Sam Solaimani

A framework for the alignment of business model and business processes: A generic model for trans‐sector innovation

Purpose – The creation of a service is enabled by a “strategic‐level” business model (BM), while the implementation or execution of the service is described by “operational‐level” business processes (BPs). In many innovation projects, especially trans‐sector projects, a lack of alignment between the strategic “what to do” and the operational “how to do it” is often a severe obstacle undermining BM viability and feasibility. The purpose of this paper is to propose a framework that identifies the generic horizontal and vertical inter‐organizational and intra‐organizational interaction components to bridge BM with underlying BPs, with the aim of improving the alignment between the two levels.Design/methodology/approach – This conceptual paper identifies a theoretical gap between strategic BM and operational BPs. Building on existing literature the authors synthesize various theoretical concepts to create a generic framework to analyze the theoretical gap.Findings – The proposed conceptual framework is useful...

What we do – and don’t – know about the Smart Home: an analysis of the Smart Home literature

Technological innovations, from ubiquitous computing, augmented reality, telecommunication to intelligent appliances and robotics, bring new possibilities to the Smart Home domain, which has led to an increase in the number of academic publications in this domain. To date, no comprehensive overview and clustering of the core concepts used in these publications have been produced. Based on an extensive review of existing literature on the Smart Home, this paper visualizes the state of the art in the Smart Home research in a systematic way and outlines future research challenges. To do so, a business model framework is applied that helps researchers place their work within a broader context and identify gaps in the existing body of knowledge in this area. In order to move from the exploration towards the exploitation of Smart Home concepts, it is essential to contribute to a coherent body of knowledge that not only is technology driven, as it is the case now, but also pay attention to the non-technological aspects, i.e. social-organizational, economical, organizational, law/legislation and entrepreneurial topics, from both a strategic and an operational perspective.

Networked enterprise business model alignment: A case study on smart living

One of the first steps in innovation projects and entrepreneurial initiative involves formulating a Business Model (BM) that describes the value creation, delivery and capturing logic of a business idea. However, when formulating a BM for networked enterprises, the alignment of the collective BM, supporting the joint service or product on offer, and the underlying operational processes of the networked businesses, need to be taken into account. This paper analyses the concept of Business Model Alignment (BMA) based on qualitative case studies of two Smart Living projects in Finland and China. To begin with, a Business Model framework (STOF) is applied to describe the high-level BM. Next, the Value, Information and Process (VIP) framework is applied to analyse BMA. The case studies show that an analytical framework, such as the VIP model, helps reveal the hurdles that may undermine BMA and, as a result, obstruct BM implementation. This paper contributes to existing BM literature by identifying the steps that are necessary to move from an abstract, often strategy-driven BM, of collaborating enterprises towards an aligned BM that can be implemented. This paper also contributes to theory formation by identifying the issues that play a role in achieving BMA.

The smart home landscape: a qualitative meta-analysis

Technological innovations, varying from ubiquitous computing, intelligent appliances, telecommunication, robotics, to wearable sensors, enable new Smart Home (SH) applications. More and more academic publications reporting on experiments on SH can be found. A comprehensive clustering of concepts and approaches is largely missing. Based on an extensive review of SH literature, this paper proposes a framework that decomposes the SH research into four domains and 15 sub-domains. The framework is applied to visualize the state of the art of SH research, and to outline future challenges. The framework helps researchers to identify gaps in SH research.

Business model metrics: an open repository

Development of successful business models has become a necessity in turbulent business environments, but compared to research on business modeling tools, attention to the role of metrics in designing business models in literature is limited. Building on existing approaches to business models and performance measurement literature, we develop a generic open repository of metrics related to core business model concepts. We validate and assess the practical value of the repository based on four e-Business model cases. The repository can be utilized in designing business models, specifically for networked enterprises. It is neither complete nor universally applicable, but needs adjustment with each design. Ultimately, with this paper, we hope measurement will become an integral part of the business model innovation discussion.

Critical design issues for the development of Smart Home technologies

Critical design issues (CDIs) are a prominent topic in the literature on Smart Home service design and engineering. Smart Home technologies (i.e., products and services) have to meet one or more of these CDIs in order to become or be perceived as being valuable for customers and providers. However, the CDIs mentioned in Smart Home literature are extremely heterogeneous in nature. Moreover, it is not evident why some CDIs are included and others are not. Based on multiple theoretical concepts from various disciplines including system engineering, human-computer interaction, strategic management, and innovation management, three perspectives are proposed, focusing on the customer, provider, and interface of a system or artefact. By using these perspectives, a large number of CDIs are identified and clustered. The CDIs in question help Smart Home designers, engineers and providers: 1) consider a vast range of CDIs that may be critical to the intended technology; and 2) encourage them to apply a multi-perspective approach to meet the needs of customers and providers as well as the technological requirements.

Business Model Implementation within Networked Enterprises: A Case Study on a Finnish Pharmaceutical Project

In many entrepreneurial projects, the concept of the business model (BM) is used to describe a business idea at a high-level and in a holistic way. However, existing literature pays less attention to implementation (or execution) of BM. Implementation becomes more complex when a BM is proposed by or requires a network of collaborating enterprises. The aim of this paper is to provide an approach based on empirical research that supports BM transition from design to implementation. The empirical data used in this paper is based on a case study involving an innovative project in the pharmaceutical sector in Finland. The case analysis demonstrates how a high-level BM needs careful consideration of its operational components from a network perspective to secure both value creation and capture. Drawing on the analysis, six concluding propositions on BM implementation in networked settings are put forward.

A Role-based Typology of Information Technology: Model Development and Assessment

Managers aim to explain how and why IT creates business value, recognize their IT-based capabilities, and select the appropriate IT to enhance and leverage those capabilities. This article synthesizes the Organizational Information Processing Theory and Resource-Based View into a descriptive typology of IT roles. On the basis of these roles, the core features and functions of IT resources can be analyzed and linked to business objectives. Implications and areas for future research are discussed.

Analyzing National Electronic Theses and Dissertations Programs from Business Model Perspective: Cross-Case Analysis

Implementing and maintaining Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) program at a national level encounters numerous difficulties in particular from technical, legal, business, and financial perspective. Business model (BM) is a tool to help to address business-driven challenges, such as business feasibility and viability, as one of the important aspects. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the BM practiced by different national Electronic Theses and Dissertations (NETDs) cases.,BM of seven NETDs programs have been studied through an online questionnaire; besides, programs’ websites were observed and related documents were examined. Business model canvas (BMC) was used to describe the business rationale behind the selected cases.,Most of the NETDs programs lack a documented BM. The main value of these programs is sharing ETDs which is offered to academics through online channels; skillful staff and proper hardware/software are their main resources to do so. Furthermore, their key activities are developing hardware/software and negotiating with ETDs owners as their key partners. All these activities required huge cost which is generally covered by public funding.,This study pioneers in applying BM concept into field of NETDs. Therefore, the major contribution of this study is to provide an analysis of NETDs programs’ BM through BMC. Furthermore, the paper provides recommendations on how ETDs could be implemented in a cost effective, sustainable, and viable way.