The contribution of collective business models in unabling a transition towards sustainability
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2020-08-27
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en
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In order to realize EU’s 2050 vision of ‘living well within the limits of our planet’, radical changes within business models are needed, particularly in those areas that have the most contribution to environmental pressures and impacts along their entire value chain (Reichel, De Schoenmakere, Gillabel, Martin, & Hoogeveen, 2016). However, only temporary and limited solutions for sustainable development were offered by technological developments due to negative external influences, rebound effects or other unintended consequences (Farla, Markard, Raven, & Coenen, 2012). Therefore, it has been proposed to start initiate so-called transitions towards sustainability in order to restructure consumption and production systems of communities (Farla et al., 2012). Collective business models could be a way to restructure consumption and production systems within communities and therefore contribute in enabling a transition towards sustainability (Korhonen & Seager, 2008). Therefore, the aim of this research is to reveal the contribution of collective business models in enabling a transition towards sustainability by investigating relevant cases aimed at making a transition towards sustainability with the use of collective business models. In order to achieve this, the following research question has been formulated: To what extent do collective business models contribute in enabling a transition towards sustainability? In order to be able to answer the research question, this qualitative and explorative research makes use of a theory-driven, deductive research approach, in which a multiple case study was carried out, using one case as a revealing case that serves as a benchmark for two other cases. The results show that on the one hand collective business models follow certain pathways in order to be able to fully express themselves and on the other hand that certain individual developments, which can be seen as pathways, together contribute in enabling a transition and ultimately take a step towards sustainability. The most important factors that play a role in these aforementioned relationships are consensus between the government and society, participation of the population, technology is followed by participation, legislation and multiple value creation. However, the contribution of collective business models is only partially, because the analysis shows that two other factors also play a crucial role in enabling a transition towards sustainability, namely the non-linear and iterative process, which is important to keep looking forward and to make the process as effective and efficient as possible and the financial support of the government, which ensures that the developments within the transition towards sustainability are made attractive and financially feasible for the interested stakeholders
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen