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Innovate or die: the need for business model transformations : a case study on business model innovations through professional service platforms

Hengstenberg, Yann Paul (2017) Innovate or die: the need for business model transformations : a case study on business model innovations through professional service platforms.

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Abstract:Over the last decade, the concept of business model innovations was increasingly recognised by both scholars and practitioners as an effective measure to enhance corporate future readiness. This thesis aims to enhance existing knowledge in this field by analysing the influence of digital service platforms on business model innovations of small and medium-sized enterprises. A cross-sectional multi-case research design is employed to address the exploratory research question. Using data/interviews on fifteen companies that are all headquartered in Germany, the transformative impact of digital service platforms is measured. The respective findings suggest that process and organisational innovativeness are decisive in business model transformations among small and medium-sized enterprises. The perceived main advantages of digital service platforms for SMEs are positive network-effects, the joint development of products and services, access to external knowledge and resources, lowered transaction costs, and newly available distribution channels. Key success factors of digital service platforms are low entry barriers, open interfaces to external platforms, a large and heterogeneous user group, and the accumulation of data.  The results suggest that joining digital service platforms affects the business model transformation of small and medium sized enterprises positively. Furthermore, it is found that these digital solutions also sustain the future competitiveness of professional service providers.
Item Type:Essay (Master)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:83 economics, 85 business administration, organizational science
Programme:Business Administration MSc (60644)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/72961
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