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Business Models for Sustainability From a System Dynamics Perspective
Abstract
To achieve sustainability, a firm has to transform its entire business logic. A business model for sustainability (BMfS) aims at creating value for various stakeholders and the natural environment. This article advances the current understanding of the basic functioning of BMfS by applying a systems perspective. Our BMfS understanding incorporates the natural environment as an essential element, but does not deal with sustainability from a broad perspective. The core logic of a BMfS is built upon the creation of a reinforcing feedback loop between the created value to the customers, the value captured by the firm, and the value to the natural environment. Consequently, we develop a graphical model based on system dynamics notation. First, we conceptualize the basic feedback loops. Then, we propose partial models for the firm, natural environment, entrepreneur/manager, and customer, and then integrate these partial models within a systemic, multilevel model. Finally, we generate propositions that combine insights from the model and extant literature.
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“Additionally, transport-related studies have employed ML and DSS with ANN, DT, NC, FL, SVM, LR, and time series models (e.g., Ref. [173,174]).”
From Smarter eco-cities and their leading-edge artificial intelligence of things solutions for environmental sustainability: A comprehensive systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as [173]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Abdelkafi, N., & Täuscher, K.
- Affiliations
- Fraunhofer Center for International Management and Knowledge Economy (DE)
- Business Model Engineering and Innovation, Fraunhofer MOEZ, Leipzig, Germany
- Corresponding author
- Abdelkafi, Nizar
- ORCID
- Abdelkafi, Nizar
- Venue
- Organization & Environment
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2015-07-02
- Volume
- 29
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 74-96
- ISSN
- 1086-0266 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-7417
- OpenAlex
- W2281331439
- Cited by
- 443
- References
- 84
- Citations by year
- 2026: 28 · 2025: 42 · 2024: 41 · 2023: 50 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 54 · 2020: 61 · 2019: 57 · 2018: 38 · 2017: 30 · 2016: 6
- FWCI
- 68.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Organization & Environment (publishedVersion)
- Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (publishedVersion)
- Fraunhofer-Publica (Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft) (submittedVersion)
- 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
- business model transformation, reinforcing feedback loops, value creation, stakeholder value, natural environment, system dynamics modeling, multilevel modeling, firm-environment interaction
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