Abstract
Purpose Business model innovation is a key element for firms' competitiveness. Its development can be supported by the establishment of an actor-oriented scheme to overcome hierarchical structures. The actor-oriented scheme is characterized by intra-organizational networks of relationships that can be established and dissolved between individuals. However, we lack an empirical perspective about its establishment; therefore, the purpose of this research is to advance our understanding of intra-organizational networks for supporting business model innovation. Design/methodology/approach Individuals create and manage knowledge aimed to innovate the business model through cognitive search and experiential learning mechanisms. Knowledge is spread within organizations by using intra-organizational advice networks, whose patterns reflect the presence of an actor-oriented scheme. This work applies social network analysis to network data from a multi-unit organization specializing in personal care services. We use a Logistic Regression-Quadratic Assignment Procedure to analyze intra-organizational network data on managers' advice exchange related to the learning modes of cognitive search and experiential learning. Findings Our research empirically identifies the main elements of an actor-oriented scheme in a business model innovation process. We find that managers are able to self-organize, because they are not influenced by their organizational roles, and that commons for sharing resources and protocols, processes and infrastructures enable advice exchange, thus showing the presence of an actor-oriented scheme in business model innovation process. Research limitations/implications This research is based on a cross-sectional database. A longitudinal study would provide a better understanding of the network evolution characterizing the innovation process. Practical implications The results of our study support organizational decision-making for business model innovation. Originality/value This study provides empirical evidence of how an actor-oriented scheme emerges in a business model innovation process.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Journal | European Journal of Innovation Management |
Volume | 24 |
Issue number | 4 |
Pages (from-to) | 1057-1081 |
Number of pages | 25 |
ISSN | 1460-1060 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 13 Jul 2021 |
MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Fields of Science
- 519 Social and economic geography
- Business model innovation
- Social network analysis
- Actor-oriented scheme
- Organizational learning
- ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE
- NETWORK PERSPECTIVE
- PERFORMANCE
- DYNAMICS
- ARCHITECTURE
- ATTITUDES
- IMPACT
- FUTURE
- VALUES
- MARKET