循环经济 （CE） 和卓越运营 （OE） 实践的联合实施如何影响制造公司的运营绩效和环境可持续性。借鉴悖论理论，它还研究了管理这些实施产生的悖论紧张关系的调节作用。为了检验假设的关系，我们从 147 家实施 CE、OE 实践以及物联网 （IoT） 和大数据分析 （BDA） 支持的数字系统的数字公司收集了调查数据。使用结构方程建模和调节中介分析对数据进行分析。结果表明，采用 IoT 和支持 BDA 的数字系统对运营绩效和环境可持续性有直接的显着影响，并且分别由 CE 和 OE 实施进行部分调解。在 CE 和 OE 实施对绩效影响的矛盾紧张关系的管理方面，存在着强烈的缓和。此外，CE 实施对 IoT 和 BDA 采用的环境可持续性结果的条件间接影响随着管理悖论紧张局势的加大努力而增加。该研究响应了对因运营效率和环境可持续性相关举措的冲突需求而出现的组织紧张局势进行实证研究的呼吁。