Servitised Business Model Innovation for Improved Circular Economy Performance in the Built Environment

This book addresses the urgent need for sustainable practices in property development, particularly within the South African context. It provides an innovative perspective on the transition from traditional Linear Economy Business Models to Circular Economy Business Models through the lens of Servitized Business Model Innovation. It aims to bridge the gap between academic theory and practical implementation, offering insights, strategies, and frameworks for property developers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to effectively adopt and implement circular and servitized approaches in the built environment.

The book is structured to address three interconnected objectives: examining the drivers and challenges associated with transitioning to circular economy practices, analyzing the critical role of servitized business models in enhancing circular performance, and offering a framework to guide and manage these transitions effectively. It systematically examines the socio-economic, regulatory, and operational complexities faced by property developers and offers actionable solutions tailored to the unique challenges of developing countries. The content is informed by an in-depth qualitative study involving key stakeholders from public and private property development sectors across various management levels, ensuring that the findings are both robust and practical, with takeaways for an international audience.

This book addresses the critical need for tools and strategies to enable developers to overcome barriers like financial constraints, policy gaps, and resistance to change, and to achieve sustainable property development goals. It is key reading for all built environment stakeholders, those with an interest in circular economy, and innovative business models.

Rotondwa Benevolence Nemakhavhani is a Senior Lecturer and researcher in the Department of Built Environment within the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment, and Information Technology at the Central University of Technology, Free State, South Africa. He holds a Master’s degree and a PhD in Construction Management from the University of Johannesburg. His research centres on sustainable construction and property development, with particular emphasis on the integration of Servitized Business Models and Product Service Systems to enhance Circular Economy Performance in the built environment. His work contributes to advancing knowledge on business model innovation for sustainability, particularly within developing country contexts, and is supported by collaborative engagements that facilitate the application of theoretical frameworks to real world-built environment challenges.

Bankole Osita Awuzie is a Professor of Smart and Sustainable Built Environments in the Department of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. He holds a PhD in Built Environment from the University of Salford, United Kingdom, and has over 15 years of academic experience. His research spans sustainable and circular built environments, Construction 4.0 and 5.0, infrastructure delivery, and facilities management. He has authored over 200 peer reviewed publications, including journal articles, books, and book chapters, and has supervised numerous postgraduate students. He is a National Research Foundation rated researcher and serves in several editorial leadership roles, including Co Editor in Chief of the Applications of Circular Economy Journal, alongside contributions to leading international journals and academic platforms.

Clinton Ohis Aigbavboa is a Professor in the Department of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, and a leading researcher in the built environment. He currently heads the CIDB Centre of Excellence and the Sustainable Human Settlement and Construction Research Centre. His extensive academic portfolio includes over 1,600 scholarly publications and 39 authored books with internationally recognised publishers such as Springer Nature and Taylor and Francis. His research interests include sustainability, digitalisation, infrastructure development, and construction innovation. He is actively involved in industry academia collaborations, postgraduate supervision, and policy development, contributing significantly to advancing knowledge and practice in the built environment.