TY - JOUR
T1 - Joint business model innovation for sustainable transformation of industries - A large multinational utility in alliance with a small solar energy company
AU - Wadin, Jessica Lagerstedt
AU - Ahlgren, Kajsa
AU - Bengtsson, Lars
PY - 2017/9
Y1 - 2017/9
N2 - Whereas existing business models for sustainability research have mainly focused on business model activities and sustainability outcomes for separate firms, we observe that alliances between small and large firms can influence a large firm's learning and dissemination of sustainable technologies, thereby contributing to the sustainable transformation of mass markets. According to the theoretical framework and a case study, large firms appear to choose a race-to-learn mode of appropriating most of the learning in the alliance, leaving small firms with limited learning outcomes. Within the framework, the race-to-learn mode is the optimal strategy for large firms in a joint innovation process concerning a new technology. However, for a joint innovation process concerning a business model for sustainability, the incentives for large firms to adopt a cooperative innovation mode become considerably stronger. The framework and the case study indicate that a number of factors influence the learning outcomes and longevity of joint business model innovation, leading to different modes of joint business model innovation for sustainability processes.
AB - Whereas existing business models for sustainability research have mainly focused on business model activities and sustainability outcomes for separate firms, we observe that alliances between small and large firms can influence a large firm's learning and dissemination of sustainable technologies, thereby contributing to the sustainable transformation of mass markets. According to the theoretical framework and a case study, large firms appear to choose a race-to-learn mode of appropriating most of the learning in the alliance, leaving small firms with limited learning outcomes. Within the framework, the race-to-learn mode is the optimal strategy for large firms in a joint innovation process concerning a new technology. However, for a joint innovation process concerning a business model for sustainability, the incentives for large firms to adopt a cooperative innovation mode become considerably stronger. The framework and the case study indicate that a number of factors influence the learning outcomes and longevity of joint business model innovation, leading to different modes of joint business model innovation for sustainability processes.
KW - Alliances
KW - Business model innovation for sustainability
KW - Learning outcomes
KW - Multinational utilities
KW - Small solar companies
KW - Solar energy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85017352990&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.03.151
DO - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.03.151
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85017352990
VL - 160
SP - 139
EP - 150
JO - Journal of Cleaner Production
JF - Journal of Cleaner Production
SN - 0959-6526
ER -