scholarly journals Blockchain Technology and Sustainable Business Models: A Case Study of Devoleum

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 5619
Author(s):  
Francesco Mercuri ◽  
Gaetano della Corte ◽  
Federica Ricci
Keyword(s):  
Business Models ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Food Sector ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Sustainable Business Models ◽  
Time Required

The lack of transparency along global supply chains poses challenges in the areas of fraud, pollution, human rights abuses, and inefficiencies. In this context, the blockchain has the potential to offer an unprecedented level of transparency, with a shared and decentralized database in which immutable and encrypted copies of information are stored on every node of the network. Using a single case study methodology, this paper investigates how blockchain technology can improve and facilitate sustainable business models. The aim of this paper is to understand how blockchain technology can drive the development of sustainable business models. Recent studies show the importance of sustainability perspectives for business models. The study was conducted by applying the CAOS (“Characteristic, Ambience, Organization, Start-up”) model to a start-up operating in the agri-food sector, not yet institutionalized, called Devoleum. The results indicate that blockchain technology can increase sustainability through realizing the traceability, security, and non-manipulability of information, which are particularly useful in the agri-food sector. Furthermore, the absence of intermediaries in blockchain technology contributes to reducing transaction costs and the time required to consolidate relations between the company and the environment. The limitations of this study must be identified in that the company is operational but not yet incorporated.

Smart contracts to enable sustainable business models. A case study

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
pp. 1601-1619
Author(s):  
Francesca Dal Mas ◽  
Grazia Dicuonzo ◽  
Maurizio Massaro ◽  
Vittorio Dell'Atti
Keyword(s):  
Business Models ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Smart Contracts ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Social Proof ◽  
Sustainable Business Models

PurposeThe objective of this study is to deepen how blockchain technology through smart contracts can support the development of sustainable business models (SBMs). Particularly, the authors aim to determine the key elements enabling SBMs by applying smart contracts.Design/methodology/approachThe research context focusses on the case study of SmartInsurance, which is a fictitious name for a start-up in the insurance sector and the real name of which is not to be revealed. The start-up was able to collect 18m euros in 80 s in a crowdfunding operation, using smart contracts and a revolutionary business model. Internal as well as external documents of different sources are analysed and coded to gather information about the company, its values and its business and what it pursues with employing blockchain technology.FindingsThe results show how smart contracts can reduce the costs of transactions, increase social trust and foster social proof behaviours that sustain the development of new SBMs.Originality/valueThis study contributes to both the transaction cost theory and social proof theory, showing how new technologies such as the blockchain can provide a fresh perspective to support the development of SBMs.

Business model innovation for sustainability: a food start-up case study

2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (10) ◽  
pp. 2483-2494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Vittoria Franceschelli ◽  
Gabriele Santoro ◽  
Elena Candelo
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Business Model Innovation ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Model Configuration ◽  
Start Ups

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate and present the way in which a food start-up can develop business model innovations, taking into account the importance of social and environmental issues. Design/methodology/approach The authors studied an Italian pizzeria, implementing the illustrative single-case study methodology, to answer the research question: “how can food start-ups develop a sustainable business model innovation?” Findings The study highlights sustainable elements for each component of the business model configuration provided by Osterwalder to provide a deeper view of the sustainable business model concept. Originality/value The study contributes to the extant research introducing the concept of sustainable innovation within the business model literature. It concludes that, within the food industry, especially for start-ups, the development of sustainable business model innovation is particularly important because the industry is itself linked with nature and human respect. Moreover, it suggests a methodological analysis of the business model configuration, which will help to develop clearer and more accurate and influential research.

scholarly journals Business model transformation toward sustainability: the impact of legitimation

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
pp. 1643-1662
Author(s):  
Roberto Biloslavo ◽  
Carlo Bagnoli ◽  
Maurizio Massaro ◽  
Antonietta Cosentino
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Business Model Innovation ◽  
Innovation Theory ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainable Business Models ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis study aims to identify the legitimacy issues raised during a sustainable business model innovation, deployed by an Italian company, which was analyzed through the lens of the legitimation theory and the business model innovation theory.Design/methodology/approachA single case study methodology is employed for empirical research. Semistructured interviews, with top and middle management, were conducted together with the analysis of several internal and external documents, to corroborate the case analysis.FindingsResults show how the potentiality of digital technologies allows the development of new sustainable business models, which, though, still need to gain legitimation to be accepted. The study findings allow drawing both on the business model innovation theory and on the legitimation theory, as they show how legitimation is a dynamic concept that involves internal as well as external stakeholders to support business model innovation.Originality/valueThe paper is novel, since it addresses the topic of sustainable business models development, showing how companies can get legitimation. The paper builds on existing theories and provides a practical example.

Tacit Knowledge Utilization for Global Impact and Organizational Practices

2020 ◽  
pp. 1219-1240
Author(s):  
Aleksander Janeš ◽  
Roberto Biloslavo ◽  
Armand Faganel
Keyword(s):  
Tacit Knowledge ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Fish Farming ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
World Population ◽  
Farmed Fish ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Viable Solution ◽  
Sustainable Business Models

The aquaculture sector stands at a crossroad because of the important changes in the business environment. Demand and competition for food is growing worldwide, fishery sector reached its limits and in this regard farmed fish sector represents a viable solution for food supply. A sustainable development of small business is recommended in order to develop knowledge and skills to support the growth of world population. In this view knowledge management for innovation is crucial to promote sustainable business models (BM) that can achieve a solid economic performance and at the same time take care of the natural environment. The purpose of this chapter is to contribute to the literature about sustainable BMs by an in-depth case study of a small fish farming company which developed competitiveness based on own tacit knowledge. The exemplary case study of a sustainable BM in aquaculture has been analyzed by use of an enhanced BM canvas that links various market oriented elements of a BM with the needs of society.

scholarly journals Applying a Sustainable Business Model Lens to Mutual Value Creation With Base of the Pyramid Suppliers

2020 ◽  
pp. 000765032097345
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Dembek ◽  
Jodi York
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Base Of The Pyramid ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Value Capture ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Sustainable Business Models ◽  
Multi Stakeholder

Base of the pyramid (BoP) ventures seek to create “mutual value” for themselves and poor communities, but often use business models unadapted for the BoP context, and have been less successful than hoped. Sustainable business models’ (SBMs) multi-stakeholder lens offers a promising alternative path to mutual value, but BoP-based SBM studies are scarce. This single case study explores whether and how SBM characteristics manifest in the business model and value outcomes of Habi, a Manila footwear company successfully creating mutual value with BoP suppliers. We find SBM characteristics underpin Habi’s dual-structure business model (value chain/shop) and success in four ways: viewing profits as a tool for community development resulted in designing both product and business model around community strengths; understanding communities as systems helped Habi address the complexities of poverty; balancing short-term business needs with a long-term, slow-growth approach led to their choice of investors; and implementing community value capture mechanisms ensured enduring community benefit.

scholarly journals Sustainable Business Model Based on Digital Twin Platform Network: The Inspiration from Haier’s Case Study in China

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 936 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Li ◽  
Jiarou Cao ◽  
Zhenggang Liu ◽  
Xinggang Luo
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Product Life Cycle ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Digital Twin ◽  
Home Appliance ◽  
Sustainable Business Models ◽  
Generic Strategies

Sustainability and digitalization have become the main direction of transformation of enterprises. Building a digital twin platform network can provide enterprises with a comprehensive view of products, manufacture, supply chain, customer experience, and profitability, which is conducive to the construction of a sustainable business model. The purpose of this paper is to study how enterprises use digital twin platform networks to generate economic, social and environmental benefits in various dimensions and their coupling relationships. Based on the literature review, this paper constructs a five-dimensional framework of a sustainable business model, and analyses the coupling relationship between dimensions. Using Haier as a way to verify the five-dimensional framework, it explores the dynamic mechanism of the Haier digital twin platform network, constructs an integrated framework based on coupling perspective and compares it with other two home appliance enterprises. The study shows that, through the digital twin platform network, enterprises can remove the disadvantage of focusing on a single product life cycle, and form a comprehensive network, so as to promote overall sustainable upgrades. This paper draws generic strategies and digital transformation suggestions for enterprises to innovate the sustainable business model. The conclusion enriches the research on sustainable business models both theoretically and practically and provides a feasible reference for the transformation of enterprises in digital economy environment.

Tourism to serve culture: the evolution of an Aboriginal tourism business model in Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. 663-680
Author(s):  
Pascal Scherrer
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Intergenerational Learning ◽  
Market Demand ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Indigenous Tourism

Purpose This paper aims to track the evolution of an innovative Aboriginal tourism business model with deliberate social and community enterprise objectives in a remote setting. Design/methodology/approach It adopts an in-depth exploratory case study approach to discover key characteristics of an emerging tourism enterprise. The qualitative data sources include publically available planning, promotional and organizational materials, in-depth interviews with key informants and on-site observations. Yunus et al.’s (2010) social business model provides the framework for the case analysis. Findings Findings highlight the gradual deepening of Indigenous engagement – from simply providing a place for a non-Indigenous tourism business – to running a fully Indigenous-controlled, staffed and themed on-country tourism business. Complementing existing non-Indigenous tourism experiences reduced the need for start-up infrastructure and market recognition, thus reducing business risk for the Traditional Owners. Despite substantial changes in the business structure in response to political and maturation factors, the core motivations seemed to remain strong. The business model facilitates value creation to stakeholders in varying ways. Research limitations/implications The contextual nature of Indigenous tourism reflects limitations of qualitative case study methodology. Practical implications The resulting business model provides a contextually appropriate structure to engage in tourism for achieving cultural and societal goals. It mitigates against the identified risk of low market demand for Indigenous tourism experiences by connecting with established non-Indigenous tourism products, while also allowing for product offering independent thereof. Social implications Social benefits are high and have potential for replication in similar contexts elsewhere. Originality/value The paper contributes to the emerging research on culturally appropriate business models in Indigenous tourism contexts and validates a strategy to overcome low demand. It offers a model that for the tourist facilitates a sustainable experience which enables co-production while for the hosts fosters community resilience, intergenerational learning and improved livelihoods. The case highlights opportunities for further research into the interrelationship, dependencies and thresholds between the social and economic profit equations, particularly in the context of the culture conservation economy.

scholarly journals Transformation towards Sustainable Business Models in Production

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 224-231
Author(s):  
Shahban Ali Shah ◽  
Philipp Url ◽  
Wolfgang Vorraber ◽  
Thomas Janics ◽  
Matthias Katschnig
Keyword(s):  
Business Models ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Transformation Process ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Sustainable Value ◽  
Sustainable Business Models ◽  
Medium Enterprises

A global transformation from Industry 4.0 towards Industry 5.0 will soon take place. Such transformations are intrinsic to human and sustainable value creation. An increasing number of companies, recognising this imminent trend, will need to transform their current classical, solely profit-oriented business models into sustainable business models that also target human, social, and environmental aspects. Various frameworks already exist that support the design of sustainable business models. Practical applications of these frameworks and research on the transformation process in the production domain, which places a special focus on small and medium enterprises, is still scarce. This paper presents the first results from a sustainable business model transformation project on a European SME, which produces 3D printers. The research method applies a single case study design. The study was based on publicly available information and qualitative data, obtained through interviews and workshops carried out on an executive management level.

How smart technologies can support sustainable business models: insights from an air navigation service provider

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
pp. 1715-1736 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raffaele Fiorentino ◽  
Francesco Grimaldi ◽  
Rita Lamboglia ◽  
Alessandro Merendino
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Service Provider ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Adoption Process ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainable Business Models ◽  
Navigation Service ◽  
Smart Technologies

PurposeAlthough research on smart technologies explains their critical importance in sustainable business models (SBMs) (Mikalef et al., 2017), it remains unclear how organisations can embrace smart technologies to create and/or improve their sustainable business models. The purpose of this paper is to unravel and address the challenges of smart technologies to build and maintain a sustainable business model for organisations.Design/methodology/approachThe research develops an empirical analysis through a case study approach. We have investigated the case of ENAV – an Italian air navigation service provider – and how this firm uses smart technologies in the creation of its successful SBM. After constructing a basic theory, the authors moved to evidence collection. The data analysis has adopted a qualitative approach based on a thematic analysis of the transcripts and related documents.FindingsThe findings from the case study support the idea that the business value and the strategic relevance of smart technologies still remain largely underestimated in SBM adoption (Mikalef et al., 2017). Case study findings suggest that until today smart technologies have played a minimal role in SBM adoption. However, the smart technologies show the potential to inform the SBM adoption process by contributing to corporate communication for external stakeholders and to the main dimensions of SBMs such as safety and security or the respect for social and environmental criteria in the supply chain.Practical implicationsThis study seeks to support organisations and their directors to build and improve sustainable business models through smart technologies to maintain their competitive advantages. Specifically, our findings suggest that smart technologies can help organisations bridge the design–implementation gap of sustainable business models.Originality/valueThis research advances our understanding of the role of smart technologies by explaining how they can enhance sustainable business model adoption. Indeed, we offer a comprehensive view of the integration of insights from three different but related literature streams such as sustainability strategies, smart technologies and change management studies.

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