A Networked Analysis and Engineering Framework for New Business Models

Abstract

New technological possibilities and paradigm shifts from product-centered to service-centered offerings are one of the main drivers of business models. Business ventures today are more and more networked. Often, various partners are needed to deliver a service or product to frequently cross-linked customers with sometimes bi- or even multi-variant roles. Furthermore, business models are embedded in socio-technical systems where different kinds of needs and values of all actors, including social, ecological, technical and economic values, have to be balanced. The resulting complex network of actors, needs and values requires continuous management in order to create and operate viable and sustainable business models. This paper proposes a multi-layer framework to analyze existing business models as well as to shape new business ventures in a networked and values-based way and to support the identification of tacit network effects within business ecosystems. Based on an existing multi-layered analysis toolkit, focusing on legal and business dynamics aspects, an enhanced visualization and analysis tool is proposed that focuses especially on ethical, social and environmental aspects to foster the creation of (strongly) sustainable business models. The research process to create the presented approach followed the Design Science Research paradigm by applying argumentative-deductive analysis (ADA) and first applications in real-world case studies. A practical case from an international Open Source Software (OSS) project serves as an example to illustrate this values-based visualization and analysis layer and its benefits for managers and decision makers in the area of business model and information system management.

Sustaining Enterprise Operations and Productivity during the COVID-19 Pandemic: “Enterprise Effectiveness and Sustainability Model”

“…The COVID-19 pandemic caused a massive system change, uniting customers, businesses, associations, and government in a complex interactive set of relationships, a new ecosystem, wherein it becomes evident that no single actor can control the aftermath of the pandemic [157]. With this in mind, networked governance operates collaboratively to develop structures to support yet more cooperative mindsets [153,158]. Amid the pandemic, new networked business models are embedded in sociotechnical systems where environmental, communal, technical, and economic values ought to be balanced [158].…”

“…With this in mind, networked governance operates collaboratively to develop structures to support yet more cooperative mindsets [153,158]. Amid the pandemic, new networked business models are embedded in sociotechnical systems where environmental, communal, technical, and economic values ought to be balanced [158]. As an example, Chinese universities have united their capacities in order to jointly combat the challenges posed by the new pandemic.…”

Novel Mixed Reality Use Cases for Pilot Training

“…The ecosystem modelling highlighted individual goals and needs that in accordance with [6,47] should be addressed for creating a sustainable business network where various economic entities collaborate in the complex flight training environment. ATOs strive to provide optimal training and meet economic goals, they need to optimize their processes and thrive for innovation.…”

“…Innovating in complex business environments such as the flight training business, in which various economic entities collaborate, requires detailed analysis of individual goals and needs in order to create a sustainable business network [6,47]. In addition to identifying the highly relevant use cases described above, we also considered the prospective business ecosystem of these use cases in a pre-conceptual ecosystem case study.…”

“…The focus was on the value exchange and resource layer of the ecosystem analysis framework [47], which provides information on the actors involved and the values they exchange. Actors are illustrated as tripartite circles, the exchange values are shown as directed arcs between the actors.…”