Tailoring business model innovation towards grand challenges: Employment of a transition management approach for the social enterprise “re-use centers”

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on the interface between a society in transition and the role, practices and culture of businesses herein, a topic that has scarcely been researched so far. Grand challenges such as energy scarcity and resource depletion will have substantial impacts on the functioning of contemporary business models. Companies, however, still largely focus on efficiency strategies leading to sub-optimal solutions rather than radically changing their business model.

Design/methodology/approach

It describes a project that has been run for a social enterprise in which a transition management approach was used to discover their new future role and explore new business concepts that function within the boundaries of significantly different material management principles.

Findings

The authors discuss how this case study can contribute to the limited developed empirical research on how businesses can be more proactive in changing the way societal systems operate, and whether the approach can be relevant for transfer to the wider business community.

Practical implications

It offers a practical approach for businesses to innovate their business model while taking into regard sustainability issues.

Originality/value

The paper combines the transition management framework with business model innovation.

Citation

Gorissen, L., Manshoven, S. and Vrancken, K. (2014), "Tailoring business model innovation towards grand challenges: Employment of a transition management approach for the social enterprise “re-use centers”", Journal of Global Responsibility, Vol. 5 No. 2, pp. 289-311. https://doi.org/10.1108/JGR-03-2014-0012