دانلود رایگان مقاله انتقال پایداری از طریق نوآوری مدل کسب و کار: به سمت درک سیستم

abstract

This paper examines the role of innovative business models in the transformation of socio-technical systems. Focusing on decentralised energy technologies, we explore business model innovation in the context of a transition towards a more sustainable energy system. We conduct an empirical study of two Energy Services Company (ESCo) models for the deployment of combined heat and power with district heating (CHP/DH) infrastructure in the UK. Based on these case studies we illustrate the different ways in which LocalAuthorities develop business models to create and capture value from more efficient resource use and to deploy sustainable technologies. Drawing from systems theories in the business model and socio-technical literatures, we analyse the interfaces between business models, energy infrastructure and institutions.We propose that a systems based approach to the analysis of business models as embedded in their socio-technical contexts can offer new insights into the dynamics and governance of sustainability transitions.

7. Conclusion

This paper set out to investigate the relationships between business model innovation and socio-technical transitions to sustainability. The paper’s objective was to illustrate how different “systems thinking” approaches can offer alternative perspectives on the dynamic between innovative business models and sociotechnical system change. Drawn from the business model and socio-technical literatures, three systems approaches (activity systems, large technical systems (LTS) and the multi-level perspective (MLP)) were applied to the empirical case study of Energy Services Company (ESCo) and combined heat and power with district heating infrastructure (CHP/DH) deployment in the UK to demonstrate how these perspectives illuminate different aspects of the relationship between business models and socio-technical change. ESCo business model’s returns are based on energy efficiency gains rather than unit sales and delivered via decentralised technologies such as CHP/DH; an approach that stands in stark contrast to the incumbent energy utility model of centralised energy supply. Through an in-depth analysis and comparison of two specific ESCo cases we identified areas where these systems approaches provide distinct insights.