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Cited by 27Sustainable Supply Chain ManagementEnvironmental Sustainability in BusinessSustainability and Innovation in Business

Does the combination of sustainable business model patterns lead to truly sustainable business models? Critical analysis of existing frameworks and extensions

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Abdelkafi, Nizar, Xu, Jinou, Pero, Margherita, Ciccullo, Federica, Masi, Antonio·2023·Journal of Business Economics
DOI 10.1007/s11573-023-01140-0
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Abstract

Business models can be created by combining business model patterns. The use of patterns can stimulate creativity of entrepreneurs and support the design of innovative business models for sustainability. In this article, we analyze the frameworks on sustainable business model (SBM) patterns, which can be mainly classified along the three dimensions of the triple bottom line (TBL): economic, environmental, and social. Furthermore, we introduce the concept of “truly sustainable business models” by drawing on contingency and system theory. We observe that the simple application of the frameworks of business model patterns by combining economic, environmental, and social business model patterns for sustainability into one single business model does not necessarily lead to a truly sustainable business model. Therefore, the combination of patterns along the TBL seems a necessary, but not sufficient condition for achieving true sustainability, and hence, the mere reliance on SBM patterns in business model design can be misleading to entrepreneurs. Our conceptual work advances research related to frameworks on SBM patterns by identifying three critical levels for the analysis of whether a business model is truly sustainable or not. The first level is inherent to the business model as a system; the second is related to the larger system, in which the business model is embedded; and the third is about the contingency factors that can impact the sustainability effectiveness of the business model over time.

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Abdelkafi, N., Xu, J., Pero, M., Ciccullo, F., & Masi, A.
Affiliations
Politecnico di Milano (IT)
Corresponding author
Abdelkafi, Nizar
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Business Economics
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2023-02-20
Volume
93
Issue
4
Pages
597-634
ISSN
  • 0044-2372 (ISSN-L)
  • 1861-8928
DOI
10.1007/s11573-023-01140-0
OpenAlex
W4321617759
Cited by
27
References
6
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 2
FWCI
5.82
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Business Economics (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Aston Publications Explorer (Aston University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • Virtual Community of Pathological Anatomy (University of Castilla La Mancha) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Politecnico di Milano
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Sustainable Supply Chain Management
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Marketing › Environmental Sustainability in Business
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Management of Technology and Innovation › Sustainability and Innovation in Business
Keywords
sustainable business models, business model patterns, pattern combination, triple bottom line, business model design, contingency theory, systems theory, entrepreneurial creativity, business model framework

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