Addressing the design-implementation gap of sustainable business models by prototyping: A tool for planning and executing small-scale pilots

Baldassarre, Brian; Konietzko, Jan; Brown, Phil; Calabretta, Giulia; Bocken, Nancy; Karpen, Ingo Oswald; Hultink, Erik Jan

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120295

Cited by 119 publications

(109 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Much of the sustainable business model literature focuses on the practices of the business ( Baldassarre et al., 2020 ; Weissbrod and Bocken, 2017 ), and seemingly not on the practices of the users. We suggest that, in order to overcome the design-implementation gap ( Baldassarre et al., 2020 ; Geissdoerfer et al., 2018 ) and bring about improved sustainability performance, there is a greater need to focus on the practices among users as part of sustainable business model innovation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While research has focused on design of sustainable business models to some extent ( Breuer et al., 2018 ), there are few examples of successful implementation of sustainable business models ( Ritala et al., 2018 ). Literature identifies a design-implementation gap ( Baldassarre et al., 2020 ; Geissdoerfer et al., 2018 ), which must be bridged in order to realise any sustainability impact.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sharing economy business models for sustainability

Curtis

Mont

2020

Journal of Cleaner Production

184

121

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Background The predominant focus of academic research on the sharing economy has been on Airbnb and Uber; to this extent, the diversity of business models ascribed to the sharing economy has not yet been sufficiently explored. Greater conceptual and empirical research is needed to increase understanding of business models in the sharing economy, particularly attributes that deliver on its purported sustainability potential. Objective We aimed to elaborate an improved sharing economy business modelling tool intended to support the design and implementation of sharing economy business models (SEBMs) with improved sustainability performance. Methods We used a structured approach to business modelling, morphological analysis, to articulate relevant business model attributes. Our analysis was informed by a narrative literature review of business and platform models in the sharing economy. We also iteratively tested, refined, and evaluated our analysis through three structured opportunities for feedback. Results The output of the morphological analysis was a sharing economy business modelling tool for sustainability, with stipulated preconditions and descriptions of all business model attributes. Conclusion The sharing economy is not sustainable by default, so we must be strategic and deliberate in how we design and implement SEBMs. The sharing economy business modelling tool should be of interest not only to researchers and practitioners, but also to advocacy organisations and policymakers who are concerned about the sustainability performance of sharing platforms.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sharing economy business models for sustainability

Curtis

Mont

2020

Journal of Cleaner Production

184

121

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…With respect to closing the theory–practice gap, researchers have focused on design thinking [ 44 ] and experimentation [ 45 , 46 ]. This type of research has generated practical tools that have been tested on businesses as well as direct interventions in the business context that have the potential to accelerate the circular economy transition in practice.…”

Section: Pathway (2): Beyond Today’s Business Logic For a Global Circmentioning

confidence: 99%

From Sustainable Global Value Chains to Circular Economy—Different Silos, Different Perspectives, but Many Opportunities to Build Bridges

et al. 2021

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A growing interest in the circular economy concept has pushed the discourse in various management-related disciplines beyond established boundaries, with calls to better address how such a model may be developed in a world of global value chains. Still, the conventional linear economy model continues to dominate business, society, and research. While the concept of better connecting physical output and input flows at multiple production or consumption levels is becoming more accepted, it remains unclear how to make this happen while ensuring that sustainability targets are met or exceeded. Multiple scientific communities contribute different perspectives to this discourse, with promising opportunities for research. Circular economy and sustainability from business and economics perspectives are multifaceted. The existing body of knowledge needs to be advanced to assist private individuals, business managers, investors, or policymakers in making informed decisions. In this article for the inaugural issue, we provide a snapshot of the discourses among those who have studied the circular economy and its related topics. We outline conceptual inroads and potential research questions to encourage further circular economy and sustainability research and discourse from business or economics perspectives as well as from the broader transdisciplinary angle. We propose three research pathways: (1) connecting output with input needs in a global circular economy; (2) beyond today’s business logic for a global circular economy; and (3) inclusion of the Global South in North-dominated circular economies. For each, we propose concepts, theories, or methodological approaches and offer various perspectives from the micro, macro, and meso levels.

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“…Consequently, as a first point, we suggest that, besides proposing new design tools, methods, and frameworks, design researchers should also carefully assess possibilities and limitations of existing ones. Such assessment should also take into account how existing tools, methods, and frameworks can be applied in different contexts that face similar problems [124,125]. Second, and linked to the first point, we encourage more case studies and interdisciplinary research on the proposed design practices that can foster circular economy projects and processes.…”

Section: Avenues For Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 98%

Circular Economy in Industrial Design Research: A Review

Dam¹,

Simeone

Keskin

et al. 2020

Sustainability

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In the past decades, industrial design practice and research have focused extensively on how to optimize production and consumption, as a way to prevent negative environmental impacts, such as resource depletion, pollution, and excessive waste. Recently, the “circular economy” concept is increasingly used to achieve environmental benefits and economic growth simultaneously. Industrial design can contribute to a circular economy by fostering systems changes to achieve durability, optimal reuse, refurbishment, remanufacturing, and recycling of products and materials. Indeed, researchers have examined both the theoretical and practical aspects of how design knowledge can support the transition to a circular economy. However, this body of knowledge has not been systematically analyzed yet. To address this critical gap, this paper poses the following question: How has industrial design research so far contributed to advancing the circular economy knowledge? Accordingly, we survey relevant design literature focusing on the circular economy, through a review of contributions published in 42 scientific journals. Based on our results, we discuss how industrial design practices can potentially contribute to a circular economy across four thematic areas: (1) design for circular production processes, (2) design for circular consumption, (3) design to support policy towards the circular economy, and (4) design education for the circular economy.

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Addressing the design-implementation gap of sustainable business models by prototyping: A tool for planning and executing small-scale pilots

Cited by 119 publications

References 61 publications

Sharing economy business models for sustainability

Sharing economy business models for sustainability

From Sustainable Global Value Chains to Circular Economy—Different Silos, Different Perspectives, but Many Opportunities to Build Bridges

Circular Economy in Industrial Design Research: A Review

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