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Purpose: This paper studies the Digital Service Innovation (DSI) concept by systematically reviewing earlier studies from various scholarly communities. This study aims to recognize how recent advances in DSI literature from different research streams complement and can be incorporated into the growing digital servitization literature to define better and understand DSI. Design/methodology/approach: After systematically identifying 123 relevant articles, this study employed complementary methods, such as author bibliographic coupling, linguistic text mining/textual analysis and qualitative content analyses. Findings: This paper first maps the intellectual structure and boundaries of the DSI-related communities and qualitatively assesses their characteristics. These communities are (1) Innovation for digital servitization, (2) Service innovation in the digital age and (3) Adoption of novel e-services enabled by information system development. Next, the composition of the DSI concept is examined and depicted to comprehend the notion's critical dimensions. The findings discuss the range of theories and methods in the existing research, including antecedents, processes and outcomes of DSI. Originality/value: This study reviews, extends the understanding of origins and critically evaluates DSI-related research. Moreover, the paper redefines and clarifies the structure and boundaries of the DSI-concept. In doing so, it elaborates on the substance of DSI and identifies the essential themes for its understanding and conceptualization. Thus, the study helps the future development of the concept and allows knowledge accumulation by bridging adjacent research communities. It helps researchers and managers navigate the foggy emerging research landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to review and summarize the findings of research dedicated to studying the process of building sustainable business models (BM) triggered by development of COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: Bibliometric analysis is performed to identify the papers most relevant to the topic. The authors review the findings of more than 50 papers from Scopus database published between 2020 and 2022 dedicated to studying BM during COVID-19 pandemic, as well as papers dedicated to sustainability phenomenon and most cited BM research. Findings: The paper identifies the gap in defining BM sustainability and contributes to better understanding of this phenomenon by demarcating it from traditional environment-based United Nations agenda. It also describes why network-based approach to BM helps to better address sustainability aspects. The paper demonstrates how representation of a networked BM by three levels of analysis (namely, structure of a BM, interaction mechanism between BM actors and results of their interaction) is organically connected to the key milestones of the value creation process (value definition, value creation, value distribution and value capture) and shows how these three levels can be used to analyze and structure the practical changes proposed in COVID-19-oriented BM. Finally, the paper summarizes key findings of the studies dedicated to BM during the pandemic and structures key insights in relation to building sustainable BM. Research limitations/implications: The results of the paper contribute to developing theory around BM sustainability as well as provide insights for business practitioners on how to adjust BM during the crisis. At the same time, many insights shown in the paper are industry specific, which limits their generalizability, as well as consequences of the pandemic are still not fully clear. Therefore, the authors argue that future research should be primarily focused on developing generalizable measurement frameworks to evaluate the antecedents, process and results of BM adaptation. Originality/value: The paper strengthens theoretical foundations for the research focused on BM sustainability and helps businesses to better manage the adaptation in the fast-changing environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Digital innovation and circular business model innovation are two critical enablers of a circular economy. A wide variety of digital technologies such as blockchain, 3D printing, cyber-physical systems, or big data also diverges the applications of digital technologies in circular business models. Given heterogeneous attributes of circular business models and digital technologies, the selections of digital technologies and circular business models might be highly distinctive within and between sectorial contexts. This paper examines digital circular business models in the context of the fashion industry and its multiple actors. This industry as the world's second polluting industry requires an urgent circular economy (CE) transition with less resource consumption, lower waste emissions and a more stable economy. Design/methodology/approach: An inductive, exploratory multiple-case study method is employed to investigate the ten cases of different sized fashion companies (i.e. large, small medium-sized firm (SME) and startup firms). The comparison across cases is conducted to understand fashion firms' distinct behaviours in adopting various digital circular economy strategies. Findings: The paper presents three archetypes of digital-based circular business models in the fashion industry: the blockchain-based supply chain model, the service-based model and the pull demand-driven model. Besides incremental innovations, the radical business model and digital innovations as presented in the pull demand-driven model may be crucial to the fashion circular economy transition. The pull demand–driven model may shift the economy from scales to scopes, change the whole process of how the fashion items are forecasted, produced, and used, and reform consumer behaviours. The paths of adopting digital fashion circular business models are also different among large, SMEs and startup fashion firms. Practical implications: The study provides business managers with empirical insights on how circular business models (CBMs) should be chosen according to intrinsic business capacities, technological competences and CE strategies. The emerging trends of new fashion markets (e.g. rental, subscription) and consumers' sustainable awareness should be not be neglected. Moreover, besides adopting recycling and reuse strategies, large fashion incumbents consider collaborating with other technology suppliers and startup companies to incubate more radical innovations. Social implications: Appropriate policies and regulations should be enacted to enable the digital CE transition. Market patterns and consumer acceptances are considered highly challenging to these digital fashion models. A balanced policy on both the demand and supply sides are suggested. The one-side policy may fail CBMs that entail an upside-down collaboration of both producers and consumers. Moreover, it is perhaps time to rethink how to reduce unnecessary new demand rather than repeatedly producing and recycling. Originality/value: The pace of CE research is lagging far behind the accelerating environmental contamination by the fashion industry. The study aims to narrow the gap between theory and practice to harmonise fashion firms' orchestration and accelerate the transition of the fashion industry towards the CE. This study examines diverse types of digital technologies in different circular business models in a homogeneous context of the fashion industry with heterogeneous firm types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This summary provides an overview of a special issue of Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal that explores new consumption and marketing models in a post-pandemic context and their impact on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The first paper discusses the barriers and drivers of circular supply chain management (CSCM) adoption in the UK food industry. The second paper explores how skill development programs can empower rural women in India. The third paper examines the concept of "retail wellness oasis" in health food stores. The special issue aims to contribute to the understanding of business and consumption models in the post-pandemic context and their impact on achieving the SDGs. [Extracted from the article]

As an significant element for the continuation and development of modern design, conventional Chinese decorative patterns satisfy people's emotional dependence on nationality and tradition. At present, traditional patterns are designed mainly by professional designers. Due to the high dependence of the entire design process on labor, the design efficiency is untoward to improve to rapidly meet the explosive growth of business needs. However, a large amount of material data on the Internet and the development of artificial intelligence technology provides an opportunity to work out this development bottleneck. This paper mainly studies the design and implementation of the automatic generation of traditional pattern image layout based on the generation of confrontation network and aesthetic evaluation to score the quality of the generated traditional pattern image. And the scoring results are fed back to the traditional pattern layout generation network to improve the quality of the generated traditional pattern layout pictures so that the entire network structure can adapt to disparate scene requirements. The results show that the SSIM value of the structural similarity obtained by the image of the traditional pattern automatically generated by the model in this paper is larger and closer to 1 than the value of the SSIM obtained by other methods, indicating that the image of the traditional pattern automatically generated by the model has the highest aesthetic quality. Furthermore, the research provides assistance for intelligent technology to solve the development bottleneck of conventional pattern design. Finally, the future research of digital image quality evaluation approach is prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financialised capitalism's proclivity for assets helps explain growing investment into new housing asset-classes, including co-living, Build-to-Rent and Purpose-Built Student Housing. To date, research has focused on institutional and financial settings driving the assetisation of property. Less common is research into the microgeographies of assetisation. In this paper, we contribute to research on the microgeographies of assetisation by examining how households and their inhabitants are actively reworked within co-living housing. Our analysis identifies how households are rendered more investable and profitable, demonstrating how assetisation processes can exceed the bounds of real estate property as an arena of value. Assetisation is intimately navigated in microgeographic sites, with implications for residents' housing security and domestic experiences. Our analysis draws on research conducted between 2016 and 2022 that charted the emergence, maturation and transformation of the co-living sector in New York City, San Francisco and Australia. The paper identifies the three key practices through which co-living providers realise value from households and residents: (1) Running an asset-light business model, allowing profit from property outside the risks of ownership. (2) Rescripting residents as subscribed members rather than legal tenants. (3) Curating household forms, delivering experiences through hospitality-like services and capitalising on the residents as community members to generate maximum profit. This work supports economic and housing geographers to go beyond conceptualisations of financialisation as a 'monolithic and inevitable process', shining a light on microgeographic sites, actors and practices holding up wider financial ideologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to examine an emerging product–place co-branding marketing practice in China's rural areas. The role of this practice in inclusive development is analyzed from the perspectives of value proposition innovation, market legitimacy, media coverage and brand value. Both research and practice indicate value proposition innovation to exert an important influence on brand value enhancement, but little is known about the mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying this relation. Design/methodology/approach: A moderated mediation model is constructed to examine whether market legitimacy mediates the relationship between value proposition innovation and brand value. vWhether this mediating process is moderated by media coverage is also examined. The primary data are collected from semi-structured interviews and observations conducted with two common cases to develop proper scales for value proposition innovation and market legitimacy. The research includes 100 product–place co-brandings published by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in 2019. Hypotheses are tested using hierarchical regression and a Bootstrap model. Findings: Value proposition innovation has a positive effect on brand value, and market legitimacy partially mediates this relationship. Media coverage positively moderates the relationship between value proposition innovation and market legitimacy, and positively moderates the mediating effect of market legitimacy; the higher the media coverage, the stronger the mediating effect of market legitimacy. Research limitations/implications: Based on data availability and accessibility, the study sample focused on indicators from 100 brands in 2019. If the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs discloses consecutive annual information for other years, future studies could explore panel data to further test the study's conclusions from a longitudinal perspective. Originality/value: First, this paper adds to the emerging literature on product–place co-branding business models by examining the relationship between value proposition innovation and brand value. Second, this paper enriches institutional theory by including market legitimacy as a mediator between value proposition innovation and brand value. Third, this paper identifies the moderating role of media coverage, thus broadening the theoretical implications of institutional theory with respect to improving market legitimacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Research Topic on "Enabling Technologies and Business Models for Energy Communities" presents a comprehensive exploration of critical facets in the realm of sustainable energy transitions. The Research Topic encompasses diverse topics, ranging from smart energy frameworks for urban communities and off-grid renewable energy deployment in Mexico to the impact of institutional support on the coalbed methane industry. It further investigates complex grid investment decisions, solar-based irrigation adoption in water-scarce regions, and risk management in power supply projects. Additionally, the Research Topic delves into financial aspects, exploring the pricing of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project Asset-backed Securities (ABS) products, the impact of managerial competence on corporate carbon performance, and equity-based predictions for the energy industry. The influence of innovation on fossil fuel abandonment in low and middle-income countries and the significance of climate risk for green innovation in heavy-polluting industries are also examined. A regional perspective is provided on the technological convergence of hydrogen energy, and the interplay between renewable energy, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and CO2 emissions in highly-globalized countries is scrutinized. Lastly, the effects of green credit policy on the risk of stocks prices crash are investigated. Together, these contributions offer a holistic understanding of the challenges and opportunities in enabling technologies and business models for energy communities, contributing valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders striving for a sustainable energy future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the company announced that its Major League Soccer stadium for the Philadelphia Union will be zero landfill, a feat that involves partnerships with venue management company Spectra, recycling data company Recycle Track Systems, and energy company Covanta (Subaru of America [4]). Subaru - Taking Ownership of Waste For the most committed organizations, setting a goal to produce zero waste is a strategy that requires embracing circularity throughout the business. Circular business practices to be more environmentally sustainable and discuss the types of innovation that are easiest to adopt for sustainability In the ethos of Denise Coogan, one of the leaders of Subaru of America's zero waste manufacturing initiative, "Waste is a material that hasn't found its use yet" (Subaru of America [15], 4:25). [Extracted from the article]

Due to increased digitalisation and dematerialisation, the traditional value chain concept appears to be outdated. Instead, the term value network has emerged to describe how organisations co-create value in today's economy. However, it remains unclear what contributes to success or failure of collaborative business models in value networks. The article closes this research gap. The authors identify relevant papers through a systematic literature review process and review them using qualitative content analysis. From the 45 papers analysed, 21 critical factors contributing to success or failure of business models in value networks were extracted. They can be structured along 6 dimensions. From a theoretical perspective, the article deepens the understanding of business models in value networks and provides clear perspectives for future research. From a practical perspective, managers can use the results as target variables for strategic management to ensure success of their value network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stakeholders self-identify with a firm when they believe they affect and are themselves affected by the actions of a firm. When a firm is already operating and engaging in actions that are more or less consistent with its business model, stakeholders can evaluate whether they are affected or whether they affect the firm. However, how do stakeholders self-identify in the earliest stages of an entrepreneurial endeavor when a firm has yet to exist and the outcomes of products and services and their effects on stakeholders are unknown? In these early, uncertain stages, human cooperation is needed for new ideas, language to describe these ideas, products and services, and entrepreneurial endeavors emerge. Using the theory of common ground helps scholars examine how everyday human conversations, cooperation, and social interactions can motivate a subset of individuals to self-identify as stakeholders in relation to ideas, language, future products and services, and even the endeavor before outcomes can be known. These endeavors, the negotiated construction of language and mutual coherence, exist because of an emerging stakeholder collective identity. Finally, the paper proposes that how an endeavor is organized is the manifestation of the unique path-dependent processes the stakeholders have gone through. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on the business model innovation theory and the resilience theory, the present study explores existing literature on the capacity of digitalization and new technologies for the sustainable and innovative development of shipping and seaports; more in details, it identifies the shipping and seaport business models that can meet environmental, economic and social goals through the digitalization of operational processes in the ship–port interface. This paper aims to investigate whether digitalization and new technologies can help in the creation of sustainable business models as set out in the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by all UN member states in 2015. The methodology is based on a qualitative approach, conducting a systematic literature review followed by a bibliometric analysis of a database containing 132 items in English language publications between 1969 and 2020. The findings indicate that literature on the topic has concentrated mainly on the environmental externalities connected with operations at the ship–port interface. The study offers theoretical and practical contributions, outlining the main issues debated in the literature on digitalization and new technologies in the shipping and seaport industry, and analyses the key variables that will play a role in achieving the SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sherlocking refers to an online platform's use of non-public third-party business data to improve its own business decisions, for instance by mimicking successful products and services of edge providers. Such a strategy emerges as a form of self-preferencing and, together with other hypotheses on preferential access to data, it has been targeted by some policy makers and competition authorities because of the competitive risks originating from the dual role played by hybrid platforms. The paper investigates the competitive implications of sherlocking, maintaining that an outright ban is unjustified. Firstly, the paper shows that, by aiming to ensure platform neutrality, such a prohibition would cover two scenarios (i.e., the use of non-public third-party business data to calibrate business decisions in general, rather than to adopt a pure copycat strategy) that should be analysed separately. Indeed, in these scenarios sherlocking may affect different forms of competition (inter-platform v. intra-platform competition). Secondly, the paper argues that, in both cases, the anticompetitive effects of the practice are questionable and that the ban is fundamentally driven by the bias towards hybrid and vertical integrated players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper argues that when incumbent firms counter disruptive threats head-on, they may fail to develop the required new skills. This paper aims to propose an adjacent strategy which proved useful to Fujifilm to counter disruption of its core business of manufacturing photographic film. Design/methodology/approach: The study uses an inductive methodology. Based on a detailed case study of Fujifilm, the study proposes two frameworks: for the conditions under which an adjacent strategy is likely to be fruitful and how firms can make the strategy work in their organizations. Findings: The study finds that an adjacent strategy can be useful to firms under specific circumstances. Not only will the strategy help to counter decline in the core business, but it will also open up new avenues of growth. The success of the strategy requires significant efforts in aligning the leadership and the organization, however. Practical implications: The frameworks proposed in the study can be useful to incumbent firms in many industries as they battle new disruptive business models and players. Originality/value: The study's key argument that incumbent firms can leverage skills from their core business is novel. The study also proposes frameworks that can help firms decide whether an adjacent strategy is appropriate for them and how they can implement it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: There are few concepts in the modern business lexicon where people feel as strongly confident in their understanding of its meaning – while there is simultaneously such profound disagreement in how people actually define the term – than the concept of "strategy." After decades of research and publications trying to correct this situation, the problem remains. It is difficult to advance the field, teach the field, or even effectively put it into practice if you cannot define what "it" is in a clear, concise, and meaningful way. This paper offers updated definitions of key strategic management concepts. Design/methodology/approach: A large academic and practitioner literature review was added to the author's personal experience as a Fortune 500 chief strategy officer and university professor to identify five separate concepts at the heart of current colloquial uses of the term "strategy." These concepts were then clarified and defined with implications summarized. Findings: The generic term "strategy" is frequently used in place of multiple other very distinct concepts. This problem of concept ambiguity can be greatly reduced by understanding and emphasizing the definitions and usage of five other, already existing, business terms – "Strategic Management," "Strategic Planning Process," "Strategic Plan," "Realized Strategy," and "Business Model." Originality/value: This paper identifies the negative effects of the misuse of the term strategy and offers clear, concise remedies. Resolving the definition problems is a necessary precursor to the advancement, education, and practice of the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the increasing prominence of digital labour platforms in the labour markets of Southeast Europe, and compares the supply of online labour from nine selected countries: Serbia, Romania, Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria. Digital labour platforms, as an innovative business model, play an important role in today's labour markets by linking the demand and supply of digital work. Southeast Europe is no exception to this trend, and has become an important supplier of online labour. With the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, this and other new forms of employment further increased both globally and in Southeast Europe. Despite this trend, online labour often remains invisible and under the radar of national policymakers and regulators, as well as national statistical agencies, due to the globalised nature of online platforms. This paper aims to shed light on the development of online labour in the countries studied, based on publicly available data collected through Gigmetar, a web scraping tool designed to monitor trends on the number, gender, incomes, and occupations of online workers.1 The paper compares online labour from nine countries active on the most significant general digital labour platforms (Upwork, Freelancer, and Guru) from February 2022 to October 2022. The criteria for the comparison include occupations, 2 gender and income. The analysis is based on the data of approximately 80% of the total number of active digital workers on the platforms under investigation. The paper points out the similarities and differences in online labour between the countries of Southeast Europe. For example, the number of online workers increased in all the countries, with creative services and multimedia and software development comprising the most dominant occupations in each country. Moreover, men are more commonly represented in these digital markets than women. However, these generalities hide remarkable differences between the countries in terms of the number of online workers per capita, the comparative advantages of each country based on the composition of the online labour force in terms of professions, variations in the gender gap in income distribution, and the average hourly labour price demanded by workers. The results of our analysis may provide useful information to national policy makers as they work to address the challenges in the labour market brought by technological advancements. This information can also be used to develop policies in areas such as labour rights, education and training, and gender equality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores a theoretical and empirical discussion of the ability of business form a particular sector to transition towards sustainability. The paper contextualises the discussion within the theoretical framework of a 'Risk Society' as outlined by Ulrich Beck. In particular, the paper highlights the relationship between sustainable development, and what Beck describes as the emergence of an emancipatory catastrophism. This theoretical framework is then applied to a novel approach for exploring sustainability through the process of branding ultimately highlighting an industry's receptiveness to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Uniquely, this paper challenges and expands on the narrative of branding as a discursive process that moves beyond a narrow marketing framework. Using a mixed methods approach of in‐depth observation, interviews and surveys, the paper focuses on a case study of the largest lifestyle retailer in the surf skate and snow sector. The empirical research is applied both within the case study company itself and over 300 brands in the surf skate and snow sector. Results point to a receptiveness to embedding the sustainable development goals in business models whilst highlighting the challenges that exist from both a business operation and resourcing perspective through to external factors. Furthermore, results highlight the disparity between internal business processes and the process branding. A typology is presented that highlights the relationship between business, the sustainable development goals and theoretical debates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in using design thinking for business model innovation. However, few studies have explored the application, potential and challenges of design thinking from a comprehensive perspective. In order to better understand how design thinking can contribute to business model innovation, this paper regards business model innovation as a subject of design research and provides a critical review of researchers' explorations of how to apply design thinking for business model innovation. In light of the literature review, this paper distils seven key design research themes: (1) design thinking as a mindset and a methodology; (2) designers of business models; (3) design activities for business model innovation; (4) design tools for business model innovation; (5) design approaches for business model innovation; (6) co-creation of new products, services and business models, and (7) evaluating and measuring the impact of design thinking. The themes not only highlight the potential of applying design thinking as a necessary mindset and methodology to business model innovation, but also emphasise the nature of designing as a social process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inclusive businesses (IBs) are promoted to alleviate poverty and contribute to sustainable development at the base of the pyramid (BOP). In the agri‐food sector, there is limited evidence regarding what types of partnerships enhance IBs' value creation potential for low‐income producers. This prevents policymakers from providing effective support to IBs and leveraging their full potential for sustainable development. To understand what types of partnerships are more effective for social value creation, this paper conducts a mixed‐method analysis of 46 cases from Tanzania and Ghana. It finds that transactional partnerships create efficient IB networks that require limited external support. Such IBs, however, generally undertake business‐as‐usual activities. In contrast, IBs adopt more innovative business models when their partners are integrated in decision‐making and strategic planning. Such IBs, however, often require tailored support to resolve their inter‐ and intra‐organizational challenges. This paper suggests practical considerations for designing IB partnerships to maximize impact potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to explore how four Bolivian small and medium-sized enterprises' business has overcome the gaps in reliance on traditional small and medium-sized enterprises' business models, i.e., to extract and sell raw unrefined natural resources in a local area, and instead make productive use of innovation inputs (technology, higher-educated people) by innovating their business models. We were particularly interested in how the small and medium-sized enterprises could manage to develop their business models in relation to the socio-cultural, economic, and technological contexts in a lower middle-income country such as Bolivia. We employ an exploratory multiple case study. The study's results show that the four selected small and medium-sized enterprises' business model innovation processes followed two different business model innovation patterns, a technology-driven pattern and market-driven pattern shaped by the macro-level factors of availability of natural resources, the informally organized economy, regulations, and access to higher education resources. The paper ends with presenting the managerial, policy, and theoretical implications of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modularization and standardization have been recognized as an effective way to achieve mass customization and improve efficiency in the house-building industry. The construction industry has witnessed the entry of several bathpod manufacturers using new, digitally enabled business models to alter the traditionally incremental nature of off-site construction. These new players in the market are embracing higher levels of complexity with offerings that deliver value in terms of accelerated speed of construction, simplified design features, and certified quality, often becoming the means of connecting different stakeholders in the construction supply chain. The innovation that bathpod manufacturers are bringing to the construction industry is interesting to examine with a view to their business model. This paper informs and proposes theory by analyzing bathpod companies' business models from two perspectives: (1) the internal fit between business model components within the company, and (2) and the interactions between the bathpod companies and the external environment (partners and customers). This paper uses a qualitative research approach that incorporates a review of relevant literature, a market scan, and interviews with industry experts. The Business Model Canvas, which includes nine key elements, is employed to identify the interdependencies of bathpod companies that have successfully implemented varying levels of modularization and standardization. This enables the discussion of the archetype business model elements that enabled the theorizing of the archetypes. The paper presents six business model archetypes for bathpod manufacturers, e.g., project-driven production, integrated project service delivery, and modular enthusiast. These archetypes represent viable options for off-site manufacturing and production approaches in construction projects and present emerging business model innovations leading to their current state. In conclusion, this paper highlights the potential for business model innovation in the construction industry through the adoption of modularization and the development of a deeper understanding of customer value. By identifying key interdependent elements of a successful business model and exemplar cases of bathpod business models, we have provided a foundation for future research and practical application in the industry. This paper provides several practical contributions to the literature on construction business models. By applying the business model concept to the bathpod manufacturing industry, it enables a comprehensive analysis of value creation, delivery, and capture within bathpod companies. The study introduces six distinct business model archetypes: project-driven production, integrated project service delivery, design and make, one-stop shop, modular enthusiast, and bathpod component catalogues. Furthermore, the proposed spectrum serves as more than a tool for practitioners to analyze and evaluate their business models; it also offers practical insights for navigating the spectrum, e.g., transitioning from project-oriented to product-oriented paradigms. Moreover, the research underscores the significance of fine-tuning business model elements and understanding their dynamic interdependencies within a product-oriented context. This highlights the delicate balance between allocating company resources and meeting customer requirements. In a broader context, the developed set of six business model archetypes is anticipated to be adaptable and scalable across various off-site manufacturing sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an innovative approach to decentralized data management in the German energy market, focusing on the use of decentralized data management with the help of Data Spaces to facilitate the automated change of energy suppliers within 24 h. The central focus of this research is the MakoMaker Space, a demonstrator project that employs the Connector from the Eclipse Data Space Components. The MakoMaker project demonstrates the successful automation of energy supplier changes, emphasizing the preservation of customer data sovereignty. It shows an alternative approach to the process, putting the customer into the center. Customers retain control of their data, which is accessible to providers as needed. While the paper discusses the potential for further enhancements, such as the integration of an identity provider and the development of a sustainable business model for service coordination, the primary focus is on the demonstrator's successful application in a pilot setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under servitization (one paradigm of non-ownership-transfer) business model such as sharing, a manufacturer is responsible not only for product design but also for maintenance. This paper deals with joint decision of product quality and maintenance under servitization. A model minimising total cost is formulated to obtain the optimal product quality, maintenance effort and maintenance times. We find that the total cost first decreases then increases with product quality, maintenance effort and maintenance times. Moderate quality and maintenance effort level are the best for the manufacturer, because too high or too low quality and effort cause too high total cost. However, preventive maintenance should be implemented as many times as possible until the failure cost is reduced to zero as long as each maintenance can save cost. Moreover, in the optimal joint decision, the product quality, maintenance effort and maintenance times are negatively correlated in pairs. In addition, we explore the impact of unit failure cost, product lifecycle, production cost, maintenance cost, and failure intensity on the manufacturer's optimal decisions. In extensions, we further take penalty cost, exponential failure distribution, discount rate, and customer usage into account. This paper provides insight for the manufacturer to jointly consider product design and maintenance under servitization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Today, business model innovations leverage digital technologies to gain a competitive advantage and transform business processes. Blockchain is still gaining attention in specific fields and bringing value to business models. There is a dearth of research on how blockchain decentralized autonomous organizations impact organization business model innovations. This study attempts to contribute the body of knowledge based on a review of decentralized autonomous organizations and the business model innovation literature using the integrative and generative approach. Design/methodology/approach: The paper offers an analysis of decentralized autonomous organizations based on digital business models built on the well-established work by Osterwalder and Pigneur (2010). The practical multilayered decentralized autonomous organizations architectural implementation model design is achieved using practical archetypes depicted in the proposed decentralized autonomous organizations business model. The paper evaluates a marketplace comprising 13 decentralized autonomous organizations led platforms with core functionalities. Findings: The paper delivers decentralized autonomous organizations led digital business model canvas elements to explain decentralized autonomous organization business model innovations. It presents the underlying multilayered decentralized autonomous organizations architectural implementation model required to conceptualize a practical business model with an enterprise-ready target operating model. Research limitations/implications: The paper contributes directly to the practical decentralized autonomous organizations business model canvas, exemplifying the nine elements of decentralized autonomous organizations' characteristics for any organizational transformation. The tools and accelerators (business model, layered architecture, target operating model and product mapping) developed in the paper address the managerial challenges of redesigning the decentralized business models. Originality/value: The proposed decentralized autonomous organizations smart contract powered business model provide a digital platform to adhere to rules, follow policies, preserve principles and develop consensus without human interventions. The paper shapes the first of its kind decentralized autonomous organizations marketplace evaluation while mapping it to decentralized autonomous organizations layered architecture product requirement considering business model dimension to adopt actionable target operating model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper aims to verify the impact of capital structure on business model innovation and firm performance and the mediating effect of business model innovation. We use the data of the Chinese growth enterprises market (GME) listed high-tech firms from 2016 to 2022 as a dynamic panel data model with the system–generalized method of moments (sys-GMM), adopting return on asset and earning per share as firm performance. Our results show that capital structure has a lag effect on firm performance. The total debt ratio in the last period has a significant non-linear impact on the performance and business model innovation level of nowadays, presenting a U-shaped relationship. The first-order lag short-term debt ratio positively improves firm performance. Business model innovation significantly promotes better firm performance, and business model innovation does exist in the mediating effect between enterprise capital structure and its performance. These results remain robust to different sample sizes or proxy variables. This paper proposes some suggestions for firm operations and government policies based on the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Despite increasing focus among scholars and practitioners on the design of product-service systems (PSS), there exists no compilation of current knowledge on the role played by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in designing such systems. Thus, this paper sets out to identify and organise the existing research and suggest questions for future research. Design/methodology/approach: A systematic literature review was performed to identify and provide in-depth details on key themes in the literature addressing the design of PSS in SMEs. Findings: This paper identifies five themes in the literature on the design of PSS in SMEs: motives, challenges, SME characteristics, methods and digitalisation. The themes are interrelated, and SME characteristics seem to be at the core as they are related to all the other themes. Gaps in the current knowledge are identified, and questions for future research are suggested. Originality/value: The suggestions for future research provide a starting point for expanding the research on PSS design and devising practical support for SMEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the rules applicable to algorithmic bias taking the form of self-favouring by hybrid digital platforms in the EU. In this paper, it is argued that the recently introduced prohibition of self-favouring by digital platforms should not apply across the board in the same manner. It may be necessary to consider the nature of the underlying products or services, the business models, and the monetization strategies of digital platforms. Differences in these aspects may alter their ability and incentives to engage in self-favouring potentially leading to foreclosing rivals and harming consumers. This suggests that the approach put forward by section 19a of the German Competition Act (GWB) may be better from an error-cost perspective than that of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Section 19a of the GWB grants more discretion to enforcers and allows for a broader justification of the impugned conduct. In the context of the DMA, some sort of balancing exercise seems to be possible only if the European Commission makes extensive use of the possibility to further specify the prohibition of self-favouring contained in Article 6(5) of the DMA in light of the principles of effectiveness and proportionality. Finally, the paper touches upon the potential disproportionate burden, legal fragmentation, and legal uncertainty across the EU resulting from the interplay between EU competition law, the DMA, and national laws tackling similar self-favouring practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Business model innovation faces multiple tests of legitimacy. Most extant research in this area has been conducted from institutional and strategic perspectives while paying insufficient attention to the perspective of evaluators. Based on the institutionalization of China's online car-hailing industry from 2012 to 2018, this paper analyzes the legitimacy judgment of the stakeholders from the perspective of evaluator categorization and explores the legitimation mechanism of business model innovation. It finds that evaluators judge the legitimacy of business models based on category cognition. Therefore, to achieve the bridging, spillover, and accumulation effects of legitimacy, the legitimation strategy of online car-hailing platforms should dynamically adapt to different evaluators, judgment models, and categorization standards. Ultimately, as quantitative changes lead to qualitative changes, the legitimation of innovative business models is achieved in this way. In this process, stakeholders categorize and evaluate online car-hailing based on prototypes and value goals, and establish a two-way interactive mechanism, which is from behavior guided by cognition to cognition given feedback by behavior. This paper combines the legitimacy judgment with category theory to explain how individual cognition drives the emergence of new categories and identifies a series of legitimacy strategies based on categorization, thus providing theoretical support and practical inspiration for exploring the legitimation of business model innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Buildings are energy- and resource-hungry: their construction and use account for around 39% of global carbon dioxide emissions; they consume around 40% of all the energy produced; they are responsible for over 35% of the EU's total waste generation; and account for about 50% of all extracted (fossil) materials. Therefore, they present a significant challenge to meeting national and international Net Zero targets of reducing greenhouse emissions and fossil resource use. The CircularB Project, is at the heart of this issue, which will underpin synergies of multi-scale circular perspectives (from materials, to components, to assets and built environments), digital transformation solutions, data-driven and complexity science, stakeholder behavioral science, and interdisciplinary capabilities towards achievable, affordable and marketable circular solutions for both new and existing buildings, for sustainable urban design, and for circular built environments across Europe. This paper contributes to the project by deriving new insights into the stakeholders' influences, inter-relationships, and obstacles in the implementation of circular economy concepts on existing building stocks in Europe, which represent over 90% of whole building assets. In order to identify and derive the insights, our study is rigorously based on (i) a robust critical literature review of key documentations such as articles, standards, policy reports, strategic roadmaps and white papers; and (ii) interviews with relevant stakeholders and decision makers. Uniquely, our work spans across all scales of CE implementation from materials, to products and components, to existing building stocks, and to living built environments. The findings point out the current challenges and obstacles required to be tackled. Inadequacies of financial incentives and governmental enforcement (via policy, legislation, or directive) are commonly found to be the most critical obstacles found throughout Europe. Circular economy is the global challenge and not just a single country can resolve the climate issue without the cooperation of other countries. The insights thus highlight the essential need for harmonized actions and tactical/pragmatic policies promoted and regulated by the European Commission, national and local governments who can dominate the influence, promote inter-relationship, and overcome the barriers towards circular economy much more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction industry, business models, and smart cities are recognized as pivotal domains with profound implications for fostering sustainability, prompting extensive research endeavors. However, there remains a dearth of interdisciplinary integration within this sphere aimed at fostering sustainable development. Nevertheless, current studies suggest that research in this area could provide theoretical and practical guidance for the sustainable transformation of society and make a positive contribution to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Therefore, this paper aims to utilize an innovative mixed research approach combining macro-quantitative bibliometric analysis with subsequent micro-qualitative content examination based on the SDGs to explore the relationship between BIM and smart cities in promoting a sustainability-oriented business model, which provides a comprehensive understanding of the overall situation and development of research topics in the field and contributes to the improvement of the SDGs. The results show that, during the last 13 years (from the year 2011 to 2023), the period from the year 2011 to 2016 was the initial stage of the field, followed by a rapid growth after the year 2018, of which "BIM", "Smart City", "Business Model", "Building Life Cycle", "Urban Management", and "Business Model Innovation" are the keywords representing the current research hotspots. The circular economy model that has been developed since 2021 has contributed to life cycle stages, including "briefing stages" and "procurement stages". As such, the "whole life cycle", "strategic urban planning frameworks", and "sustainable business models" have become future research trends, whilst real-world applications such as "smart tourism", "e-government", and "green building" have emerged. Further, the key partnerships of "city managers", "corporate enterprises", and "public participation" for smart cities contribute to the achievement of SDGs 8 and 17 in terms of integrating urban information technology and urban infrastructure, policy regulation, knowledge-sharing, improving economic efficiency, and promoting sustainable economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper constitutes a research endeavour grounded in a fundamental question posed by its title: 'Could circular economy and various digital instruments like Internet of Things help a business model to respond to such challenges?' This inquiry is intrinsically linked to the broader context of the last decades, which have witnessed a rapid technological revolution, reshaped global industries, and nurtured a digital ecosystem. While this transformation has yielded considerable advantages, it has concurrently introduced formidable challenges, encompassing climate change, resource depletion, large-scale migrations, pandemic, and conflicts, all of them provoking profound contemplation on the way forward for both businesses and humanity. In the context of this research, we will delve into the crucial topic of how VUCA, a framework for risk assessment and response, has played a central role in adapting and developing new business marketing strategies to effectively navigate complexity. Additionally, we will explore the significance of BANI, emphasizing the vital need for flexible marketing strategies when confronting unforeseen global crises. The paper focuses on the role of VUCA and BANI frameworks in guiding businesses' marketing strategies. Therefore, the case study will explore how these frameworks have influenced marketing strategies, and what they mean in response to unforeseen global crises. In our interconnected world, IoT is vital for understanding consumer behaviour and creating data-driven marketing strategies. The transition to circular business models, influenced by environmental concerns, fosters sustainable marketing through eco-friendly products. To navigate the intricate VUCA and BANI landscape, marketers need innovative strategies blending digital technologies, big data, and AI with IoT insights and circular economy principles. This paper will provide essential insights for understanding whether circular economy and various digital instruments like the Internet of Things can empower a business model to effectively respond to the multifaceted challenges of the modern era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]