Business Model as a Base for Building Firms’ Competitiveness

Tihana Koprivnjak and Sunčica Oberman Peterka
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Tihana Koprivnjak: Faculty of Economics in Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Sunčica Oberman Peterka: Faculty of Economics in Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 21, 1-18

Abstract: Designing and creating a business model is crucial for a successful firm’s operation in today’s market in a complex and changing environment. A business model is the factor that differentiates one firm from another—it defines the distinctions of the firm, how the firm deals with the competition, the firms’ partnerships, and customer relations. This paper explores the role of the business model in the creation of sustainable competitive advantage. The empirical part of the paper presents the business model of three small companies from the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry in Croatia using the Business Model Canvas. Additionally, business model components were also analyzed using a framework for evaluating a business model. The results of the analysis point to a few crucial components of the business model, on which small ICT firms in Croatia build their competitive advantage by creating significant distinctions of those components. These distinctions are essential for their longevity and sustainability.

Keywords: business model; competitive advantage; ICT industry; SMEs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:21:p:9278-:d:441862

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