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Scientific Article details

Title The value chain dilemma of navigating sustainability transitions: A case study of an upstream incumbent company
ID_Doc 19531
Authors Chizaryfard, A; Karakaya, E
Title The value chain dilemma of navigating sustainability transitions: A case study of an upstream incumbent company
Year 2022
Published
DOI 10.1016/j.eist.2022.10.002
Abstract An increasing body of literature on sustainability transitions addresses the business strategies of incumbents but overlooks upstream companies. By addressing this gap, we aim to explore how upstream incumbents navigate sustainability transitions. Theoretically, we introduce an industry value chain perspective, integrating the concepts of center of gravity, patterns of strategic change and organizational adaptation. Empirically, we conduct an in-depth case study of how an up-stream incumbent firm navigates the established value chain for lead-acid batteries and the emerging value chain for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles. The company faces a dilemma as to whether and how to maintain a vertically integrated position in the established value chain, and how and when to expand into the emerging value chain. We argue and demonstrate that for upstream companies, navigating sustainability transitions is highly depen-dent on the anticipation of and adaptation to the complex changes in industry value chains.
Author Keywords Transition; Incumbent strategies; Industry value chain; Organizational adaptation; Center of gravity; Upstream
Index Keywords Index Keywords
Document Type Other
Open Access Open Access
Source Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED); Social Science Citation Index (SSCI)
EID WOS:000888052400001
WoS Category Environmental Sciences; Environmental Studies
Research Area Environmental Sciences & Ecology
PDF https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2022.10.002
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