Business model experimentation for sustainability

Nancy M.P. Bocken, Ilka Weissbrod, Mike Tennant

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingPaper in conference proceedingpeer-review

    Abstract

    Business experimentation is a key avenue for accelerating change for sustainability. In contrast to experimentation in natural sciences, benefitting from controlled situations, business experimentation aims to explore the diverse possibilities that a business could create value from, or understand what works in which particular situations in a real life business context. While at present most popular with start-ups, this paper argues that large businesses can also find inspiration in business experimentation to develop sustainable business models and accelerate positive change for sustainability. Five illustrative cases are included of business experimentation for sustainability by focusing on pivots (modifications) in the business model. This paper only scratches the surface of the potential impactful new research field of business (model) experimentation for sustainability. Future work on sustainable business experimentation for start-ups and mature businesses is viewed as a powerful future research avenue to accelerate change in industries.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationSustainable Design and Manufacturing 2016
    PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media B.V.
    Pages297-306
    Number of pages10
    Volume52
    ISBN (Print)9783319320960
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2016 Jan 1
    Event3rd International Conference on Sustainable Design and Manufacturing, SDM 2016 - Chania, Greece
    Duration: 2016 Apr 42016 Apr 6

    Publication series

    NameSmart Innovation, Systems and Technologies
    Volume52
    ISSN (Print)2190-3018
    ISSN (Electronic)2190-3026

    Conference

    Conference3rd International Conference on Sustainable Design and Manufacturing, SDM 2016
    Country/TerritoryGreece
    CityChania
    Period2016/04/042016/04/06

    Subject classification (UKÄ)

    • Environmental Sciences

    Free keywords

    • Business experimentation
    • Corporate sustainability
    • Disruptive innovation
    • Lean start up
    • Radical innovation
    • Sustainable entrepreneurship

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