Regulatory risk and the resilience of new sustainable business models in the energy sector

Abstract. The energy sector in Germany, as in many other countries, is undergoing a major transformation. To achieve the climate targets, numerous measures to implement smart energy and resource efficiency are necessary. Therefore, energy companies are experiencing increasing pressure from politics and society to transform their business areas in a sustainable manner and implement smart and sustainable business models. Consequently, numerous resources are expected to flow into the development and implementation of new business models. But often these efforts remain unsuccessful in practice. There is a large amount of literature on barriers and drivers of smart and sustainable business models in the energy sector. But what are the factors that companies struggle with most when developing and implementing new business models in practice? To answer this question, the results of a systematic literature review were evaluated by conducting semi-structured interviews with experts of the German energy sector. Six categories of transformation barriers were identified: Organizational, Financial, Legal, Partner-Network, Societal and Technological barriers. To overcome these barriers, recommendations for action and key success factors are outlined by the experts interviewed. The interview study validates key barriers and drivers in terms of their significance in practice in the German energy sector and makes recommendations to advance the smart and sustainable transformation of the energy sector.

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The supporting role of business models in the promotion of sustainable innovations in the energy sector: an explorative study in the Italian SMEs

Sinergie Italian Journal of Management ◽

10.7433/s113.2020.08 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 38 (3) ◽

pp. 131-146

Author(s):

ELEONORA ANNUNZIATA ◽

FRANCESCO RIZZI ◽

MARCO FREY

Keyword(s):

Business Models ◽

Energy Sector ◽

Heat Pumps ◽

Environmental Benefits ◽

Services Research ◽

Sustainable Business ◽

Sustainable Innovation ◽

Sustainable Business Models

Purpose of the paper: This paper aims to analyze how small-medium enterprises (SMEs) contribute to the development of a sustainable innovations in the energy sector such as geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) by implementing effective sustainable business models. Methodology: The study carried out an exploratory multiple case study with 8 SMEs operating in the Italian GHP market on the role of sustainable business models in supporting the development of sustainable innovations. Results: The analysis shows that sustainable business models exert a supporting function between sustainable innovation and sustainable value creation thanks to their ability to overcome the existing barriers to adopt sustainable innovations (i.e. GHP systems). This supporting role thus results from the firms’ capabilities and knowledge to assess and promote the peculiarities of selected sustainable innovation. Moreover, the analyzed business models foresee an ongoing support of customers before and after the adoption of sustainable innovation by communicating potential environmental benefits and providing additional services. Research limits: The main limitation is that the findings derive from a national case study with specific market conditions for GHPs which might influence the development of sustainable business models. Practical implications: The study supports firms aiming to develop and implement business models for boosting sustainable innovations through an effective assessment of selected sustainable innovation and dialogue with policy makers. Originality of the paper: The study opens the black box of unexplored relationships between sustainability innovations and business models by analyzing their main components (value proposition, supply chain and public institutions, customer interface and financial model).

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Sustainability, Store Equity, and Satisfaction: The Moderating Effect of Gender in Retailing

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13021010 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 1010

Author(s):

Antonio Marín-García ◽

Irene Gil-Saura ◽

María Eugenia Ruiz-Molina ◽

Gloria Berenguer-Contrí

Keyword(s):

Brand Equity ◽

Consumer Satisfaction ◽

Business Models ◽

Moderating Effect ◽

Mediating Effect ◽

Retail Sector ◽

Competitive Advantages ◽

Sustainable Business ◽

Sustainable Business Models ◽

Discount Stores

Currently, sustainability emerges as a key element on which the development of competitive advantages for businesses is based. In the dynamic and turbulent environment in which retail companies operate, sustainable practices are posited as an opportunity for their progress and survival. Through this article, it is intended to advance the nature and dimensions of this construct and examine its influence on store equity and consumer satisfaction. Furthermore, this work analyses the moderating effect of gender on these variables and the mediating nature of brand equity in the development of consumer satisfaction. All this is developed through a quantitative study carried out on a sample of 510 consumers of different food retail commercial formats (hypermarkets, supermarkets, and discount stores) in Spain. The technique used for data analysis is partial least squares (PLS) regression. The results show the importance of sustainability and brand equity in the development of consumer satisfaction in the retail sector, with the intensity of its effects being a gender issue. On the other hand, brand equity is positioned as a key element thanks to its mediating effect between sustainability and satisfaction. All of this points to the need to move towards more sustainable business models.

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Intertwining CSR with strategy – the way ahead

Corporate Governance ◽

10.1108/cg-03-2011-0021 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 211-219 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Shital Jhunjhunwala

Keyword(s):

Business Strategy ◽

Design Methodology ◽

Business Models ◽

Corporate Strategy ◽

Sustainable Business ◽

Socially Responsible ◽

Content Type ◽

Sustainable Business Models ◽

Corporate Social

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to emphasize the importance and means of making corporate social responsibility (CSR) an integral part of corporate strategy with the help of case studies. Design/methodology/approach – The article explores the transformation of business from being egocentric to socially responsible. With the use of examples it demonstrates how integrating CSR into strategy can create sustainable business models. Findings – Firms need to develop a framework for integrating CSR into their business strategy for long term successful survival. Social implications – Corporates and society are intertwined and mutually dependent. Business cannot survive without society's acquiescence nor succeed without its active support. Originality/value – The article explains the benefits of CSR and how to make it an integral part of business strategy to gain a competitive advantage.

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Sustainable Business Models of Small-Scale Renewable Energy Systems: Two Resource-Scarce Approaches for Design and Manufacturing

Sustainable Design and Manufacturing 2017 - Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies ◽

10.1007/978-3-319-57078-5_47 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 493-504

Author(s):

Tatu Lyytinen

Keyword(s):

Renewable Energy ◽

Business Models ◽

Energy Systems ◽

Small Scale ◽

Sustainable Business ◽

Renewable Energy Systems ◽

Design And Manufacturing ◽

Sustainable Business Models

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Sustainable Business Models of SMEs: Challenges in Yacht Tourism Sector

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su10103437 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 3437 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Cinzia Battistella ◽

Maria Cagnina ◽

Lucia Cicero ◽

Nadia Preghenella

Keyword(s):

Business Model ◽

Business Models ◽

Service Industry ◽

Small And Medium Enterprises ◽

Case Study Research ◽

Tourism Industry ◽

Sustainable Business ◽

Bottom Line ◽

Sustainable Business Models ◽

Sustainability Challenges

Despite the high number of active small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in all sectors, current studies have barely developed investigations on the sustainability of their business models so far. The aim of this study was thus to bridge the gap between sustainable business models of SMEs in the service industry, to uncover the challenges that SMEs face when seeking business model reconfiguration toward sustainability. More specifically, the empirical investigation adopted a case study research design in the context of yacht tourism, as one business form among many within the tourism industry and thus within the broader category of the service industry. Interviews were conducted with seven European SMEs, whose business models were analyzed through the lens of the triple bottom line and sustainability challenges in their business models. The results display a varied typology of case studies, where business model components reveal diverse expressions of facing sustainability challenges. The work discusses reported findings with a cross-case comparison among detected business models and outlines a list of propositions for sustainable business models of SMEs. The paper contributes in continuing the discourse on sustainable business models, adopting the perspective of the challenges for SMEs and offers food for thought for managers of SMEs in comparing their own business with the identified business model types.

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