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Academic and business interest in sustainable business models (SBMs) as a potential solution to pressing global sustainability issues has grown significantly over the past decade. Yet, to date sectoral progress on business model innovation has been insufficient to address much of the social and environmental harm caused by, or facilitated by industry, and progress against the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been disappointing. This study investigates the following research question: What are the dominant “unsustainable business model” types per sector that institutionalise social and environmental harm, and hold back progress on the SDGs, and what are the potential sustainable business model responses? This paper first investigates the dominant unsustainable business model types and potential sustainable business model solutions per key sector. Based on this analysis, a comprehensive overview of nine dominant unsustainable business model (UBM) archetypes and potential sustainable business responses are developed. The UBM archetypes are: 1) Environmental resource exploitation and waste; 2) Human resource exploitation and waste; 3) Economic exploitation; 4) Unhealthy or unsustainable offering; 5) Quantity over quality and value; 6) Addictive consumption pattern; 7) Complex opaque global value chain; 8) Short-term shareholder – not stakeholder value and 9) Financing and supporting unsustainable practices. Furthermore, a hierarchy of sustainable business model responses is introduced, showing the need for business to develop multiple initiatives, and a recognition that the focus for SBM innovation should be to some extent sector specific. Finally, directions for future research to transform dominant unsustainable business models are provided.
Nancy M.P. Bocken; Samuel W. Short. Unsustainable business models – Recognising and resolving institutionalised social and environmental harm. Journal of Cleaner Production 2021, 312, 127828 .
AMA StyleNancy M.P. Bocken, Samuel W. Short. Unsustainable business models – Recognising and resolving institutionalised social and environmental harm. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2021; 312 ():127828.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNancy M.P. Bocken; Samuel W. Short. 2021. "Unsustainable business models – Recognising and resolving institutionalised social and environmental harm." Journal of Cleaner Production 312, no. : 127828.
Digital technologies are considered to be an essential enabler of the circular economy in various industries. However, to date, very few studies have investigated which digital technologies could enable the circular economy in the built environment. This study specifically focuses on the built environment as one of the largest, most energy- and material-intensive industries globally, and investigates the following question: which digital technologies potentially enable a circular economy in the built environment, and in what ways? The research uses an iterative stepwise method: (1) framework development based on regenerating, narrowing, slowing and closing resource loop principles; (2) expert workshops to understand the usage of digital technologies in a circular built environment; (3) a literature and practice review to further populate the emerging framework with relevant digital technologies; and (4) the final mapping of digital technologies onto the framework. This study develops a novel Circular Digital Built Environment framework. It identifies and maps ten enabling digital technologies to facilitate a circular economy in the built environment. These include: (1) additive/robotic manufacturing, (2) artificial intelligence, (3) big data and analytics, (4) blockchain technology, (5) building information modelling, (6) digital platforms/marketplaces, (7) digital twins, (8) the geographical information system, (9) material passports/databanks, and (10) the internet of things. The framework provides a fruitful starting point for the novel research avenue at the intersection of circular economy, digital technology and the built environment, and gives practitioners inspiration for sustainable innovation in the sector.
Sultan Çetin; Catherine De Wolf; Nancy Bocken. Circular Digital Built Environment: An Emerging Framework. Sustainability 2021, 13, 6348 .
AMA StyleSultan Çetin, Catherine De Wolf, Nancy Bocken. Circular Digital Built Environment: An Emerging Framework. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (11):6348.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSultan Çetin; Catherine De Wolf; Nancy Bocken. 2021. "Circular Digital Built Environment: An Emerging Framework." Sustainability 13, no. 11: 6348.
Business model experimentation has been identified as a key driver for business competitiveness but is underexplored in the sustainability and circular economy spheres. What is business model experimentation for the circular economy? This study follows a two-step approach: a literature analysis followed by a qualitative practitioner study. Based on these, circular business model experimentation is defined as an iterative approach to develop and test circular value propositions in a real-life context with customers and stakeholders, starting with a shared goal. It involves rapid learning based on empirical data to provide evidence on the viability of circular value propositions. Iterations involve increased complexity of experiments. There is a learning focus on initiating wider transitions, such as transforming consumer behaviours for the circular economy. We visualise the emerging research landscape, including research streams from business, transitions, engineering, and design. Practically, we illuminate how practitioners view the concept and current experimentation tools and approaches.
Nancy M. P. Bocken; Ilka Weissbrod; Maria Antikainen. Business Model Experimentation for the Circular Economy: Definition and Approaches. Circular Economy and Sustainability 2021, 1, 49 -81.
AMA StyleNancy M. P. Bocken, Ilka Weissbrod, Maria Antikainen. Business Model Experimentation for the Circular Economy: Definition and Approaches. Circular Economy and Sustainability. 2021; 1 (1):49-81.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNancy M. P. Bocken; Ilka Weissbrod; Maria Antikainen. 2021. "Business Model Experimentation for the Circular Economy: Definition and Approaches." Circular Economy and Sustainability 1, no. 1: 49-81.
A growing interest in the circular economy concept has pushed the discourse in various management-related disciplines beyond established boundaries, with calls to better address how such a model may be developed in a world of global value chains. Still, the conventional linear economy model continues to dominate business, society, and research. While the concept of better connecting physical output and input flows at multiple production or consumption levels is becoming more accepted, it remains unclear how to make this happen while ensuring that sustainability targets are met or exceeded. Multiple scientific communities contribute different perspectives to this discourse, with promising opportunities for research. Circular economy and sustainability from business and economics perspectives are multifaceted. The existing body of knowledge needs to be advanced to assist private individuals, business managers, investors, or policymakers in making informed decisions. In this article for the inaugural issue, we provide a snapshot of the discourses among those who have studied the circular economy and its related topics. We outline conceptual inroads and potential research questions to encourage further circular economy and sustainability research and discourse from business or economics perspectives as well as from the broader transdisciplinary angle. We propose three research pathways: (1) connecting output with input needs in a global circular economy; (2) beyond today’s business logic for a global circular economy; and (3) inclusion of the Global South in North-dominated circular economies. For each, we propose concepts, theories, or methodological approaches and offer various perspectives from the micro, macro, and meso levels.
Joerg S. Hofstetter; Valentina De Marchi; Joseph Sarkis; Kannan Govindan; Robert Klassen; Aldo R. Ometto; Katharina S. Spraul; Nancy Bocken; Weslynne S. Ashton; Sanjay Sharma; Melanie Jaeger-Erben; Charlotte Jensen; Paul Dewick; Patrick Schröder; Noemi Sinkovics; Sherwat E. Ibrahim; Luke Fiske; Anthony Goerzen; Diego Vazquez-Brust. From Sustainable Global Value Chains to Circular Economy—Different Silos, Different Perspectives, but Many Opportunities to Build Bridges. Circular Economy and Sustainability 2021, 1 -27.
AMA StyleJoerg S. Hofstetter, Valentina De Marchi, Joseph Sarkis, Kannan Govindan, Robert Klassen, Aldo R. Ometto, Katharina S. Spraul, Nancy Bocken, Weslynne S. Ashton, Sanjay Sharma, Melanie Jaeger-Erben, Charlotte Jensen, Paul Dewick, Patrick Schröder, Noemi Sinkovics, Sherwat E. Ibrahim, Luke Fiske, Anthony Goerzen, Diego Vazquez-Brust. From Sustainable Global Value Chains to Circular Economy—Different Silos, Different Perspectives, but Many Opportunities to Build Bridges. Circular Economy and Sustainability. 2021; ():1-27.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJoerg S. Hofstetter; Valentina De Marchi; Joseph Sarkis; Kannan Govindan; Robert Klassen; Aldo R. Ometto; Katharina S. Spraul; Nancy Bocken; Weslynne S. Ashton; Sanjay Sharma; Melanie Jaeger-Erben; Charlotte Jensen; Paul Dewick; Patrick Schröder; Noemi Sinkovics; Sherwat E. Ibrahim; Luke Fiske; Anthony Goerzen; Diego Vazquez-Brust. 2021. "From Sustainable Global Value Chains to Circular Economy—Different Silos, Different Perspectives, but Many Opportunities to Build Bridges." Circular Economy and Sustainability , no. : 1-27.
Nancy Bocken. Sustainable Business Models. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2020, 963 -975.
AMA StyleNancy Bocken. Sustainable Business Models. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 2020; ():963-975.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNancy Bocken. 2020. "Sustainable Business Models." Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals , no. : 963-975.
Companies attempt to address global sustainability challenges through innovating products, services, and business models. This paper focuses on sustainable business model (SBM) innovations as a way to systemically transform businesses towards sustainability. It has been widely recognized that strategic approaches to using intellectual property (IP) need to be aligned with business model innovation for commercial success. Here we suggest that IP, aligned with SBMs, can also be used to create not only commercial, but also societal and environmental impact. Knowledge about how to best align IP with SBMs to drive sustainability transitions remains limited. We address this gap by developing an SBM-IP canvas that integrates IP considerations into each of the SBM canvas building blocks. We do this by employing relevant theoretical concepts from three literature streams, namely the business model (including SBM), IP, and innovation literature. We use case examples to illustrate different IP considerations that are relevant for the SBM-IP building blocks. These examples show that different IP types (e.g., patents, trademarks) and ways of using them (e.g., more or less restrictive licensing) are applied by companies in relation to the different building blocks. While covering new theoretical ground, the proposed SBM-IP canvas can help decision makers understand how they can use different IP types strategically to propose, create, deliver, and capture sustainable value for society, environment, and the business.
Roberto Hernández-Chea; Pratheeba Vimalnath; Nancy Bocken; Frank Tietze; Elisabeth Eppinger. Integrating Intellectual Property and Sustainable Business Models: The SBM-IP Canvas. Sustainability 2020, 12, 8871 .
AMA StyleRoberto Hernández-Chea, Pratheeba Vimalnath, Nancy Bocken, Frank Tietze, Elisabeth Eppinger. Integrating Intellectual Property and Sustainable Business Models: The SBM-IP Canvas. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (21):8871.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRoberto Hernández-Chea; Pratheeba Vimalnath; Nancy Bocken; Frank Tietze; Elisabeth Eppinger. 2020. "Integrating Intellectual Property and Sustainable Business Models: The SBM-IP Canvas." Sustainability 12, no. 21: 8871.
Circular business model experiments may help firms transition towards a circular economy. Little is known about how the participants of experimentation – entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, innovation managers – develop and test their assumptions during the experimentation process to achieve more circular outcomes. Using a design-science approach, we investigate this process and develop principles to improve it. This is done during three workshops in different contexts: an innovation festival with 14 early-stage circular startups, a workshop with a health technology incumbent, and a workshop with six growth-oriented startups. We find that analyzing their available means – what they find important and prefer to happen (part of their identity), what they know (their skills and knowledge), and whom they know (their social network) – helps to understand how the participants develop and test their assumptions. We show how the mindset and awareness of the participants impact how much attention they pay to the circularity potential of their envisioned circular business models. Based on these insights, we propose a set of principles to prepare the innovation participants for experimentation, and to increase their ability to reflect on their circularity assumptions. Future research is needed to further grow our understanding of the types of principles that can guide meaningful experimentations towards a circular economy.
Jan Konietzko; Brian Baldassarre; Phil Brown; Nancy Bocken; Erik Jan Hultink. Circular business model experimentation: Demystifying assumptions. Journal of Cleaner Production 2020, 277, 122596 .
AMA StyleJan Konietzko, Brian Baldassarre, Phil Brown, Nancy Bocken, Erik Jan Hultink. Circular business model experimentation: Demystifying assumptions. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2020; 277 ():122596.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJan Konietzko; Brian Baldassarre; Phil Brown; Nancy Bocken; Erik Jan Hultink. 2020. "Circular business model experimentation: Demystifying assumptions." Journal of Cleaner Production 277, no. : 122596.
Adopting a voluntary simplicity lifestyle (VSL) contributes to a change in consumption patterns towards more sustainable ones, which is urgently needed. This study defines the VSL as a voluntary reduction of income and consumption in exchange for more free time. Our research aims to contribute with more detailed VSL criteria. A literature review develops initial VSL criteria, which are validated against and enriched by data gathered through in-depth interviews with nine voluntary simplicity practitioners. This study contributes with: (1) more detailed insights into the value changes during lifestyle adoption of a VSL, (2) a detailed perspective on significant aspects in VSL adoption as well as how they tend to happen in sequence, and (3) insight into how consumption reduces or changes and how free time is spent when adopting a VSL. A conceptual framework for more detailed VSL criteria, as proposed in this study, is valuable to characterise the VSL lifestyle and differentiate it from other lifestyles. In sum, the study contributes to clearer perspectives on the VSL and provides detailed VSL criteria. Finally, we reaffirm the potential of VSL to contribute toward changing dominant unsustainable consumption patterns and indicate directions for future research.
Jessica Osikominu; Nancy Bocken. A Voluntary Simplicity Lifestyle: Values, Adoption, Practices and Effects. Sustainability 2020, 12, 1903 .
AMA StyleJessica Osikominu, Nancy Bocken. A Voluntary Simplicity Lifestyle: Values, Adoption, Practices and Effects. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (5):1903.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJessica Osikominu; Nancy Bocken. 2020. "A Voluntary Simplicity Lifestyle: Values, Adoption, Practices and Effects." Sustainability 12, no. 5: 1903.
Collaborative innovation is necessary to explore and implement circular economy strategies. Yet, empirical investigations into such collaborations are scarce. It is unclear whether the circular context creates differences or represents adaptions within how collaborative innovation is conducted. We draw upon strategic management and open innovation literature to highlight what is known about collaborative innovation and the types of innovation conducted. We use these insights to investigate explorative qualitative case research into how practitioners in the Netherlands have conducted collaborative circular oriented innovation. Our findings show that open innovation criteria can aid our understanding and analysis. Key managerial considerations relate to the incremental or systemic nature of the innovation pursued, which induce different collaborative projects and knowledge management structures. For incremental innovation, we observe phases of collaboration, whereas for more systemic innovation, we observe a more collaborative portfolio and layered approach. Furthermore, the more radical innovation pursuits that explore slowing or recovery strategies, especially beyond business-to-business arrangements, challenge companies. A crucial challenge remains related to how to develop and assess collaborative and system-oriented business models in the transition towards a circular economy. Finally, future research is needed to assess whether the current modes of collaborative innovation are sufficient to deliver a circular economy transition.
Phil Brown; Nancy Bocken; Ruud Balkenende. How Do Companies Collaborate for Circular Oriented Innovation? Sustainability 2020, 12, 1648 .
AMA StylePhil Brown, Nancy Bocken, Ruud Balkenende. How Do Companies Collaborate for Circular Oriented Innovation? Sustainability. 2020; 12 (4):1648.
Chicago/Turabian StylePhil Brown; Nancy Bocken; Ruud Balkenende. 2020. "How Do Companies Collaborate for Circular Oriented Innovation?" Sustainability 12, no. 4: 1648.
The sharing economy has become prominent in the policy, business and academic discourse as a way to achieve greater levels of resource efficiency in sustainability transitions. An example is carsharing, which is regarded as a potential lever for change in sustainable mobility transitions. In this article we, apply the “ecologies of business models” perspective to investigate how carsharing initiatives have coevolved in Sweden. We focus on the city context as a useful unit of analysis to investigate carsharing in four Swedish cities: Gothenburg, Malmö, Stockholm and Umeå. Through qualitative case research, we investigate the following: How did carsharing business models coevolve in the studied cities? It was found that early notions of carsharing date back to the 1970s, but the concept has changed significantly over time, particularly with the emergence of (Internet) technology-based platforms. The findings suggest that carsharing is complementary to existing private car usage in cities, rather than a replacement. Based on this, we suggest pathways for local policymakers to consider when implementing sustainable carsharing solutions. The contributions are threefold: providing an empirical study on the theoretical ecologies of business models concept; understanding how carsharing coevolved in Swedish cities and in relation to wider sustainability and mobility trends; and giving novel insight into the role of local governments.
Nancy Bocken; Alexandra Jonca; Karolina Södergren; Jenny Palm. Emergence of Carsharing Business Models and Sustainability Impacts in Swedish Cities. Sustainability 2020, 12, 1594 .
AMA StyleNancy Bocken, Alexandra Jonca, Karolina Södergren, Jenny Palm. Emergence of Carsharing Business Models and Sustainability Impacts in Swedish Cities. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (4):1594.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNancy Bocken; Alexandra Jonca; Karolina Södergren; Jenny Palm. 2020. "Emergence of Carsharing Business Models and Sustainability Impacts in Swedish Cities." Sustainability 12, no. 4: 1594.
Next to the redesign of industrial products and processes, sustainable business model innovation is a strategic approach to integrate environmental and social concerns into the objectives and operations of organizations. One of the major challenges of this approach is that many promising business model ideas fail to reach the market, which is needed to achieve impact. In the literature, the issue is referred to as a “design-implementation gap.” This paper explores how that critical gap may be bridged. In doing so, we contribute to sustainable business model innovation theory and practice. We contribute to theory by connecting sustainable business model innovation with business experimentation and strategic design, two innovation approaches that leverage prototyping as a way to iteratively implement business ideas early on. Using a design science research methodology, we combine theoretical insights from these three literatures into a tool for setting up small-scale pilots of sustainable business models. We apply, evaluate, and improve our tool through a rigorous process by working with nine startups and one multinational company. As a result, we provide normative theory in terms of the sustainable business model innovation process, explaining that piloting a prototype forces organizations to simultaneously consider the desirability (i.e., what users want), feasibility (i.e., what is technically achievable), viability (i.e., what is financially possible), and sustainability (i.e., what is economically, socially and environmentally acceptable) of a new business model. Doing so early on is functional to bridge the design-implementation gap of sustainable business models. We contribute to practice with the tool itself, which organizations can use to translate sustainable business model ideas defined “on paper” into small-scale pilots as a first implementation step. We encourage future research building on the limitations of this exploratory study by working with a larger sample of companies through longitudinal case studies, to further explain how these pilots can be executed successfully.
Brian Baldassarre; Jan Konietzko; Phil Brown; Giulia Calabretta; Nancy Bocken; Ingo O. Karpen; Erik Jan Hultink. Addressing the design-implementation gap of sustainable business models by prototyping: A tool for planning and executing small-scale pilots. Journal of Cleaner Production 2020, 255, 120295 .
AMA StyleBrian Baldassarre, Jan Konietzko, Phil Brown, Giulia Calabretta, Nancy Bocken, Ingo O. Karpen, Erik Jan Hultink. Addressing the design-implementation gap of sustainable business models by prototyping: A tool for planning and executing small-scale pilots. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2020; 255 ():120295.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBrian Baldassarre; Jan Konietzko; Phil Brown; Giulia Calabretta; Nancy Bocken; Ingo O. Karpen; Erik Jan Hultink. 2020. "Addressing the design-implementation gap of sustainable business models by prototyping: A tool for planning and executing small-scale pilots." Journal of Cleaner Production 255, no. : 120295.
Food is an essential part of our daily lives, but simultaneously, it is a major contributor to environmental issues. The growing world population and changing diets are expected to further exacerbate the negative impact of food production and consumption. This article explores how sufficiency business strategies, focused on moderating consumption levels, can be implemented in the food industry to curb demand and thereby overall resource consumption. First, a literature and practice review are conducted to create a conceptual framework for sufficiency business strategies in the food industry. Second, a case study approach is taken to explore the application of sufficiency strategies at Oatly, a company offering plant-based alternatives to dairy. Semi-structured interviews and review of the company’s sustainability reports are used as key data sources for the case study. This study contributes to research and practice with a novel framework for business sufficiency strategies in the food industry. Although sufficiency implies consumption moderation, it is suggested that when a company substitutes the consumption of a less sustainable option, growth could be desirable. Future research can expand on viable sufficiency strategies for the private sector, but also strategies to engage different stakeholders, such as government, society, and academia, to accelerate the transition towards a sustainable food system.
Nancy Bocken; Lisa Smeke Morales; Matthias Lehner. Sufficiency Business Strategies in the Food Industry—The Case of Oatly. Sustainability 2020, 12, 824 .
AMA StyleNancy Bocken, Lisa Smeke Morales, Matthias Lehner. Sufficiency Business Strategies in the Food Industry—The Case of Oatly. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (3):824.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNancy Bocken; Lisa Smeke Morales; Matthias Lehner. 2020. "Sufficiency Business Strategies in the Food Industry—The Case of Oatly." Sustainability 12, no. 3: 824.
The circular economy may help firms to maximize the value of their material resources and minimize the overall resource use, waste, pollution and emissions of their business activities. Implementing a circular economy program requires radical changes in product, business model and ecosystem innovation. Most research on circular oriented innovation takes a product or business model perspective. Few publications have explored how to innovate in ecosystems: how a group of loosely coupled organizations can change how they interact with each other to achieve a collective outcome. This study proposes the Circularity Deck: a card deck-based tool that can help firms to analyze, ideate and develop the circularity potential of their innovation ecosystems. The tool is based on a literature review of circular oriented innovation principles, and of practical examples that show how these principles have been applied. The principles are organized according to the intended circular strategy outcome that they pursue (i.e., narrow, slow, close, regenerate and inform material and energy flows), and the extent of the innovation perspective that is needed to operationalize a principle (i.e., product, business model, or ecosystem innovation). This review and categorization process first produced a novel analysis of the circular economy innovation landscape, using an ecosystem perspective. Second, these results served to develop the Circularity Deck, which was further developed and tested for ease of use and perceived usefulness in 12 workshops with 136 participants from 62 different organizations. The Circularity Deck provides an approach for future research and practice to integrate new principles and examples that can help firms to analyze, ideate and develop circular innovation ecosystems.
Jan Konietzko; Nancy Bocken; Erik Jan Hultink. A Tool to Analyze, Ideate and Develop Circular Innovation Ecosystems. Sustainability 2020, 12, 417 .
AMA StyleJan Konietzko, Nancy Bocken, Erik Jan Hultink. A Tool to Analyze, Ideate and Develop Circular Innovation Ecosystems. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (1):417.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJan Konietzko; Nancy Bocken; Erik Jan Hultink. 2020. "A Tool to Analyze, Ideate and Develop Circular Innovation Ecosystems." Sustainability 12, no. 1: 417.
A circular economy maximizes the value of material resources and minimizes greenhouse gas emissions, resource use, waste and pollution. We will posit that circularity needs to be understood as a property of a system (e.g., the mobility system of a city), rather than a property of an individual product or service (e.g., a car or a car-sharing service). Hence, there is a need for more knowledge on how to innovate towards ‘circular ecosystems’. This study proposes a set of principles for ‘circular ecosystem innovation’, based on: 1) a concise literature review to retrieve recommended principles on how to successfully innovate in ecosystems, 2) a mobility case of circular ecosystem innovation to investigate how relevant and useful these principles are for circular oriented innovation. The case data include 20 interviews, workshop data and internal background documents. The identified principles can be categorized in three groups: 1) collaboration (i.e., how firms can interact with other organizations in their ecosystem to innovate towards circularity), 2) experimentation (i.e., how firms can organize a structured trial-and-error process to implement greater circularity) and 3) platformization (i.e., how firms can organize social and economic interactions via online platforms to achieve greater circularity). Future research may focus on identifying opportunities and barriers to applying these principles in different contexts than in the one that is investigated in the present study.
Jan Konietzko; Nancy Bocken; Erik Jan Hultink. Circular ecosystem innovation: An initial set of principles. Journal of Cleaner Production 2019, 253, 119942 .
AMA StyleJan Konietzko, Nancy Bocken, Erik Jan Hultink. Circular ecosystem innovation: An initial set of principles. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2019; 253 ():119942.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJan Konietzko; Nancy Bocken; Erik Jan Hultink. 2019. "Circular ecosystem innovation: An initial set of principles." Journal of Cleaner Production 253, no. : 119942.
Lean Startup has been impacting how startups and incumbents innovate their business models. However, academic understanding of Lean Startup and the associated experimentation process is only emerging. Recent academic critique of Lean Startup by Felin and colleagues (in press) highlights the inadequate guidance provided for hypotheses generation; limits of experiential learning from customer feedback; and the incremental nature of experimentation outcomes. Yet, Lean Startup has not been conceived for ideation, but rather for fostering iterative experimentation to reduce uncertainty, engage stakeholders, and promote collective learning. Taking a process perspective on experimentation, we suggest that novel business models can emerge during experimentation. We contribute a more positive perspective on the opportunities of Lean Startup and highlight how it can enable continuous innovation and stakeholder engagement for novelty and impact.
Nancy Bocken; Yuliya Snihur. Lean Startup and the business model: Experimenting for novelty and impact. Long Range Planning 2019, 53, 101953 .
AMA StyleNancy Bocken, Yuliya Snihur. Lean Startup and the business model: Experimenting for novelty and impact. Long Range Planning. 2019; 53 (4):101953.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNancy Bocken; Yuliya Snihur. 2019. "Lean Startup and the business model: Experimenting for novelty and impact." Long Range Planning 53, no. 4: 101953.
Sustainable business model innovation (SBMI) in large multinational corporations is increasingly perceived as a key driver for competitive advantage and corporate sustainability. While the SBMI literature acknowledges that corporations require dynamic capabilities to innovate their business model for sustainability, the role of organization design to nurture dynamic capabilities for this purpose has been scantly addressed. By taking a qualitative research approach, we address how organization design affects dynamic capabilities needed for SBMI. Accordingly, from an organization design perspective, we identified barriers and drivers on three levels: the institutional, the strategic, and the operational. The contributions of our study are threefold. First, we contribute to a recent discussion on how organizational design affects dynamic capabilities needed for business model innovation. Second, we present a multi-level framework to show how interconnected barriers and drivers obstruct or enable SBMI. Third, our study answers a call to advance theoretical perspectives on SBMI.
Nancy M.P. Bocken; Thijs H.J. Geradts. Barriers and drivers to sustainable business model innovation: Organization design and dynamic capabilities. Long Range Planning 2019, 53, 101950 .
AMA StyleNancy M.P. Bocken, Thijs H.J. Geradts. Barriers and drivers to sustainable business model innovation: Organization design and dynamic capabilities. Long Range Planning. 2019; 53 (4):101950.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNancy M.P. Bocken; Thijs H.J. Geradts. 2019. "Barriers and drivers to sustainable business model innovation: Organization design and dynamic capabilities." Long Range Planning 53, no. 4: 101950.
Cities have for a long time been key actors in sustainable urban development, and in recent times, also for the sharing economy, as they provide a fertile breeding ground for various sharing initiatives. While some of these initiatives build on existing practices and infrastructures such as public libraries and repair workshops, others require the involvement of private companies, as in the case of car sharing. The sharing economy might therefore require a significant reinterpretation of the role of local governments, businesses and citizens, which in turn might imply a complex re-organisation of governing. This article will explore what potential roles cities might have in governing the sharing economy. Four Swedish cities serve as case studies for this purpose: Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö and Umeå. City data was collected primarily through qualitative means of investigation, including workshops, interviews and desk research. In Malmö, additional participatory observations were conducted on the testbed Sege Park. Results were analysed with a framework developed for understanding the various governing roles for cities in the sharing economy. Three dominant modes of governing were identified and discussed: governing by provision and authority; governing by partnership and enabling; and governing through volunteering. The four cities made use of all three governing modes, although with a primary focus on governing by authority and governing through partnership. When characterised by governing through volunteering, projects were always initiated by the city, but then run formally by an NGO. While all governing modes may have a role and a purpose in the sharing economy, it is still important that cities reflect upon what are their actual implications. Risks include a collaborative governing mode out-competing some businesses, for example, and a self-governing mode reducing the action space of the volunteer sector.
Jenny Palm; Karolina Södergren; Nancy Bocken. The Role of Cities in the Sharing Economy: Exploring Modes of Governance in Urban Sharing Practices. Energies 2019, 12, 4737 .
AMA StyleJenny Palm, Karolina Södergren, Nancy Bocken. The Role of Cities in the Sharing Economy: Exploring Modes of Governance in Urban Sharing Practices. Energies. 2019; 12 (24):4737.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJenny Palm; Karolina Södergren; Nancy Bocken. 2019. "The Role of Cities in the Sharing Economy: Exploring Modes of Governance in Urban Sharing Practices." Energies 12, no. 24: 4737.
The circular economy has been heralded as a potential driver for sustainable development by business, academia, and policymakers. In a future circular economy, new business models are needed that slow, close and narrow resource loops to address key resource and climate challenges. After a phase of excitement and inspiration, an operationalization phase needs to start to ensure the best possible implementation and transition towards a circular economy. This operationalization phase will involve the development of products, processes and business models that significantly lower the negative impact on the environment, reduce waste and resource pressures and, rather, create a positive impact on society and environment. This paper focuses on the circular business model lens as a comprehensive way of addressing business innovation. Within this evolving circular economy operationalization phase, several tools, approaches and methods are emerging that could support circular business model innovation. This paper seeks to create a comprehensive tools overview through a literature and practice review. It provides structure to the emerging range of tools, methods and approaches, and, based on this, a guideline for future tool development. Finally, it gives an overview of opportunities and gaps as well as a future agenda for research and practice.
Nancy Bocken; Lars Strupeit; Katherine Whalen; Julia Nußholz. A Review and Evaluation of Circular Business Model Innovation Tools. Sustainability 2019, 11, 2210 .
AMA StyleNancy Bocken, Lars Strupeit, Katherine Whalen, Julia Nußholz. A Review and Evaluation of Circular Business Model Innovation Tools. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (8):2210.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNancy Bocken; Lars Strupeit; Katherine Whalen; Julia Nußholz. 2019. "A Review and Evaluation of Circular Business Model Innovation Tools." Sustainability 11, no. 8: 2210.
Nancy Bocken. Sustainable Business Models. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2019, 1 -13.
AMA StyleNancy Bocken. Sustainable Business Models. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 2019; ():1-13.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNancy Bocken. 2019. "Sustainable Business Models." Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals , no. : 1-13.
This chapter introduces the background, aims, contents, and implications of the edited collection “Innovation for Sustainability: Business Transformations Towards a Better World”.
Nancy Bocken; Paavo Ritala; Laura Albareda; Robert Verburg. Introduction: Innovation for Sustainability. Palgrave Studies in Sustainable Business In Association with Future Earth 2019, 1 -16.
AMA StyleNancy Bocken, Paavo Ritala, Laura Albareda, Robert Verburg. Introduction: Innovation for Sustainability. Palgrave Studies in Sustainable Business In Association with Future Earth. 2019; ():1-16.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNancy Bocken; Paavo Ritala; Laura Albareda; Robert Verburg. 2019. "Introduction: Innovation for Sustainability." Palgrave Studies in Sustainable Business In Association with Future Earth , no. : 1-16.