scholarly journals Digitalization of the Financial Activities of Platform Companies: Competitive Potential and social Impact

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 114-127
Author(s):  
V. P. Bauer ◽  
V. V. Eremin ◽  
M. V. Ryzhkova

The aim of the article is to define the characteristics of platform companies and their digital platforms as new mechanisms of competition and social transformation in the global economy. The relevance of the article is due to the demand for theexperience of foreign platform companies as the main business models for the competitive development of the economy. The authors apply methods such as theoretical analysis of scientific publications (analysis, synthesis, generalization); deduction as a procedure for the transition from the general to the particular; analysis of the structure of the influence of platform companies on the strategies of competition, highlighting the differences between the platform and linear business models; determining the influence of platform companies on competition among offline partners; identification of competition between platform companies and within them; highlighting aspects of the social impact of the functioning of platforms and platform companies. The study is based on the works of domestic and foreign authors devoted to the analysis of the development of platform companies and the assessment of the social impact of these processes, as well as the interaction between the authors and developers of digital platforms. The scientific novelty of the article is provided by the analysis of a wide range of competition tools, which favorably distinguish the platform approach to modern business from the linear one. The results of the analysis make it possible to form a model of the competition ecosystem in the platform economy. The authors conclude that the basis of the competitive success of platform companies is their ability to expand the scale of activities (as a result of optimizing various types of assets), to minimize costs by involving external users in the process of creating added value, and cross-platform cooperation. The authors recommend that Russian business entities use the experience of foreign platform companies to gain competitive advantages not only in the Russian IT sector but also outside of it. Particularly important are: decentralization of quality control procedures, creation of new sales markets, collection, and processing of large amounts of data, development of strategies for entering markets as suppliers and contractors, diversification of activities at the stage of attracting investments, a social construction.

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (18) ◽  
pp. 5785
Author(s):  
Adam Jabłoński ◽  
Marek Jabłoński

In recent years, the role of digital enterprises in the global economy has been growing. The issue of assessing their impact on social aspects is noticeable. The aim of the article is to show social impact as a key factor in the development of digital business models. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method used and the criteria for social impact assessments based on heuristic methods allowed for the components of business models that relate to social impact to be ranked, and subsequently for socially oriented enterprises functioning in the digital economy to be ranked. The companies selected for the research are understood by the authors as digital business models, the concept of which is embedded in a pro-social management intention. Purposive sampling, which in this situation was considered to be the most effective in terms of the objective of the paper, was applied. The literature review, analyses and heuristic research have demonstrated that the social factor in modern applications is a driver of value creation and is conducive to social profit. The ranking of the criteria responsible for shaping the social impact of digital business models showed that the most important ones are value proposition (pro-social), social profit and economic profit. This means a strong relationship between social and economic aspects.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 613-618
Author(s):  
A. V. Altukhov ◽  
S. A. Tishchenko

The presented study reviews practically relevant research papers in the field of network structures, modern network business models and platforms.Aim. The study aims to elaborate and explain the concept of network structure and platform and to show the reasons for the progressiveness and potential of network organizational structure at the current stage of socio-economic and scientific development.Tasks. The authors highlight the main scientific ideas about network structures in business, including significant studies in this area; provide and explain the main terms and definitions and examine the key characteristics of network business structures; characterize “platforms” as an important concept for modern business and show the relationship between platforms and network structures.Methods. This study uses analysis of information and subsequent synthesis of new knowledge in the form of the authors’ conclusions and a wide range of relevant scientific publications of Russian and foreign authors, including original publications in English and French.Results. The history of network structures is briefly provided. Definitions and characteristics of such concepts as “network structure” and “platform” in relation to business are provided and explained by the authors.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 285-300
Author(s):  
Krishanu Bhattacharyya ◽  
Bikash Ranjan Debata

Digitalisation is a global phenomenon that is a worthwhile proposition for the development of any nation’s economy. Social media contributes significantly to the development of an economy by the spreading and democratisation of information through global players, such as Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn etc. According to a Forbes report in 2017, these digital platforms create new ecosystems and business models for business owners and entrepreneurs. Whilst a report by Statista in 2020 states that there were 3.6 billion social media users worldwide and the number is expected to grow to 4.4 billion by 2025. Return on Investment (ROI) measurement of social media, which is a very important component for organisations to evaluate its success or effectiveness, remains a major challenge for organisations, despite number of attempts having been made by experts in the field. This study is aimed at understanding how the success and effectiveness of social media is measured in a B2B scenario. Various frameworks on social media ROI measurement are critically evaluated. Then, a tool for measuring social media ROI is developed, such that businesses will be able to evaluate their social media investments. The instrument covers 14 variables over four dimensions.  The results indicate that respondents perceived organic return as the most important dimension. It is also evident that brand testament is found the least perceived dimension for measuring the social media ROI.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (20) ◽  
pp. 5805 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jabłoński ◽  
Jabłoński

The current principles of doing business differ radically from those that were applied a few years ago. Global economic crises have shown that business must have a more social character. This gave rise to the creation of management solutions that would guarantee the satisfaction of a wide range of corporate stakeholders. In this context, ideas based on social potential began to emerge. As a consequence, the concept of social business models was born, accompanied by an attempt to search for the best business models possible in order to build the appropriate configuration of their components. According to the authors, an attribute of trust may be such a component based on which effective social business models can be built. As water supply companies are social enterprises, they have become the object of scientific research in this case. The purpose of the article is to determine the position of trust in the construction and application of social business models of water supply companies. The scope of the article includes scientific research into water supply companies in the most industrial region of Poland, Upper Silesia, with the most extensive and dense water supply network in the country. In this article, the AHP (analytic hierarchy process) method was used to conduct research. The aim of the analysis was focusing on the issue of trust as a key factor in shaping the social business model of the company. In the questionnaires, respondents were asked to answer questions on the following issues: trust-based organizational behavior at the company; trust-based social capital at the company; trust-based relationships at the company; trust-based processes and activities at the company; trust-based risk at the company; and the trust-based business model at the company. The adopted logic of the scientific argument conducted indicates that trust and its place and role in the social business model of a water supply company have a significant impact on the social and economic performance of the water supply company, and as a consequence, on increased social responsibility towards stakeholders as well. Trust even stabilizes the organization and its business model; it is also a value catalyst and neutralizes the potentially negative impact of the organization on other entities gathered around it. Trust as a stabilizer can also affect the consistency and scalability of the social business model of a water supply company.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 168-178
Author(s):  
Magdalena Paul

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present the methodological issues around developing a quantitative research instrument of the social impact of Polish public libraries. The results of the use of this instrument to survey users of Mazovian Province, Poland, are summarized as an example of its use. Design/methodology/approach The research focused on informational, educational and participatory aspects of social impact on the sidelines leaving cultural heritage issues. “Impact” and “social impact” were defined according to ISO 16439:2014. Information and documentation – methods and procedures for assessing the impact of libraries. The research instrument included questions both about the activities taken in libraries by its users and the benefits they gained. The questionnaire also contained questions which allowed to control the variables such as frequency of using libraries, socioeconomic factors and cultural practices. To describe dependencies, various statistical tests were applied. The study was conducted on the group of 1,098 users of 38 public libraries between February and June 2017. Findings Younger and people from smaller towns felt more benefits from using libraries. There are significant differences between types of benefits people of various age, financial status and household size experienced. People who went to libraries and other cultural institutions often experienced more benefits. The more a person performs activities in libraries, the more benefits he or she has. Some added value of particular activities is also visible. Research limitations/implications Despite the efforts and the size of the sample, it is not representative of the population of library users in the Mazovian Province (mainly due to the data collection method – auditory survey). Originality/value Studying the social impact of the libraries in Poland is still at its beginning. The presented research is, therefore, exploratory in terms of cognitive and methodological value.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 168-177
Author(s):  
Shalaghya Sharma ◽  
Anjani K. Singh ◽  
Amarendra Pratap Singh

This case presents the innovative approach adopted by a for-profit social enterprise through utilization of technology, changed processes and improved business models to deliver the desired social impact. It also highlights the various challenges that the social entrepreneur faced and how the bottom of the pyramid was uplifted through success of this new social entrepreneurial venture. The case study is based on an interview conducted with the founder and managing director of SMV Wheels Pvt. Ltd. An exploratory schedule was prepared, and the researchers tried to develop an understanding of the business model deployed, challenges faced, competencies needed and strategic decisions made by the social entrepreneur that helped it in becoming sustainable. The challenges highlighted in the case study were lack of trust of beneficiaries, stakeholder scepticism, funding the business, testing the business model, need to retain self-motivation, handling family opposition and building a team. Moreover, with the use of technology, the traditional rickshaw was converted into a lightweight, technologically superior and cost-effective model; the health hazards were minimized; and the product became accessible with small weekly payments. Dilemma How to alleviate the daily struggle of the rickshaw pullers who perform labour-intensive work with meagre income? Their children lacked access to schools, no nutritious food was available, many rickshaw pullers consumed alcohol on a regular basis, domestic violence was prevalent, they were unable to afford good healthcare and suffered from diseases such as tuberculosis. What could be done for them? Theory: New product launch. Product and process innovations. Type of the Case: Problem solving and applied. Protagonist: Present. Options Redesign the rickshaw as a lightweight vehicle requiring less effort to pull. Strengthen supply side and easy access to bank financing, revenue sharing from advertisements. Discussions and Case Questions How to further optimize economic and social value creation? What steps can reduce the cost of a rickshaw while making it robust but lightweight? Perhaps a community of networks of rickshaw pullers in different towns can give critical mass to better negotiate with the vendors. What can be done for the welfare of the dependents of the rickshaw pullers?


2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salvael Ortega ◽  
Nathan Furr ◽  
Erin Liman ◽  
Caleb Flint

Rather than spend an inordinate amount of time and resources on planning what is inherently unknown and uncertain, socially-focused organizations like Panera Cares, Banco Davivienda, and Brigham Young University's (BYU) Design Exploration lab quickly map out their assumptions, run experiments to test those assumptions, and adjust their plans based on their learnings. In this article, we explain and expand on how organizations of all kinds (whether they be large corporations, social ventures, or government agencies) have bought into the idea of using innovation and experimentation for impact; and how despite recent advancements of design thinking on the social impact front, the actual implementation of innovative ideas remains elusive for many organizations. The article further presents a more systemic model for social impact innovation: social impact models, which provide one possible solution by enabling social ventures to achieve a more robust validation of their new- and not-so-new-to-the-world ideas by mapping and strategies by mapping out each assumption and iteratively testing them in the field. With this article, the authors seek to provide a practical process for how to apply the model, and how to avoid the most common illusory validation traps, which together would allow socially-focused organizations to more frequently succeed and deliver more impact with their endeavors.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (Suppl.1) ◽  
pp. 176-180
Author(s):  
K. Stoyanov ◽  
G. Zhelyazkov

The social economy is a phenomenon that is gaining ever more significant dimensions, mainly because of its added value, which goes beyond measurable economic indicators. The role of enterprises operating in the social economy is also highly appreciated by the European Commission, which calculates their contribution to the European economy by more than 10% of its total. Because of the specificity and lack of specific legal rules, businesses use different business models to carry out their activities. The purpose of this study is to identify, define and evaluate the most commonly used business models of enterprises operating in the social economy, the so called third sector, analysing successful business practices. Using appropriate examples, including from Bulgaria, will be highlighted problematic issues for the functioning of social enterprises and some basic guidelines will be proposed to facilitate business operations in the social economy.


2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (03) ◽  
pp. 1950012
Author(s):  
Ahsan Habib ◽  
Hedy Jiaying Huang

We investigate whether New Zealand charities exhibit cost stickiness, conceptualized as cost increases in response to an increase in income that are greater than the cost decreases associated with an equivalent decrease in income. Drawing on the holistic accountability rationale, we posit that charity managers consider themselves accountable to a wide range of stakeholders and, therefore, are more concerned about the social impact of their managerial decisions. As a result, charity managers will be reluctant to adjust resources downward immediately after an income drop, as such decisions could lead to the loss of trust and confidence of their internal and external stakeholders. Based on a large sample of charities in New Zealand, we find evidence of cost stickiness. Importantly, we find that cost stickiness varies across a number of characteristics of charities, including charity size, sources of income and expenditure, crisis periods, and the sectors within which the charities operate. Our study contributes to a hitherto unexplored setting and provides empirical evidence on the theoretical debate of hierarchical versus holistic accountability in the not-for-profit sector.


2008 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 271 ◽  
Author(s):  
James S D Kernaghan

In 2005 a draft Social Impact Management Plan (SIMP) for the Blacktip Project was prepared by James Kernaghan on behalf of the Blacktip Joint Venture. The SIMP was prepared for the purpose of providing a basis for consultation with the communities that would be potentially affected by the project and the means through which social impacts could be managed. After Eni Australia became 100% owner and operator of the project in December 2005, the SIMP was revised to reflect the values and practices of Eni globally. This paper presents a case study of the early development of social impact management practice for the Blacktip Project in the southern Bonaparte Gulf, northern Australia, in the period from discovery to the middle of the construction phase (end 2001 to end 2007). The primary outcomes, so far, of the social impact management process for the Blacktip Project have largely been positive and work continues to ensure that this remains the case. From a management perspective, the key outcomes have been a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) report, a Social Impact Management Plan (SIMP) and the establishment of an Social Impact Advisory Committee incorporating representatives from the key external stakeholder groups. The paper starts with descriptions of the project and affected communities and the law and policy context in which the project sits. This is followed by a detailed account and discussion about the land acquisition process and the social impact assessment and management plan development, including the scope, methodology and analytical framework used in the SIMP. The paper then provides an account and discussion of the nexus between project development and social impact management. The conclusion gives some observations about the experiences had in the SIMP implementation to date, during the first two construction phases of the project. Often there are a very wide range of social and economic issues that get touched upon in the development of a social impact management plan for a resource project. The resolution of these broader issues is naturally beyond the scope and capability of any company or project and there are often misconceptions in communities about what can be done. The best that a company can do is to approach the management of social impact in a way that tries to build a practical foundation for community development, through consultation with stakeholders in an open and participatory process. The people and organisations that live and work in a region are responsible for the social and economic development of that region, as a part of that community. Some contributions can be made by resource developers, however it is up to the people themselves, the individuals and the families in any community to choose and then pursue their individual and collective destiny. Others cannot do it for them. The paper attempts to provide some insight into the cultural, political, social and commercial realities associated with the development of the project in the particular society involved. In doing so, it is hoped that a useful early case study in the field of social impact management will emerge that may be useful for oil and gas developments and developing communities elsewhere in Australia and the world.


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