Business Model Innovation as Lever of Organizational Sustainability

Publication Type

Journal contribution (peer reviewed)

Authors

Carayannis, Elias / Sindakis, Stavros / Walter, Christian

Year of publication

2014

Published in

The Journal of Technology Transfer

Band/Volume

2014/

DOI

10.1007/s10961-013-9330-y

Page (from - to)

1-20

Abstract

The concept of business models and consequently business model innovation
has its foundation in corporate practice, strategic management, and industrial economics.
However, business models are not a strategy but constitute the core and driver of a strategy
as well as the key for decoding, understanding, and effectively communicating a strategy
both within an organization as well as across its business ecosystem. As with Business
Model, the Business Model Innovation literature is not well developed. This paper focuses
on the effects that can be achieved through business model innovation, in particular
organizational sustainability. In this regard, the paper focuses on the organizational design
and governance and the role different stakeholders, predominantly customers and partners
play in the innovation process towards organizational sustainability. Finally, the ways by
which organizational performance is influenced by different business models are also
explored, aiming to shed light on this theoretical gap. The results provide insights to
manufacturers in developing countries, overcoming their dependence on commoditized
products and OEM manufacturing while maintaining a sustainable ecosystem. Finally,
implications for theory, policy, and practice are outlined along with the suggestions for
future research.