Waste-to-energy is currently at the forefront of clean technologies. It consists of the burning of different types of wastes (solid, liquid, gaseous) that provide heat and electricity. With high efficiency levels in energy production (80-90%) and low flue gas emissions, this type of energy production has quickly spread throughout Europe. In addition, laws created by both the EU and national governments have created new agendas regarding landfill and waste disposal.   Problem: We have identified three different problems that currently exist: (1) the lack of academic literature which explores specifically business models within the renewable energy industry and the potential that business models possess in exploiting the opportunity within the market place; (2) which methods are effective within a business model in achieving the value that a firm wishes to create, capture, and deliver; (3) current academic literature does not provide enough understanding of the influences and pressures that stakeholders place upon shaping a firm’s current/potential business model.   Purpose: The purpose of this investigation is to examine the business models used by three different waste-to-energy firms in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden and to identify the methods used to create, capture and deliver value. Moreover, we aim to identify and investigate the stakeholders within the waste-to-energy industry of these three companies with the goal of explaining the influence and pressures they place upon the firm’s business model through the use of institutional theory.

<p>Background: Since the airline deregulation was completed in 1997, a new business model has emerged in the European civil aviation industry. It has caused a shift in the way people travel within Europe. The airlines operating under this new business model known as point-to-point, have created a new outlet for commercial passenger travel and raised concerns for established flag carriers.</p><p>Problem: This study is of great importance due to the fact that people are traveling more frequently and wish to do so quicker and more efficiently. With so many options to choose from and cost being an important decision maker for both companies and consumers, a study of this industry in terms of competition, price and service quality is of great impor-tance.</p><p>Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to investigate and describe whether or not changes in the competitive landscape of the European civil aviation industry are related to the movement of economy class prices. The thesis also looks at whether or not changes in the competitive landscape are related to changes in service quality in the same industry. Both flag-carriers and low-cost carriers in terms of their business models will be investigated.</p><p>Method: The method chosen for this study was of an integrated approach based solely on secondary data due to the sheer size and scope of this industry. This study investigated the two major business models of this industry through routes to the major cities and capitals of Western Europe from Stockholm Arlanda airport and Stockholm Skavsta airport. A literature study coupled with a comparative analysis has also been done.</p><p>Conclusions: Dramatic change is occurring in the industry. Competition is increasing not only between companies but between two competing business models. Increased competition is leading to better on-time performance but lower in-flight and ground service quality. Aggregate price level has risen for flag carries with the opposite happening for low-cost carriers. The increased competition is threatening the ill-performing flag carriers and will most likely transform the industry.</p>

The digitalization of the electricity grid can provide politicians and different kinds of companies with solid benefits in terms of efficiency, renewable integration and control. However, some part of the deployment of smart grids is only possible with the engagement of consumers who are required to change their behavior significantly. This behavioral change can be induced if energy companies (incumbents and new players) adopt business models that do not sell a technology but use technology to wrap a viable business case around the core task to “solving a customer’s problem”. This paper investigates different business models in the smart grid context on their possibility to diffuse in the market. Furthermore, it stresses that the emergence of smart grids will provide incumbents and new companies with new possibilities to offer new services. However for incumbent companies these new roles, increased competition, and new services also imply challenges. Old paradigms of the traditionally conservative utilities need to be changed. This paper finds out that the electricity consumer of today is not uniform, but rather can be divided into four segments who seem to describe the market well (at least in Germany) and have very different needs and preferences. In order to become agents of change in the future utilities will have to transform their business model, if they are not already on their way to do so. Throughout the paper, a EU (European Union) and North American perspective is considered, with primary focus on Sweden, Germany, and the USA.

Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) firms are in need to modify their business models to exploit available opportunities by the increasing role of knowledge management and information technology in the global economy. This thesis will propose business models for AEC firms to sell consulting knowledge on-line. The three proposed business models are: business and management intelligence, design optimization and innovation and; software customization and real time data analytics. The business models are based on selling online consulting knowledge services customized to the customers' business needs through enabling emerging information technologies like cloud computing. The models were developed through benchmarking cases in other industries, previous classifications in the area of business models and, experts insights. The suitability of these models to different clients will be assessed in addition to the most suitable revenue streams. Finally, the validated final business models will be presented in the framework by Osterwalder and Pigneur (2010).

Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) firms are in need to modify their business models to exploit available opportunities by the increasing role of knowledge management and information technology in the global economy. This thesis will propose business models for AEC firms to sell consulting knowledge on-line. The three proposed business models are: business and management intelligence, design optimization and innovation and; software customization and real time data analytics. The business models are based on selling online consulting knowledge services customized to the customers' business needs through enabling emerging information technologies like cloud computing. The models were developed through benchmarking cases in other industries, previous classifications in the area of business models and, experts insights. The suitability of these models to different clients will be assessed in addition to the most suitable revenue streams. Finally, the validated final business models will be presented in the framework by Osterwalder and Pigneur (2010).

Fueled by ubiquitous access to mobile phones, and a massive population of nearly 3 billion unbanked people around the globe, mobile commerce is evolving as a disruptive technology. Simultaneously, mobile payments are surfacing as a killer application within the mobile commerce context (Hu et al. 2008). Undeniably, the proliferation of wireless mobile technology provides much-needed access to vital information, and financial services for disenfranchised, unbanked populations. In addition, technological innovations offer first-time opportunities for suppliers of goods and services in a market context to gain competitive advantages while enhancing their economic viability. According to Portio Research, the volume of mobile payments rose significantly from $68.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2009, with predictions of $633.4 billion U.S. dollars by the end of 2014 (mobithinking.com 2012). Despite exponential growth in the number of mobile subscribers globally, and widespread adoption of mobile commerce, acceptance rates for mobile payment applications have lagged (Dahlberg et al. 2007, Ondrus et al 2009, Ondrus and Lyytinen 2011). Yet examinations of factors inhibiting the widespread acceptance of mobile payments are relatively sparse. Using Social Network theory, this research examines factors affecting engagement in mobile payments. The researcher posits that four primary elements influence mobile payment engagement: 1) the relationships between and amongst inter-organizational alliance members; 2) the prevailing regulatory environment; 3) the state of existing banking and technology infrastructures, and 4) an assessment of economic opportunity. The research outcomes from this exploratory examination led to the development of a comprehensive model for mobile payment engagement, and strongly suggest that ties between and amongst firms in inter-organizational alliances help ensure the success of mobile payment engagement. Support was found for the following suppositions: 1) similarities and relations (continuous ties) help establish a framework and understanding amongst alliance members as to each party’s goals and objectives; and 2) interactions and flows (discrete ties) between and amongst inter-organizational alliance members strengthen the overall ties between alliance members while solidifying a viable working relationship amongst the alliance members. This study employs a qualitative approach to obtain real world insight into the dynamism of the mobile payment arena. A model is then proposed to practically examine mobile payment engagement opportunities. From a theoretical perspective, the research contributes to the extant scholarly knowledgebase pertaining to engagement in mobile payments.

In recent years, there has been growing interest of governments and firms for Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). However, FOSS is still a puzzlement for a wide spectrum of academic disciplines. Social scientists ask why FOSS hackers participate in FOSS if they do not get any monetary rewards. On the other hand firms ask, how a firm can earn money from FOSS. In this study, motivations of FOSS hackers and firms are taken as an interrelated phenomenon. For FOSS hackers, social and technical aspects of FOSS are essential. On the contrary to FOSS hackers, firms have profit oriented goals. In this context, conflicting and coinciding interests of FOSS hackers and firms are investigated through development of FOSS in Turkey. Software industry in Turkey is not developed enough and FOSS may play a prominent role in developing its own software industry. This study discusses FOSS both from the view of hackers and the firms in Turkey. In that respect, social conditions that make hackers voluntarily contribute, discrepancies between attitudes and behaviors of the firms and FOSS licenses are explored. According to these facts, possible FOSS business strategies which may be adopted in Turkey are presented.

Diss. Stockholm : Handelshögskolan, 2005.

Η παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή προσεγγίζει το θέμα του εισερχόμενου τουρισμού στην Ελλάδα υπό το πρίσμα των αερομεταφορών και ειδικότερα μέσω των στρατηγικών επιλογών μιας ιδιότυπης μορφής αερομεταφορέων, όπως είναι οι αεροπορικές εταιρίες χαμηλού κόστους (Low Cost Carriers). Η ανάπτυξη των εταιριών αυτών αποτελεί μία από τις σημαντικότερες εξελίξεις στο χώρο των αερομεταφορών παγκοσμίως. Αυτός ο «νέος» τύπος αερομεταφορέων έχει αναταράξει σε βάθος και αποφασιστικά το καθεστώς των αερομεταφορών γενικά και συγκεκριμένα των αποκαλούμενων παραδοσιακών αερομεταφορέων δικτύων με την εισαγωγή ενός επιχειρησιακού μοντέλου χαμηλού κόστους, το οποίο επιτρέπει σε αυτές τις αερογραμμές να προσφέρουν οικονομικά εισιτήρια στους πελάτες τους. Οι αεροπορικές εταιρίες χαμηλού κόστους (LCCs) αποτελούν μια σημαντική διάσταση στις σύγχρονες στρατηγικές ανάπτυξης και ανταγωνισμού στον τομέα των αερομεταφορών διεθνώς. Η διατριβή εστιάζει στον καθορισμό των προσδιοριστικών παραγόντων στρατηγικής ανάπτυξης των LCCs καθώς και στις επιδράσεις αυτών των στρατηγικών επιλογών στον ελληνικό τουρισμό. Ο σκοπός της διατριβής είναι να περιγράψει το επιχειρησιακό τους μοντέλο και να καταγράψει τις στρατηγικές που αυτές ακολουθούν. Αναφορικά με την μεθοδολογική προσέγγιση, επιλέχθηκε η έρευνα περιπτωσιολογικής μελέτης για την διερεύνηση των στρατηγικών των αερομεταφορέων χαμηλού κόστους και των πιθανόν επιδράσεών τους στον εισερχόμενο τουρισμό στην Ελλάδα. Η επιλογή αυτή εξαρτήθηκε σε μεγάλο βαθμό από την φύση του αντικειμένου και των ερωτημάτων που τέθηκαν λαμβανομένων υπόψη των περιορισμών, όσον αφορά στα λιγοστά και κατακερματισμένα διαθέσιμα στατιστικά στοιχεία σχετικά με τους αερομεταφορείς χαμηλού κόστους, σε ό,τι αφορά την Ελλάδα τουλάχιστον και τις αεροπορικές τους συνδέσεις με αυτήν. Συμπερασματικά θα λέγαμε, ότι οι αερομεταφορές αποτελούν αναπόσπαστο τμήμα του τουριστικού προϊόντος και ότι τα τελευταία χρόνια επικρατεί αισιοδοξία αναφορικά με τη αεροπορική διασύνδεση των κομβικών και περιφερειακών αεροδρομίων της Ελλάδας με ευρωπαϊκούς προορισμούς. Η είσοδος νέων αεροπορικών εταιριών χαμηλού κόστους, στον ΔΑΑ που συνδέουν απευθείας διάφορους ευρωπαϊκούς προορισμούς με την Αθήνα καθώς και οι εξελίξεις στην ανατολική Ευρώπη, εξαιτίας της ένταξης νέων χωρών στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση δημιουργεί νέα δεδομένα στις αερομεταφορές και στην σύνδεση της Αθήνας, αλλά και των περιφερειακών αερολιμένων με αεροδρόμια της κεντρικής και ανατολικής Ευρώπης. Οι αεροπορικές εταιρίες ναυλωμένων πτήσεων, οι οποίες παραδοσιακά είχαν συνδεθεί με την ανάπτυξη του ελληνικού τουρισμού προσπάθησαν να αναθεωρήσουν το επιχειρηματικό τους μοντέλο, ώστε να ανταγωνιστούν τις εταιρίες χαμηλού κόστους. Η Ελλάδα θεωρείται μια αγορά υψηλού κόστους λόγω των διαφόρων επιβαρύνσεων στα τέλη των αερομεταφορών. Καθώς όμως χρειάζεται να ανταγωνιστεί και με άλλες παραδοσιακές αγορές, η πολιτεία χρειάζεται να δράσει σε συνεργασία με όλους τους εμπλεκόμενους φορείς ώστε να υποστηρίξει τις στρατηγικές επιλογές επέκτασης των LCCs και μέσα από μακροπρόθεσμες πολιτικές να διατηρήσει και να ενισχύσει την προσέλευση των LCCs σε ελληνικά αεροδρόμια. / This doctoral dissertation deals with inbound tourism to Greece within the context of air transport and specifically through the strategic choices of a singular form of air transport, such as low-cost carriers. The growth of these companies is one of the most significant global developments in the air transport industry. This “new” type of air transport has thoroughly and decisively stirred up the status quo in air transport and specifically, the so-called traditional air transport networks, through the introduction of the low-cost model that permits these airlines to offer economically competitive tickets to their customers. The low-cost carriers (LCCs) are a significant dimension in the modern development and competition strategies of the air transport industry. The dissertation focuses upon defining the determinant factors in the development strategies of the LCCs, as well as the influence of these strategic choices upon Greek tourism. The dissertation’s purpose is to describe their business model and to record the strategies that they follow. The case study research approach was selected in relation to the methodology in order to investigate the strategies of the low-cost carriers and their potential influences on inbound tourism to Greece. This choice is largely dependent upon the nature of the objective and the questions that are raised, which takes into consideration the restrictions relating to the scarce and fragmented statistics that are available on the low-cost carriers, at least in relation to Greece and their air connections to it. In conclusion, we could say that air transport is an integral part of the tourist product and that optimism has prevailed in recent years on the interconnection by air of the central and regional airports in Greece with European destinations. The entry by new airlines into AIA (Athens International Airport), which directly connect the European destinations to Athens, as well as the developments in Eastern Europe, through the incorporation of many nations into the European Union, has created a new status quo for air transport and the connection of Athens to the Central and Eastern European airports. The chartered flight airlines that were traditionally connected to the growth of Greek tourism have attempted to review their business model, so as to compete with the low-cost carriers. Greece is considered to be a high-cost market, due to the various charges on the air transport duties. The State needs to act in collaboration with all authorities involved in order to retain and support the presence of LCCs at Greek airports, in addition to the need to also compete with the other traditional markets.

Thesis (MScEng (Industrial Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) population are those individuals who live under the poverty line. They often do not have easy access to products and services, because the infrastructure to serve them is not in place and most organisations consider the challenges of the BoP overwhelming and unconquerable. The primary objective of this research is to develop a framework that guides an organisation through the design of a business model, which will allow them to expand into the BoP population Organisations face constant pressure to increase their market share and profits, and improve their performance in the current aggressive environment. To retain their competitiveness they have to look at unconventional and alternative markets. By recognising the BoP as a potential emerging market, organisations can increase their market share or enter new markets, thereby creating benefits for organisations and the BoP alike. The reasons why organisations fail when targeting the BoP market are also identified in this research. These reasons include aspects like organisations making assumptions about the BoP, not understanding the BoP, not knowing how to approach the BoP market and being ignorant in designing a business model tailored for the BoP market. This research addresses the difficulties organisations face when they want to target the BoP by developing a framework that allows an organisation to successfully target the BoP population. This framework also fulfils the secondary objective of this research, which is to adhere to the three goals of Sustainable Development: • Fair treatment of all people: Giving all people, regardless of their level in the economic pyramid, equal access to products and services. This is the foundation for social equity. Including the BoP in economic activity by overcoming the constraints the BoP face; • To not degrade the environment through sustainable design; • Economic growth and development to ensure the organisation makes a profit. Four primary research fields – Sustainable Development, Bottom of the Pyramid literature, Business Models and Blue Ocean Strategy – were investigated and then aspects of these fields were merged to form the Business Model Development Strategy. This framework offers a systematic approach for organisations to first analyse and understand all aspects of the BoP and their environment, and then develop a business model that fulfils the core requirements of the BoP. It was found that if organisations want to successfully target the BoP, they have to fulfil the 4 A’s – Acceptability, Awareness, Availability and Affordability – which are the core needs and requirements of the BoP. Using the Business Model Development Strategy as guideline, organisations can design a business model that minimises the risk of failure when they target the BoP, while maintaining the principles of Sustainable Development. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die term Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) verwys na diegene in die bevolking wie ‘n bestaan voer onder die armoedelyn. Vanweë die feitdat die nodige infrastruktuur nie aan hul behoeftes voldoen nie, en ook dat meeste organisasies hul uitdagings as oorweldigend en selfs onoorkombaar beskou, het die BoP bevolkingdikwelsnietoegang tot sekeredienste en produktenie, Die primêre doel van hierdie navorsingstuk is om ‘n raamwerkte skep wat organisasies deur ‘n unieke ontwerp van ‘n besigheids model sal lei. Hierdie model sal organisasies in staat stel om hul dienste uit te brei en sodoende ook die BoP bevolking te bereik. Organisasies ervaar gedurig druk om hul markaan deel en wins tevergroot en omtefloreer in onstuimigeekonomieseklimaat. Om hul mededingendheid te verseker, moet organisasies hul blik werp na ongewone en alternatiewe markte. Deur die BoP as ‘n potensiële ontluikende mark teerken, kan organisasies hul markaandeel vergroot, of selfs nuwe market betree en in die proses voordele skep vir organisasies sowel as die BoP. Hierdie navorsingstuk sal ook die redes ondersoek waarom organisasieson suksesvol is wanneer hulle die BoP mark betree; hierdie redes sluit in, ondermeer, dat organisasies aannames maak oor die BoP, hierdie mark glad nie verstaan nie, onbekwaam is wanneer hulle die BoP mark betree en nie weet hoe om ‘n besigheidsmodel te ontwerp spesifiek vir die BoP mark nie. Die navorsing vervat in hierdie tesis oorbrug die struikel bloke wat organisasies in die gesig staar wanneer hulle die BoP mark wil betree, deur die ontwerp van ‘n raamwerk wat sulke organisasies in staat stel om die BoP bevolking suksesvol te betree. Hierdie raamwerk voldoen ook aan die sekondêre doel van hierdie navorsingstuk, om die drie uitgangs punte van Volhoubare Ontwikkeling te ondersteun: • Die regverdige behandeling van alle mense: om aan alle mense, ongeag hul posisie binne die ekonomiese piramide, gelyke toegang te gee tot produkte en dienste. Hierdie is die beginsel van sosiale billikheid. Om verder die BoP in te sluit in ekonomiese aktiwiteite deur aan hul behoeftes te voorsien; • Om, deurmiddel van volhoubare ontwerp, geen skade aan die natuurlike omgewing aan te bring nie; • Om ekonomiese groei en ontwikkeling aan te moedig om te verseker dat die organisasie telkens ‘n wins maak Vier primêre navorsings gebiede – Volhoubare Ontwikkeling, ‘Bottom of the Pyramid’ literatuur, Besigheids modelle en ‘Blue Ocean’ Strategie – was ondersoek en bymekaar gebring om die Business Model Development Strategie te ontwikkel. Hierdie raamwerk bied ‘n sistematiese benadering aan organisasies om, eerstens, alle aspekte van die BoP en hul omgewing te analiseer en te verstaan, en omvervolgens ‘n besigheidsmodel te ontwikkel wat aan die kern vereistes van die BoP sal voldoen. Daar is bevind dat, indien organisasies suksesvol die BoP wil betree, hulle aan vier kern vereistes moet voldoen – Aanvaarbaarheid, Bewustheid, Beskikbaarheid en Bekostigbaarheid. Hierdie aspekte vorm die kern benodigdhede en vereistes van die BoP. Deur die Business Model Development Strategie as riglyn te gebruik, kan organisasies ‘n besigheidsmodel ontwerp wat die risiko van mislukking sal minimaliseer wanneer hulle die BoP mark betree, terwyl dit die beginsels van Volhoubare Ontwikkeling ten volle ondersteun.