| Title | Managing tensions in sustainable business models: Exploring instrumental and integrative strategies |
|---|---|
| ID_Doc | 34060 |
| Authors | van Bommel, K |
| Title | Managing tensions in sustainable business models: Exploring instrumental and integrative strategies |
| Year | 2018 |
| Published | |
| Abstract | This study empirically examines tensions around business model innovations for sustainability and the strategies that organizations employ to manage these tensions. A central conjecture of the study is that in order to successfully manage sustainable business models, firms need to confront sustainability's oftentimes paradoxical tensions. The research examined 30 firms that had sought to make business model innovations for sustainability; the results suggest that one group of organizations was shy of embracing these tensions and relied primarily on an instrumental or narrow 'business case' approach, viewing sustainability as an "either/or" scenario. However, another group of firms was aiming to work through these tensions by utilizing more paradoxical or integrative strategies, thus aiming for a "both/and" scenario. This group found it easier to manage their sustainable business models. The results highlight how applying the lens of paradox can help organizations to make sense of the complexity of sustainability; paradoxical thinking can help to reduce tensions, ambiguity and uncertainty and improve the management of complex sustainability challenges. In addition to their practical relevance, the findings have implications for both the literature on sustainable business models and the emerging paradox perspective on corporate sustainability. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
Similar Articles
| ID | Score | Article |
|---|---|---|
34795
|
Broccardo, L; Vola, P; Zicari, A; Alshibani, SM Contingency-based analysis of the drivers and obstacles to a successful sustainable business model: Seeking the uncaptured value(2023) | |
| 68286
|
Hahn, T; Pinkse, J; Preuss, L; Figge, F Tensions in Corporate Sustainability: Towards an Integrative Framework(2015)Journal Of Business Ethics, 127, 2 | |
| 33830
|
Mignon, I; Bankel, A Sustainable business models and innovation strategies to realize them: A review of 87 empirical cases(2023)Business Strategy And The Environment, 32, 4 | |
| 77943
|
Stubbs, W; Cocklin, C Conceptualizing a "sustainability business model"(2008)Organization & Environment, 21, 2 | |
| 78257
|
Rauter, R; Jonker, J; Baumgartner, RJ Going one's own way: drivers in developing business models for sustainability(2017) | |
| 77952
|
Morioka, SN; Bolis, I; Evans, S; Carvalho, MM Transforming sustainability challenges into competitive advantage: Multiple case studies kaleidoscope converging into sustainable business models(2017) | |
| 34122
|
Bjartmarz, TK; Bocken, NMP Sustainable business models and organizational boundaries-A literature review(2024) | |
| 33930
|
Evans, S; Vladimirova, D; Holgado, M; Van Fossen, K; Yang, MY; Silva, EA; Barlow, CY Business Model Innovation for Sustainability: Towards a Unified Perspective for Creation of Sustainable Business Models(2017)Business Strategy And The Environment, 26, 5 | |
| 34632
|
Dhanda, U; Shrotryia, VK Corporate sustainability: the new organizational reality(2021)Qualitative Research In Organizations And Management, 16, 3-4 | |
| 33951
|
Geissdoerfer, M; Vladimirova, D; Evans, S Sustainable business model innovation: A review(2018) |