The concept of open innovation is about outsourcing part of the innovation process to external actors and to make use of other resources and knowledge than your own. This is one possible way to meet the challenges that today’s competitive and fast market places on companies. Open innovation has created conditions for open events such as hackathons and through these kind of events, ideas can be generated that companies can use in their business. Outside-in is a perspective of open innovation as a means to integrate external knowledge and ideas into its own operations, and this study takes place in the context of open innovation with an outside-in perspective. The study aims to find how the methods, techniques and tools affects the transition from an idea to an internal project, which results in new products and services. The study is qualitative and data has been collected through interviews with companies which have extensive knowledge of working with innovation. The result of the study shows there is a gap in the transformation of ideas and internal projects, and that there are no systematic approach to the methods, techniques and tools used to facilitate the transformation.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: New economic activity is essential to create jobs that can absorb the surplus~ abour being created by, amongst other things, the increase in population rate, particular1y in developing countries like South Africa, and rationalisation and increased productivity characterising larger organisations nowadays. Entrepreneurship has been identified as one of the key sources and driving forces behind job creation and long-term economic growth, yet South Africa performs well below average in terms of entrepreneurial activity, particularly when compared to other developing countries. The weaknesses in the training and education system, lack of financial support, lack of research and development transfer and poor access to physical infrastructure were consistently identified in the various Global Entrepreneurship Monitor studies as accounting for the low entrepreneurial activity in South Africa. v-- The franchising business model has be/ldescribed in terms of Porter's value-chain analysis and shows that the franchisor prescribes to the franchisee a business model by providing procedures, guidelines, sharing, training and support for the execution of the primary and secondary activities within the franchisee's value chain. This is achieved through the tangible interrelationships that exist between franchisor and franchisee, which are characterised by the sharing and support of activities that are related within the two value chains and the intangible interrelationships involving the transfer of management know-how through training and mentoring. Considering the nature and the advantages of the franchise business model as described in terms of Porter's value-chain analysis, franchising can go a long way towards overcoming the lack of training and education and access to finance many entrepreneurs in South Africa are faced with. There is therefore evidence to suggest that franchising as a business model can reduce many of the risks associated with starting up a new business and contribute towards the improvement of the entrepreneurial status of South Africa. One of the main rationales behind purchasing a particular franchise is the confidence that the franchise will contribute to making the individual's business success more predictable. For this to become a reality requires that the franchisor provides an individual with a tried and test concept linked to a respectable and well-known brand within a structure that provides extensive initial and continuous support. However, although there are clear guidelines for the structure and conduct within the franchise business model, there are no all-encompassing rules regarding the extent to which all the aspects of a franchise business model have to be present for a particular franchise system to be considered good or bad. One franchise system may allow franchisees more leeway in some aspects of the business and have less formalised interrelationships within its value chain compared to another franchise system yet they may be equally successful systems depending on the extent to which their structure and the personal profile of the prospective franchisee complement each other. Therefore there are different management styles applied within different franchise systems and whether a particular franchise system will be successful for a particular franchisee depends upon the fit between the individual's personal profile, which encompasses the individual's skills, personality, entrepreneurial profile, risk profile, control profile, independence profile, work habits, ambitions, dreams, strengths and weaknesses and the franchise culture, functionality, structure, dynamic inter-relationships and regulation that prevails in the franchise network being considered. These factors, combined with others such as the current franchisor recruitment practices; abuse of the franchise concept and the balance of power considerations between franchisor and franchisee, emphasise the necessity for a prospective franchisee to take responsibility by performing his/her own thorough evaluation. The aim of this study was therefore the development of an analytical framework, which can be used by a prospective franchisee as a guideline for evaluating and deciding whether he/she is suited for franchising, whether a particular franchise opportunity is a sound and legitimate option and whether there is a fit between the personal profile of the individual and the profile of a particular franchise investment option being considered. By following the proposed analytical framework a prospective franchisee is able to develop a personal profile according to recommended guidelines and evaluate each potential franchise being considered / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Nuwe ekonomiese aktiwiteit is noodsaaklik om werk te skep wat die ooraanbod van arbeid kan absorbeer wat onder andere veroorsaak word deur die bevolkingsaanwas, veral in ontwikkelende lande soos Suid-Afrika, en rasionalisering en groter produktiwiteit wat deesdae groter organisasies kenmerk. Entrepreneurskap is ge'identifiseer as een van die sleutelbronne en dryfvere agter werkskepping en langtermyn ekonomiese groei. Tog presteer Suid-Afrika ver onder die gemiddelde in terme van entrepreneurskapsaktiwiteit, veral as dit vergelyk word met ander ontwikkelende lande. Die tekortkominge in die onderwys- en opleidingstelsel, gebrek aan finansiele ondersteuning, gebrek aan oordrag van navorsing- en ontwikkelingskundigheid en swak toegang tot fisiese infrastruktuur is konsekwent deur die Global Entrepreneurship Monitor ge'identifiseer as redes vir die lae vlak van entrepreneursaktiwiteit in Suid-Afrika. Die konsessie-sakemodel is in terme van Porter se waardekettinganalise beskryf en toon dat die konsessiegewer aan die konsessiehouer 'n sake model voorskryf deur prosedures, riglyne, deelname, opleiding en ondersteuning te voorsien vir die uitvoering van die primere en sekondere aktiwiteite binne die konsessiehouer se waardeketting. Dit word bereik deur die tasbare interverhoudings wat tussen die konsessiegewer en konsessiehouer bestaan, wat gekenmerk word deur die deelname aan en ondersteuning van aktiwiteite wat verwant is binne die twee waardekettings en die ontasbare interverhoudings wat betref die oordrag van bestuurskennis deur opleiding en mentorskap. As die aard en die voordele van die konsessie-sakemodel oorweeg word, soos beskryf in terme van Porter se waardeketting, kan die konsessiebedryf baie doen om die gebrek aan onderwys en opleiding en toegang tot finansiering wat baie entrepreneurs in Suid-Afrika ondervind, teen te werk. Daar is dus aanduiding dat konsessies as sakemodel baie van die risiko's kan verlaag wat verband hou met die totstandbring van 'n nuwe onderneming en kan bydra tot die verbetering van die entrepreneurstatus van Suid-Afrika. Een van die hoofbeweegredes agter die aankoop van 'n spesifieke konsessie is die vertroue dat die konsessie daartoe sal bydra om die individu se besigheid meer voorspelbaar te maak. Ten einde dit moontlik te maak, moet die konsessiegewer 'n individu voorsien van 'n beproefde konsep gekoppel aan 'n gerespekteerde en bekende handelsmerk binne 'n struktuur wat omvattende aanvanklike en deurlopende ondersteuning bied. Alhoewel daar duidelike riglyne is vir die struktuur en bedryf binne die konsessie-sakemodel, is daar geen allesomvattende re~ls betreffende die omvang waartoe al die aspekte van 'n konsessie-sakemodel teenwoordig moet wees ten einde te bepaal of 'n spesifieke konsessiestelsel goed of sleg is nie. Een konsessiestelsel mag konsessiehouers meer vryheid bied in terme van sekere aspekte van die besigheid en minder formele interverhoudings he binne sy waardeketting vergeleke met 'n ander konsessiestelsel, maar hulle mag ewe suksesvolle stelsels wees afhangend van die mate waarin hulle struktuur en die persoonlike profiel van die voomemende konsessiehouer mekaar komplementeer. Daar word dus verskillende bestuurstyle toegepas binne verskillende konsessiestelsels en of 'n spesifieke konsessiestelsel suksesvol sal wees vir 'n spesifieke konsessiehouer hang grootliks af van die passing tussen die individu se persoonlike profiel, wat insluit die individu se vaardighede, persoonlikheid, entrepreneursprofiel, risiko-profiel, kontrole-profiel, onafhanklikheidsprofiel, werkstyl, ambisies, drome, sterkpunte en swakpunte en die konsessie se kultuur, funksionaliteit, struktuur, dinamiese interverhoudings en regulering wat bestaan in die konsessienetwerk wat oorweeg word. Hierdie faktore, tesame met ander soos die huidige konsessiegewer se aanstellingspraktyke, misbruik van die konsessiekonsep en die magsbalans-oorwegings tussen die konsessiegewer en konsessiehouer, beklemtoon die noodsaaklikheid vir 'n voornemende konsessiehouer om verantwoordelikheid te neem deur sylhaar eie deeglike evaluering te doen. Die doel van hierdie studie is daarom die ontwikkeling van 'n analitiese raamwerk wat deur 'n voornemende konsessiehouer gebruik kan word as 'n riglyn vir die evaluering en besluitneming ten opsigte van sy/haar eie gepastheid vir die konsessiebedryf, of 'n spesifieke konsessiegeleentheid 'n grondige en wettige opsie is en of daar 'n passing is tussen die persoonlike profiel van die individu en die profiel van 'n spesifieke konsessiebelegging wat oorweeg word. Deur die voorgestelde analitiese raamwerk te volg, sal die voornemende konsessiehouer in staat wees om 'n persoonlike profiel te ontwikkel volgens aanbevole riglyn en elke potensiele konsessie wat oorweeg word, te evalueer.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / There is no doubt as to the important role of small businesses in the creation of employment and development of the South African economy. Unfortunately support services for the small business are generally hard to come by and expensive if not sponsored by government, an NGO or corporate entity. For the small business owner who has been operating for a number of years and knows what is required to operate successfully, it is difficult and time consuming to find an affordable solution. This paper aimed to find a business model framework that would bring support services closer to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the services industry in South Africa. It must have the capability to relieve an SME of resource-intensive support burdens (administrative and otherwise) and thereby allow an increased focus on its core service-delivery value proposition. Based on systems theory it is safe to say that all entities in the economy are somehow interrelated and exert some influence on each other. It is therefore well within reason to conclude that the output of this research could be beneficial to SMEs on the supply- and demand- side of the service industry. For the purpose of this report, an SME was defined as a company that had the following characteristics: active owner involvement on all levels, a relatively small market share, had a staff complement of between 3 and 50 employees and provided a service (i.e. solving a problem). In creating an appropriate solution, it was important to understand the target audience, the business owner, much better. The data source for this research was the data gathered during the Finscope South Africa Small Business Survey 2010. Underlying the research was a hybrid approach that utilised both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The data was gathered throughout South Africa by means of a structured questionnaire created by a team of experts. It focused on measuring specific perceptions, attitudes and behaviour of SMEs and SME owners. A multi-sided platform or catalyst showed the most potential for satisfying the need to reduce the barriers between SMEs and service providers. A catalyst has three primary activities – building, stimulating and governing. These activities create and sustain a successful catalytic reaction and partnership. The research provided a wide range of South African SME and owner characteristics that were most beneficial in developing a business model framework.

The notion of International New Ventures, or INVs, emerged in academia in the early-to-mid 1990s and generally refers to entrepreneurial firms that tend to internationalize very early in their life-cycle, and whose expansion into foreign markets occurs much more quickly than predicted by earlier theories of the incremental internationalization process. Previous literature proposes effective networking with market partners and, more recently, internationally viable business model among key distinguishing features of INVs that allow for such early and rapid entry into international markets. Nevertheless, little is yet known regarding how these younger firms develop over time and how they could sustain international growth. With the purpose of filling this gap, this doctoral dissertation scrutinizes business models and business model innovation of INVs beyond their early internationalization, with a particular emphasis on INVs’ external relationships configurations.   The dissertation consists of four self-contained essays that represent a methodological mixture of qualitative and quantitative approaches and incorporate longitudinal case studies, surveys and register-based data encompassing nine years of Swedish INVs’ development. The findings highlight the importance of the business model as an initial market entry tool, and of business model innovation as a potential growth vehicle over time. Findings also display that INVs work with a broader range of external partners compared to other firms for innovative purposes, and that INVs have different business model innovation patterns compared to other types of internationalized firms. Moreover, INVs focus more heavily on value capture innovations in their business models as they mature and seek to obtain a more centralized position in their industry ecosystem by re-configuring the parameters of existing external relationships or developing new ones.   Overall, this dissertation contributes to the international entrepreneurship and business model literature by explicating how maturing INVs need to operate under different business model configurations as compared to emerging INVs, as the original business model might lack scalability after a certain point in time. Furthermore, the dissertation suggests how INVs can pursue a dynamic business model approach and utilize dynamic capabilities to design business models that put the focal firm more in control of the surrounding ecosystem, and reduce constraints that can limit the value capturing potential and thus the growth and development of INVs.

A utilização de modelos de negócios tem crescido substancialmente nos últimos anos, o que promoveu um aumento significativo de pesquisas voltadas para compreender a lógica de como uma organização cria, entrega e captura valor do ponto de vista econômico, social, cultural ou outros. Presume-se que os componentes previstos pelo modelo de negócio estejam presentes na configuração de negócios já estabelecidos ou novos negócios, inclusive em empresas que buscam a atuação no mercado internacional. No entanto, dentre as abordagens teóricas a respeito da internacionalização das empresas, observa-se que as mesmas não caracterizaram os modelos de negócios empregados pelas empresas em seus processos de internacionalização, já que usualmente focam nos principais aspectos que motivam a internacionalização, os modos de entrada, a compreensão do ambiente global e a busca da excelência funcional. A partir deste contexto, a pesquisa procurou investigar os componentes do modelo de negócio que operacionalizaram as atividades internacionais de uma multinacional brasileira do setor bancário, o Itaú Unibanco. Visando alcançar este objetivo, realizou-se uma pesquisa de caráter qualitativo, por meio de estudo de caso único. Nesse sentido, para o exame dos fundamentos teóricos, foram abordados os conceitos de estrutura, estratégia, escala, escopo, as teorias de internacionalização e a definição conceitual do modelo de negócio. Dentre os principais resultados da pesquisa, foi observado que a internacionalização do Itaú Unibanco ocorreu a partir de vantagens adquiridas no mercado doméstico e que foram posteriormente exploradas no mercado internacional. Em relação ao modelo de negócio, verificou-se que não existe um modelo pré-definido para as operações internacionais e embora praticamente todos os componentes se mostrassem presentes no mercado de destino, alguns sofreram forte adaptação às operações locais, resultante basicamente da estratégia de aquisição. / The use of business models has grown substantially in recent years, which has caused a significant increase in research aiming to understand the rationale of how an organization creates, delivers, and captures value, in economic, social, cultural or other contexts. Business models are employed by both established and new businesses, including companies seeking to expand into international markets. Among the literature studying firm internationalization, there are few studies that describe the business models used by companies in their internationalization processes. Instead, studies have directed attention at the key aspects that motivate internationalization, the modes of entry, understanding the global environment and the pursuit of functional excellence. This study investigates the business model that was used during the internationalization of a Brazilian multinational bank, the Itaú Unibanco. A qualitative research study of a single case was completed to examine the structure, strategy, scale, scope, of the bank\'s strategy in light of internationalization theories and conceptual definitions of business models. The study finds that the internationalization of Itaú Unibanco was sparked by advantages gained in the domestic market that were subsequently exploited in the international market. Regarding the business model, it was found that there is no pre-defined model for international operations and virtually all factors showed consistency to the particularities of the target market, being highly adapted to local operations, mainly due to the acquisition strategy.

O objetivo deste trabalho é contribuir para a discussão sobre como as organizações podem desenvolver modelos de negócio que promovam a mobilidade urbana sustentável, diante da relevância crescente que as discussões sobre o futuro da mobilidade e das cidades como um todo tem assumido em diversas áreas da ciência. Parte-se da ideia de que a concentração da produção de bens e serviços em grandes centros urbanos tem acentuado cada vez mais o desafio de reduzir a dependência do veículo privado para promover alternativas que promovam a mobilidade sustentável, visto que o uso crescente deste modal trouxe reduções significativas nos padrões de qualidade do deslocamento das pessoas, além de impactar diretamente as funções econômica, ambiental e social das cidades. Nesse contexto, têm emergido diversos atores interessados em desenvolver novos modelos de negócio no campo da mobilidade urbana, expandindo as fronteiras de um setor que anteriormente vinha sendo regido, principalmente, pelas regras da indústria automotiva. No entanto, embora a literatura tenha discutido sobre como cada vez mais modelos de negócios são relevantes diante dos desafios da mobilidade sustentável, menor atenção tem sido dedicada para compreender o que de fato caracteriza um modelo de negócio orientado à mobilidade urbana sustentável. Para preencher essa lacuna de pesquisa, recorreu-se a uma análise tanto da literatura de mobilidade urbana sustentável quanto à de modelos de negócio sustentáveis. A partir do resultado da intersecção entre essas literaturas, foi proposto um modelo conceitual que abrange oito tipologias pelas quais um modelo de negócio pode promover a mobilidade sustentável, além de aspectos que caracterizam esses modelos de forma transversal. O modelo conceitual foi testado empiricamente em seis modelos de negócio alinhados às tipologias definidas, com base em um estudo de casos múltiplos de caráter exploratório. O resultado do estudo de campo evidenciou outras variáveis relevantes que devem ser consideradas na caracterização de modelos de negócio orientados à mobilidade urbana sustentável no contexto brasileiro, além de barreiras associadas ao desenvolvimento dessas iniciativas. Dessa forma, o resultado da pesquisa permitiu enriquecer o modelo conceitual proposto inicialmente com a incorporação de novas dimensões de análise, bem como obter uma perspectiva mais ampla sobre a compreensão de modelos de negócio orientados à mobilidade urbana sustentável. / The objective of this research is to contribute to the discussion about how organizations may develop business models oriented to sustainable urban mobility, given the growing relevance that discussions about the future of mobility and cities have assumed in several areas of knowledge. It is based on the idea that the concentration of the production of goods and services in large urban centers has increasingly accentuated the challenge of reducing dependence on private car use to providing alternatives that promote sustainable mobility, because the use of the previous modal has produced significant reductions in people\'s travel quality standards and has directly affected the economic, environmental, and social functions of cities. In this context, several actors have emerged interested in developing new business models in urban mobility field, expanding frontiers previously dominated exclusively by the automotive industry players. However, although researchers have increasingly examined how business models promote sustainable urban mobility, less attention has been focused on what constitutes business models oriented to sustainable urban mobility. To fill this research gap, a theoretical analysis of sustainable urban mobility and sustainable business models was made. From the result of this literature intersection, a conceptual framework was proposed and organized in eight typologies by which a business model could promote sustainable mobility, besides some aspects that characterize these models in a transversal way. The conceptual framework was empirically tested in six business models aligned to the defined typologies, based on an exploratory multiple case study. The results of the empirical study revealed other relevant variables that should be considered in order to characterize business models oriented to sustainable urban mobility in Brazil context, in addition to some barriers associated with the development of these initiatives. In this way, the research results allowed to enrich the conceptual framework proposed initially with the incorporation of new analysis dimensions, as well as to obtain a broader perspective on how business models can promote sustainable urban mobility.

Cette thèse de doctorat étudie la façon dont les organisations, en particulier les entreprises sociales, créent et mettent en œuvre des technologies de l'information et de la communication (TIC) pour les populations vivant "au bas de la pyramide" (BoP) et comment de tels projets permettent de lutter contre l'exclusion (ICT4D). Ce travail de recherche est basé sur des données recueillies à partir de deux organisations situées en Inde, l'une opérant principalement dans les zones rurales et l'autre dans les milieux urbains. Ces deux organisations ciblent principalement les populations marginalisées, et opèrent dans un marché strictement réglementé. Ces données ont été collecté principalement à partir d'approches qualitatives. comprenant des interviews, et des documents d'archives. Après un chapitre introductif présentant les motivations et spécificités de ce travail, cette thèse est composée de trois articles. Le premier article explique comment les entreprises sociales répondent à la fois à une mission sociale et une mission de profit, en fournissant des services TIC aux populations marginalisées. Cet article explique comment les entreprises sociales utilisent différentes formes de bricolage pour faire face aux défis liés aux ressources disponibles et aux contraintes réglementaires. Le deuxième article examine l'importance des composants d'un modèle d'affaire dans la fourniture de TIC. Cet article suggère que, en plus de la proposition, l'architecture et la finance, le réseau "innofusion" et la valeur de co-création sont deux éléments supplémentaires essentiels à un modèle d'affaire pertinent pour les communautés marginalisées. Le troisième article propose une théorisation du rôle de l'innovation inclusive (une forme d'innovation émergente pour les marchés à faible revenu) pour permettre le développement des communautés marginalisées. Cette approche propose de tenir compte (1) du rôle des institutions financières dans les zones rurales et (2) de la prolifération rapide des TIC pour faciliter l'innovation inclusive, en prenant pour exemple les femmes en milieu rural. Enfin, cette thèse offre plusieurs contributions théoriques et pratiques. Tout d'abord, en mobilisant le concept de bricolage, cette recherche fournit des indications utiles à la compréhension des TIC pour les populations marginalisées, en particulier dans un contexte de ressources limitées et d'environnement restrictif. Le deuxième article propose également une contributions théorique majeure puisqu'il souligne l'importance des composants d'un modèles d'affaire en proposant l'addition de deux nouveaux composants pour l'introduction des TIC au sein des populations marginalisées à savoir le réséau innofusion, et la co-création de valeur. Et le troisième article fournit une analyse précise et détaillée de l'innovation inclusive pour les populations marginalisées. Enfin, cette thèse suggère aux professionnels comment structurer leurs opérations et leurs modèles de revenus pour des populations à faible revenu. De manière générale, cette thèse ouvre la voie pour l'étude des populations marginalisées, en terme de recherche en système d'information, qui a reçu jusqu'alors une attention trop limitée / This dissertation investigates how organizations (specifically social enterprises) create and implement information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D) projects for the people at the bottom of the pyramid (BoP) and how such initiatives achieve scale. Building upon the case of mobile money in India, it explains how organizations develop ICT4D projects for the BoP, and explores the issues of business models, inclusivity and scaling in such projects. It is based on data collected from two organizations, one with operations mainly in rural areas and the other one in an urban setting. These organizations which primarily target marginalized communities, operate in a strictly regulated market, and face initial resource challenges. The data is collected from multiple sources, including interviews and archival material such as organizational records, annual reports, formal project reports, etc. Following the introductory chapter, the dissertation comprises three related papers. The first explains how social enterprises that have both a social and a profit mission, provide ICT-enabled services to the people at the BoP and achieve scale. It discusses how ICT social enterprises employ different forms of bricolage to cope with resource challenges and regulatory constraints and scale up. The second paper examines the role of business models in providing ICTs to the BoP and discusses the key components of such business models. It proposes that in addition to the previously discussed value proposition, value architecture and value finance components, innofusion network and value co-creation are also crucial components of such business models due to the specific characteristics of the BoP communities. The final paper of this dissertation theorizes the role of inclusive innovation (an emerging form of innovation in low income markets) in enabling development for marginalized communities. Taking into account 1) the role of micro financial institutions in rural areas and 2) the rapid proliferation of mobile technologies, it studies the ways in which micro financial institutions leverage mobile technologies to facilitate inclusive innovation in marginalised communities, specifically those for women. The dissertation offers contributions to theory and practice. First, by investigating bricolage, it provides useful insights into understanding aspects of scaling for ICT social enterprises, particularly in resource constrained and restrictive environments. Second, it discusses the particular importance of business models for the BoP. Given the specificities of BoP communities, I propose five key dimensions of business models that are appropriate for delivering ICTs. Extending this, the third paper also proposes contributions to the emerging field of inclusive innovation and provides a novel way to understand innovation in marginalised communities. The dissertation also provides practitioners (that deal with BoP communities) useful insights into the ways in which they might structure their operations and revenue models and deal with the partners they could engage with to expand and scale. Finally, this dissertation argues for more focus on marginalised communities such as women in rural areas that have received limited attention in IS research

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate how the socio-cultural forces, authenticity and transparency, have become integral parts of newly established fashion companies’ business model in Sweden. Previous researches have focused on how to redesign conventional fashion companies´ business models. From an academic approach, the problem discussion emphasize on lacking research in how newly established fashion companies have made authenticity and transparency integral parts in their business model. The purpose has been answered by asking the following questions; How have authenticity and transparency influenced the innovators of newly established fashion companies in Sweden? Which parts of the business model have been altered in order to demonstrate the company´s authenticity and transparency? Method: This study is based on qualitative research method with an abductive approach. The empirical data collection has been performed through seven interviews, five emails and two face-to-face deep interviews. The theoretical framework and literature review have primary been based on previous researches in the research area. Conclusions: This study shows that newly established fashion companies in Sweden have made authenticity and transparency integral parts in their business model. This is strongly influenced by the companies’ founder, their characteristics and ability to understand and translate socio- cultural forces and integrate them into their business model. The design of the clothes and fabric selection, production techniques and supply chain, marketing strategies and communication tools in the business model have been altered in order to demonstrate the company´s authenticity and transparency. These changes have been implemented in order to meet consumers’ newfound desire for authenticity and transparency. Cues of craftsmanship, traceability in the production techniques and supply chain, creating storytelling in the marketing strategies have been added in order to enhance the consumers’ experience of the company´s authentic and transparent attributes / Program: Textilt management, fashion management

This dissertation is structured around three original studies that offer unique insights into the challenges of change in business-to-business markets. All three studies share as an important starting point that firms rely on other firms to achieve strategic flexibility in volatile business environments. This means that firms source critical resources from business relationships in order to reduce long-term investments in times of change. From this perspective, firms' competitive advantages cross the boundaries of the firm and are embedded in their business partner networks. Thus, firms' business relationships and networks have become an important locus of organizational change in order to respond to turbulence in firms' business environments. Study one of this dissertation recognizes the importance of supplier relationships as a mechanism to react to changing business environments. The article focuses on the dynamic capabilities that enable firms to structurally reconfigure their supplier portfolios or supply networks in order to access necessary resources. The framework of relationship management capabilities introduced, is structured around three important sub-dimensions: relationship initiation, development, and ending capabilities, which collectively enable a firm to manage the reconfiguration of resource portfolios accessed via supplier relationships. The key implication for management relates to thinking beyond firms' established supply chains in times of change. While to a certain degree change can be absorbed within firms' existing supply chains, there might be a need to be 'agile', i.e. search for other suppliers who are better suited to more efficiently and effectively address such changes affecting firm competitiveness in the long run. While study one highlights the importance of firms' agility in adapting their supply chains in response to changes in their business environment, study two of this dissertation, although with a focus on the demand side of the business model, addresses the managerial challenges associated with such an agile adaptation process. Study two conceptualizes a framework for business model change and provides managers guidance to approach business model redesign. In particular, study two focuses on service business models and introduces the concepts of service infusion and defusion as important processes of business model redesign. The service infusion and defusion framework provides a pragmatic and systematic approach to understanding the nature of the business model change that companies have to manage, as well as linking these changes with knowledge creation and transfer processes. These are shown to be key for successfully managing such a business model redesign. While studies one and two assume strategy and its implementation to be key to a successful response to changes in firms' business environment, study three draws attention to the difficulties of arriving at such an appropriate or fitting response strategy in the first place, given the available information. In particular, this study examines the link between sensing changes in firms' business environments and managerial decision making in the form of strategy choice. Thereby, the study shows that strategy change causes disruptions, which eventually affect firm performance. This effect is compounded with increasing sensitivity to change as well as increasing number of factors that trigger change, and thus impairs the long term benefits of such strategy change. Thus, the effectiveness of strategy or business model changes and their implementation is inevitably contingent on distinguishing key signals from noise that disturb or misguide firms' strategic decisions.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the next phase in the evolution of the internet, where everyday objects are connected to the internet, and obtain the capacity to communicate with other devices and sense their environment. Especially the IIoT is one of the most talked about industrial business concepts since the recent years, companies try to focus on business models and operational efficiency. That is why this thesis focuses on researching the industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). There is already a lot of information about the common Internet of Things but still a gap in research in the business perspective, especially surrounding the concept of business models for the IIoT. The goal of this project is to investigate different kinds of business models, how they work and how feasible they are. The need to research possible business models for an IIoT framework, as traditional business models are relevant for this study, such as the Business Model Canvas which has been proposed by Alexander Osterwalder or the Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann. But there is still a lack of literature covering the business models for the IIoT. Therefore, after researching the concept of IIoT from a business perspective, I identified some useful criteria and suitable business models. With a qualitative literature study, I was able to develop an IIoT business model framework, based on the dynamics and complexity of the IIoT concept, which incorporates business strategies and provides companies with a flexible approach. The business model framework can be used in any business which is working in the industrial context. To demonstrate how the business model framework works for the IIoT, I clarified how suitable business models can improve the current business model of the very prominent and successful company Tesla. The results show how the framework of IIoT business models can be used to increase profit and work efficiently as a company. The models can also be formed to only highlight single components of an already existing business model, as it offers great flexibility, which is highly valuable in the fast evolving and innovative IIoT phenomenon.