Karolin Frankenberger

Conclusion: Opening up a New Debate on BMI

This chapter summarizes the core contributions of the book, namely the organization of the business model field from a theoretical perspective and the explorative analysis of 50 theories. This included a study of both their application and their potential use for business model research. In doing so, more light into the principles and patterns of the black box BMI is shed. However, instead of providing answers right away, new questions for the field are presented. The conclusion points out how a new wave of business model research can be triggered. For instance, it suggests directing attention of research to the organizational dimension of business model innovation and the cognitive view on business models.

Leading Business Model Research: The Seven Schools of Thought

This chapter examines how business model research has been addressed in the past by presenting the seven dominant schools of thought on business models. Each of their theoretical background particularly enables us to understand patterns, causal and logical relationships, as well as processes of business models. By analysing a case from the perspective of each school of thought, the schools are portrayed in a comprehensive manner. In addition, commonalities, overlaps, and differences such as their demarcation from strategy research are discussed. The chapter rounds off in building the bridge to the subsequent chapters of this book and highlighting the role of theories for explaining the phenomenon.

Exploring Upcoming Theories for BMI Research: Enlightening the Dark Side of the Moon

Creativity in research occurs by looking at the same phenomenon through new eyes, that is, different perspectives can be uncovered through novel theoretical lenses. Thirty additional theories with potential for future research in exploring multiple aspects of business models are presented in this chapter. These theories, however, lead a niche existence in management science compared to the ones introduced in Chap. 3. The sections are structured similar to Chap. 3 by introducing each of the 30 theories separately and then highlighting avenues for future research. This approach contributes to business model research in exploring how scholars can profit by drawing on a broader array of theories. Analysing business models in management science seems like a paradigm shift in which new perspectives are needed to explore the phenomenon. This chapter provides a comprehensive foundation for this end.

Exploring the Role of Popular Management Theories for BMI Research

A theory is nothing more than a new tool to provide explanation of an empirical phenomenon or conceptional statement. Many grand theories could contribute to business model research, and they can spice up business model research by helping to look at the phenomenon from new angles. Twenty renowned theories in management science with potential for future research in exploring the field of business models are presented in this chapter. It introduces each of the theories separately in a compact format. In addition, an analysis of the business model literature that has explicitly drawn on the respective theory is presented. Ultimately, avenues for future research are proposed. In doing so, this study is amongst the first analyses that reviews the literature on business models from a theoretical perspective and, as a result, derives principal gaps in the field.