Within the third sector, scarce resources make it difficult for social enterprises to survive financially, become more innovative and entrepreneurial, and generally grow and develop to scale. Although there is no agreement on the definition, the extant literature tends to frame social enterprise as critical for addressing challenging social problems. Social enterprise involves some degree of profit-making, while maintaining a strong focus on social mission. The latest literature points to social enterprise as an example of a hybrid organisational form that has the potential to act as a solution to complex social problems. However, the literature also highlights the considerable tensions inherent in hybridity, as well as the substantive mission-drift that inevitably occurs. The current body of knowledge does not describe how social enterprise growth and development occurs, nor does it adequately illustrate how social enterprise hybrids can continue to meet their important social missions while generating sufficient operating income to sustain themselves. Additionally, there is a dominant view that non-profit social enterprises may face difficulties in surviving as hybrids due to the risk of mission-drift. An in-depth study of non-profit social enterprises that had already reached scale was undertaken to address this. By doing so, a contribution was made to the development of the social entrepreneurship and social enterprise fields. The theory on social enterprise ideal-types was deepened. In addition, this study provides a framework for social enterprise growth and development within this organising context. Strategy-as-practice (SaP) core concepts as influencers within an entrepreneurship-as-practice (EaP) theoretical framework, contained by a social practice theory theoretical lens. The result was a focus on daily business management and strategic development practices. Additionally, contextualisation – as the link between the micro-context in each organisation and macro environment – was studied as the context for this growth and development. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2020. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / DPhil / Unrestricted

Background: As Earth’s resources are continuously being used at an overcapacity, circular economy (CE) has received a growing interest from scholars, practitioners and legislators. The phenomenon has been described as a solution to the linear take-make-dispose strategy integrated into society and used by organisations. However, despite the possibilities within the CE, organisations require more knowledge as to how the transition towards CE occurs, on account of the changes that also need to transpire in the organisational business model (BM). Hence, this study focuses on how practices facilitate innovation and thus, the implementation of CE within organisations. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the transition that an organisation endures when innovating the BM in line with CE. Accordingly, the study takes the perspective of managers as change agents as they represent the organisation when strategizing and implementing practices. By investigating the link between managers and business model innovation (BMI) to achieve CE adoption, this study aims to provide a deeper insight into CE and the transition organisations go through. Method: Our method has been founded on a qualitative study with an explorative nature. Additionally, we have used a multiple case-study approach of two companies where the primary data was collected through 13 semi-structured interviews. Moreover, the data has been analysed by using comparative analysis to identify patterns between the two companies. Conclusion: The results of the study show how internal and external factors influence the transition journey of companies when innovating the BM, and implementing circular practices in line with a circular business model (CBM). Moreover, the findings exhibit how managers interact with these factors to select and alter processes to establish suitable practices from the vision and the level of flexibility achieved in the organisation

This thesis aims to deepen the relationship between the different forms of proximity that emerge between economic actors and the consequent influence on their innovative capacity. Over the years, this topic has generated a great deal of attention in conference proceedings and scientific publications. The first step to deepen the understanding of this amount of knowledge was to identify a suitable methodology. In so do- ing, the recent advances of the Machine Learning community – particularly Natural Language Processing academics - have offered interesting insights. In particular, "Topic Modeling" was identified as a suitable methodology to bring out latent semantic structures. Therefore, the first chapter tries to study how this methodology has been implemented in the social sciences and, in particular, in management. The contribution offered is a rationalization of the achievable goals and their relationship with evaluation practices. Once clarified how to use this algorithm, the second chapter studied the relationship between proximity and innovation. Using an unsupervised machine learning technique, the research attempts to identify thematic management cores in a multifocal literature such as proximity. Together with a qualitative analysis, the study attempts to bring out the theoretical and empirical contributions offered to the management community. Once the theoretical and empirical expectations have been clarified, the third chapter introduces a strategic theme, namely the business model. This section proposes a mediating effect of the business model concerning the central relationship between proximity and innovation. After a theoretical introduction, the conceptual model is studied with an exploratory approach. Without any presumption of generalizability and completeness, a novel analytical key is offered to open further debate in the community of proximity.

Traditionally, networking technology has been limited because of the networks inability to adapt resulting in sub-optimal performance. Limited in state, scope and response mechanisms, network elements consisting of nodes, protocol layers and policies have been unable to make intelligent decisions. Modern networks often operate in environments where network resources (e.g. node energy, link quality, bandwidth, etc.), application data (e.g. location of user) and user behaviors (e.g. user mobility and user request pattern) experience changes over time. These changes degrade the network performance and cause service interruption. In recent years, the words "cognitive" and "smart" have become the buzzwords and have been applied to many different networking and communication systems. Cognitive networks are being touted as the next generation network services which will perceive the current network conditions and dynamically adjust their parameters to achieve better productivity. Cognitive radios will provide the end-user intelligence needed for cognitive networks and provide dynamic spectrum access for better spectrum efficiency. We are interested in assessing the practical impact of Cognitive Networks on the Wireless Communication industry. Our goal is to propose a formal business model that will help assess the implications of this new technology in the real world and the practical feasibility of its implementation. We use the layered business model proposed by Ballon [8] which follows a multi-parameter approach by defining four levels on which business models operate and by identifying three critical design parameters on each layer. The Value Network layer identifies the important entities which come into the picture in the light of the new technology. The Functional layer addresses the issue of different architectural implementations of the Cognitive Networks. At the Financial layer, we propose a NPV model which highlights the cost/revenue implications of the technology in the real world and contrasts the different Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) schemes from a financial perspective. Finally, the Value Proposition layer seeks to explain the end-user flexibility and efficient spectrum management provided by the use of Cognitive radios and Cognitive networks. / Master of Science

BACKGROUND. The relaxation of the global conditions, mainly but not reduced to the introduction of the Internet, and the demanding competitive pressures have triggered the expansionary phenomenon of startups that seek to compete internationally right after its birth. This urge for a mechanism to facilitate the internationalisation process, namely the business model. In this regard, there is a need to elaborate on the field of the business model in combination to the internationalization literature, which has tended to develop in isolation. PURPOSE. The purpose of this master thesis is to expand the knowledge about the process of designing the business model of a new international venture and how the drivers of internationalisation affect this process. METHODOLOGY. The research problem was identified by exploring two major streams of theory, the business model and the internationalisation, which were developed jointly in a visual representation. In the next step, from two Sweden-based international new ventures, named Againity AB and MIMSI Materials AB, empirical information was collected from diverse stakeholders. The technique was qualitative research method, which was scrutinized following a process model approach. Finally, a model proposition was constructed by analysing the realities of the practical and theoretical phenomenon to serve the purpose of enhancing knowledge. RESULT. The BMD process is composed by three stages, namely initiating, generating and refining, of iterative and interdependent nature. Each driver of internationalization, when scrutinized using the empirical realities of the INVs, tends to have different influential roles at different stages of the business model. This is integrated into a conceptual model of the key internationalization drivers and BMD stages, which reflects the strategic fit from which new ventures benefit.

The purpose of this study was to investigate how biotech SMEs structure their business model to deal with the industry’s challenges. The first step was to lay a theoretical foundation of the business model and clarify ambiguities surrounding the business model concept. This lead to the Business Model Canvas, which was used as tool of analysis for this thesis. Semi-structured interviews were then conducted with companies, experts and cluster managers, following the nine building blocks of the Business Model Canvas.   The results showed that two typologies of business models could be seen, which we divided in pharmaceutical biotech SMEs and non-pharmaceutical biotech SMEs. Both business models face challenges of research and development process, but to different degrees. Pharmaceutical biotech SMEs deal with long, costly and risky research process, which results in a research-centered business model. During the research period, these companies don’t generate revenues through sales. Non-pharmaceutical biotech SMEs on the other hand, face less harsh research and development processes, which allows them to market their products faster and generate revenue from sales. This results in a more customer-centric business model than the pharmaceutical biotech SMEs.

In the upcoming years, our society and economy will face enormous challenges due to global warming, which is caused by the emissions of carbon dioxide and other global-warming gases. Due to its high share of CO2emission, the detrimental role of the automotive industry has recently been put into the spotlight of the public discussion. Thanks to a growing public awareness of climate change and the pollution caused by vehicles, there is now a call for action towards a more sustainable business approach by car manufacturers. The objective of this research is to investigate the actions taken by car manufacturers to meet these demands and to reveal the driving forces of this transformation. This will be done by an empirical analysis of qualitative data from two of the main companies in this sector, namely the BMW Group and the Volvo Car Group. The data comprises interviews with representatives of the two car manufacturers together which is combined with their non- financial reporting. Furthermore, this study presents the relevant scientific literature on business models. This combination of theoretical and empirical evidence will allow us to shed light on whether sustainability is a chance or a burden for car manufacturers. The results of our empirical analysis show that a sustainable business model is a chance for car manufacturers to gain a competitive edge against their competitors and thereby ensure their long-term survival. More specifically, a higher sustainability can lead to cost savings in production, new value propositions in marketing, and new revenue models overall. However, the transformation to sustainable business models also poses several challenges for the companies. Nonetheless, in summary, sustainability in the context of business models is more of a chance than a burden.

Background: Tough competition, time- and resource constraints, and changing consumer demands in the video game industry requires business models that can cope with the pressure.    Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to use business model framework in order to better understand how independent video game developers develop their business models. We aim to contribute to the development of business model literature within the context of independent video game development by further the understanding of how a business model framework can be utilized in this new context.   Method: A case study method was used, focusing on a single-case and interviews with participants from the case company.   Conclusion: We further develop the BMC by proposing to divide the BMC for independent video game developers into a pre-release and post-release BMC to better describe the business model for an independent video game developer and the business model evolution from pre-release to post-release.

Problem The year 1886 is regarded the birth year of the modern automobile. Since then, there have been many innovations that have seen the surface and some that have had an influential effect in changing the paradigm itself. One of the major disruptions the world is talking about currently is in the transport industry, with ‘autonomous vehicles’ (often referred to as self- driving or driverless cars). The automobile industry has embarked upon a period of significant innovation and change. It is extremely important to understand what exactly this change means for the auto industry, the customers and the society and be prepared for this next big wave of a change. Purpose The main purpose of this paper is to increase the understanding of how the fundamental changes of driver replacement system has an effect on the auto industry (the auto business and customers) Research Question “How technological advances have led to business model changes in the auto industry” “How Advanced driver assistance system technology has an effect on the business model change in the auto industry” Research design/ methodology A multi qualitative method with inductive approach is used. To analyse the auto industry data is collected and supported by narrative inquiry strategy with in-depth interviews, and secondary document sources. Since the data is analysed over a period of time, a longitudinal time horizon is chosen. The philosophy governing this thesis is that of pragmatism with an awareness that interpretation is involved. Conclusion Since the 1970’s most of the innovations since then have been incremental. The beginning of technological diffusion from Information and Communications Technology industry from the 1990’s has resulted in some radical/ revolutionary technological innovations. There have been only two innovations, Internal Combustion Engines and Mass production that has had a significant change in the way business is seen and done. The other technological innovations have contributed to the change in either one side of the business model canvas or none. The current trend of Advanced Driver Assistance System technology is focused on replacing the driver and electric engines replacing Internal combustion engines , a pattern is that is seen from the history where horses were replaced by engines. The use of self-driving cars and electric engines would create a new paradigm in the auto industry. Research limitations implications The cause-effect relation between business model and technological change is not analysed. The research is analysed with the principle that a technological change would lead to a business model change. Non-technological innovations that has resulted in a business model change is not discussed. Contribution of technological innovations to change in revenue model is not discussed in detail.

'The Company' had introduced 'Being Responsible' a program for the embedding of responsibility-sustainability. Corporate responsibility-sustainability here describes efforts to address entangled cares of responsibility and sustainability. The program showed potential to change the business model, which led to the research problem: 'How can responsibility-sustainability programs change business models?'In this thesis, business models are understood as three dynamically interlinked states: Logics, devices and actor networks. Business model change may happen through the embedding of responsibility-sustainability into any of these states, and through the dynamics between them. Main conceptual lenses are organizational institutionalism and actor-network theory, which are connected through a social constructionist philosophy. Qualitative methods used include an in-depth case study of The Company (104 interviews with 72 interviewees) and thematic analyses of business model descriptions (devices) of FTSE corporations (100 documents).Seven papers study distinct aspects of the research problem: Papers 1 and 2 provide a conceptual basis. Papers 3 and 4 study how the embedding of responsibility-sustainability into the FTSE100s' business model devices changed the logics they described. Papers 5-7 study embedding into The Company's business model actor network. I found how embedding of responsibility-sustainability into the three states of commercial business models happened through three processes: Blending of logics, combination of device elements and translation between actors. Such embedding of responsibility-sustainability led to misalignment and tensions between responsibility-sustainability and the dominant commercial logic. This misalignment in turn fueled the dynamics of change between logics, devices and actor networks. First, this thesis contributes to an emerging literature on the dynamics of business model logics, devices and actor networks. It makes explicit the distinction between these states and illustrates how their dynamics provide novel insight into business model change. Secondly, I showcase how actor-network theory may complement the activity systems study of business models as well as stakeholder thinking in responsibility-sustainability research. Insights into how to use devices to change business models and to embed responsibility-sustainability appear relevant for practitioners.