Fifteen years of research on business model innovation : how far have we come, and where should we go?

This article presents a review of the book “Organizations: Rational, Natural and Open Systems,” by W.R. Scott.

Organizations: Rational, Natural and Open Systems

This study was supported by the EPSRC project ‘Business Models for Sustainable Industrial Systems’ (grant no EP/L019914/1) and the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Industrial Sustainability (grant no EP/I033351/1).

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/bse.1939

Business Model Innovation for Sustainability: Towards a Unified Perspective for Creation of Sustainable Business Models

Principles of Animal Taxonomy By Prof. George Gaylord Simpson. (Columbia Biological Series, No. 20.) Pp. xii + 247. (New York: Columbia University Press; London: Oxford University Press, 1961.) 35s. net.

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Principles of Animal Taxonomy

https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/files/78787819/2017_Taeuscher_Laudien_Platform_Business_Models_Author_version.pdf

Understanding platform business models: A mixed methods study of marketplaces

https://isiarticles.com/bundles/Article/pre/pdf/7798.pdf

Applications of the business model in studies of enterprise success, innovation and classification: An analysis of empirical research from 1996 to 2010

Purpose: To bring to the fore the scientific significance of classification and its role in business model theory building. To propose a method by which existing classifications of business models can be analyzed and new ones developed. Design/Methodology/Approach: A review of the scholarly literature relevant to classifications of business models is presented along with a brief overview of classification theory applicable to business model research. Existing business model classifications are evaluated in terms of their propensity to contribute to theory building and a method for designing classifications schemes is proposed. Findings: Little attention has been paid to the rationale underlying the design of business model classifications and often there is no explicit consideration of the suitability of the classification for its intended purpose. Each classification contributes to the understanding of business models in practice but there is a dearth of taxonomical research that can facilitate progression of business model research towards theorizing. Originality/Value: This paper addresses the research element of classification that is largely overlooked yet is crucial for business model theory building. The nature of business model classifications is examined in the light of classification philosophies and a structured method of classification design is proposed. A case is made for the development of a general classification of business models that can facilitate the progression of business model research towards theory building.

The Importance of Classification to Business Model Research

The business model concept is useful in analysing and communicating the essence of a business, and for predicting the implications of electronic commerce on an existing business. As useful as the concept is, there is a lack of consensus among researchers on the definition of a business model, and on the constructs of the business model. The aim of this paper is to propose a conceptual framework for business model research that provides a basis for theory development and debate. Without such a conceptual framework business model research will progress in an ad hoc fashion and be directed by the immediate needs of individual researchers. The financial reporting conceptual framework developed over many years by the accounting profession, is used as a mould for the hierarchically structured, business model conceptual framework that is the subject of this paper. In addition the notion of primacy of concept is used to determine the business model elements and architecture. It is envisaged that the business model conceptual framework will guide future research and that it will be reviewed and refined, just as the financial reporting conceptual framework has been reviewed and refined over decades.

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A Conceptual Framework for Business Model Research

This paper suggests a schema for business model research that has the potential to progress the research, in a structured manner, from conceptual to theoretical. It draws on the scientific and business research literature to identify the types of research necessary to further knowledge and promotes the inductive-deductive model of research. The importance of conducting empirical research to evaluate current conceptualisations of business models and developing a theory of business models is stressed. An important aspect of any research agenda is the creation of a general classification of domain objects that can serve a wide range of current and future uses. Classification literature relating to the biological, behavioural, organisational and social sciences has been referenced in this paper in support of this claim. Existing classifications of business models are evaluated, determining that the only classifications that have been proposed to date are typologies and that no general taxonomy of business models currently exists. 1 Current Business Model Research Consistent with the objectives of scientific research, the overall objective of business model research is to develop a theory of business models that can aid researchers and practitioners in explaining phenomena and making predictions. Theory development is an ongoing process that occurs over long periods of time, however business model research is in its very early days. The term itself only emerged towards the end of the twentieth century and the focus has been on defining business models and identifying the elements of business models (Pateli 2002; Pateli and Giaglis 2004; Osterwalder, Pigneur et al. 2005). What has emerged is an array of conceptualisations of business models that have been conceived from differing views of the problem domain and that are rarely grounded in existing theory (Porter 2001; Hedman and Kalling 2003). Some definitions are quite abstract and outward looking (Timmers 1998; Hamel 2000; Weill and Vitale 2001; Hawkins 2002; Rappa 2006) whilst others are detailed and all encompassing of business functions (Chesbrough and Rosenbloom 2000; Mahadevan 2000; Dubosson-Torbay, Osterwalder et al. 2002). One of the explanations for this is that the definitions and the attributes of the business model are established according to the

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A Business Model Research Schema

The purpose of this paper is threefold. Firstly, it provides business model researchers with a structured analysis of the research that is required to enable business model theories to be developed. A schema for analyzing existing research and for discerning the research required to move towards business model theory building is proposed. The importance of conceptual research along with deductive and inductive empirical research is emphasized. Secondly, the extant business model literature is analyzed according to the research schema to highlight current gaps in the research and the progress being made towards theorization. Thirdly, opportunities for future research are identified and thematically categorized to encourage progressive cycles of conceptual-deductive-inductive research and ultimately, theorizing. The need for business model theory building, both in relation to the business model concept per se and concerning the relationships between business models and other phenomena, is the basis of this article.

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Susan Lambert

Papers

Applications of the business model in studies of enterprise success, innovation and classification: An analysis of empirical research from 1996 to 2010

The Importance of Classification to Business Model Research

A Conceptual Framework for Business Model Research

A Business Model Research Schema

Business Model Research: From Concepts to Theories