IMITATION PROCESSES AND THEIR APPLICATION FOR BUSINESS MODEL INNOVATION: AN EXPLORATIVE STUDY

Ellen Enkel () and Florian Mezger ()
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Ellen Enkel: Dr. Manfred Bischoff Institute for Innovation Management of EADS, Zeppelin University, Friedrichshafen, Am Seemoser Horn 20, 88045 Friedrichshafen, Germany
Florian Mezger: Dr. Manfred Bischoff Institute for Innovation Management of EADS, Zeppelin University, Friedrichshafen, Am Seemoser Horn 20, 88045 Friedrichshafen, Germany

International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), 2013, vol. 17, issue 01, 1-34

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the approach of imitation (across industry boundaries) on business models. We analyzed nine case studies of firms that introduced breakthrough business models by transferring and adapting characteristic business model components of other industries. Our results show that companies can facilitate cross-industry innovation on business model level through a process of abstraction, analogy identification and adaptation. Imitation is realized by deconstructing and mapping business model components based on their contribution to abstract, generic elements of the value proposition. We propose a systematic process model for business model innovation analyzing structural similarities between industries on the level of these abstract elements linked to specific other components of the business model. Firms can leverage this process by transformative learning processes, especially provided through a broad industrial and functional experience of members in business model innovation teams.

Keywords: Business model innovation; cross-industry innovation; analogical thinking; imitation; function thinking; absorptive capacity; transformative learning; exploitative learning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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DOI: 10.1142/S1363919613400057

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