A Business Sustainability Model for Government Corporations. A Belgian Case Study

A government's decision to tackle societal non‐sustainability problems by setting up a government corporation also necessitates the choice of a business model. This article seeks to contribute to this debate through an analysis of the (linkages between the key elements of the) business model of the Kringloopfonds (TKF), a Belgian government corporation set up in order to provide finance to sustainable companies. Based on documentary information and semi‐structured interviews with stakeholders TKF's business model is reconstructed which next is evaluated by means of program theory. It was found that TKF's portfolio allocation rule did not foresee in sufficient flexibility in order to cope with the shortage in financeable companies TKF was confronted with. This case thereby advocates for more business model flexibility in terms of portfolio allocation rules, time and asset requirements as well as for thorough sensitivity analyses testing business model's resistance to an initial and temporary shortage of sustainable companies. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.     

Business Model Innovation for Sustainability: Towards a Unified Perspective for Creation of Sustainable Business Models

Business model innovation has seen a recent surge in academic research and business practice. Changes to business models are recognized as a fundamental approach to realize innovations for sustainability. However, little is known about the successful adoption of sustainable business models (SBMs). The purpose of this paper is to develop a unified theoretical perspective for understanding business model innovations that lead to better organizational economic, environmental and social performance. The paper examines bodies of literature on business model innovation, sustainability innovation, networks theory, stakeholder theory and product–service systems. We develop five propositions that support the creation of SBMs in a unified perspective, which lays a foundation to support organizations in investigating and experimenting with alternative new business models. This article contributes to the emerging field of SBMs, which embed economic, environmental and social flows of value that are created, delivered and captured in a value network. It highlights gaps for addressing the challenges of business model innovation for sustainability and suggests avenues for future research. © 2017 The Authors. Business Strategy and the Environment published by ERP Environment and John Wiley & Sons Ltd     

Recipes for Successful Sustainability: Empirical Organizational Configurations for Strong Corporate Environmental Performance

We examine 45 existing case studies of firms with strong corporate environmental performance (CEP) to empirically identify four organizational configurations for successful sustainability. These four configurations represent different combinations of variables describing a firm's external environment, organizational structure, and its strategy‐related activities. More specifically, these configurations vary in having a benign or challenging external environment, a mechanistic or organic structure, a low‐cost or differentiation strategy, hands‐on or hands‐off participation by the top management team, high or low consideration given to stakeholders, and a short‐ or long‐term time orientation. Taken together the four organizational configurations introduce an understanding of equifinality for achieving CEP. In other words, given an adequate variety of ingredients, there are multiple recipes for successful sustainability. Implications for scholars, practitioners and policy‐makers and other stakeholders are discussed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.     

纵观企业理论变迁史

企业是社会经济发展到一定阶段的历史产物,随着时代的变迁和发展,对企业理论的解释也在不断演化,各学派的经济学家对企业的阐述可谓是众说纷纭。亚当·斯密、马克思、马歇尔、科斯和奈特等经济学家都对企业理论的发展起到了至关重要的作用。文章从企业理论发展的时间脉络,梳理出两百多年来出现的一些关键的企业理论,以及笔者对众多企业理论的个人观点,揭示出企业理论由抽象的理想型向现实企业逐步靠近的发展方向。     

资源视角下的企业法律战略选择——以雅芳为例

本文从资源基础理论的视角出发对已有理论难以解释的外国公司法律行为进行了探索性研究,构建战略选择模型,将企业法律战略的选择分为防御型、机会型和参与型三种,认为企业可以根据不同的内部资源和法律环境选择单独的某种法律战略或者多种法律战略的组合。     

自主经营体商业模式创新案例研究

自互联网诞生以来,关于商业模式的研究在理论界及企业界已成为一个热点及前沿问题,但是目前关于商业模式的研究更多集中于商业模式的定义、要素、分类等理论研究上,从商业模式实践的角度进行系统的案例研究显得相对缺乏。海尔自主经营体商业模式体现了商业模式由理论到实践的转变。首先,本文在回顾商业模式相关文献的基础上,从自主经营体商业机制的构建、设计和组织结构的调整等方面考察了自主经营体商业模式的实践。最后,基于案例分析提炼出自主经营体商业模式的创新之处,力求通过案例研究为我国企业商业模式的创新理论与实践提供有价值的参考。     

The Role of Corporate Sustainability in a Low‐Cost Business Model – A Case Study in the Scandinavian Fashion Industry

This multi‐level case study illustrates how corporate sustainability contributes to the low‐cost business model of a Scandinavian fashion company. Contrary to parts of the extant literature, we do not find that corporate sustainability directly adds measurable value (e.g. a better brand image); neither does it exert coercive control over critical supplier relationships. However, corporate sustainability minimizes the downside risk of the business model. It does so by (1) creating implicit contracts that reach beyond traditional ‘shareholder value’, (2) transferring risk to suppliers and (3) improving leadership by motivating management and employees, and by directing their attention to critical issues. For companies, we offer the insight that corporate sustainability is a necessary complement to shareholder value, even if the relationship is not obvious at first sight. We also suggest that concerted actions of companies or a positive connotation of certification create effective control over suppliers. As to public policy, we conclude that regulators could introduce mandatory disclosure of suppliers to facilitate controls through stakeholders, or alternatively an industry‐wide comply‐or‐explain code of conduct. We also address how regulators can take direct actions against countries with unsustainable labor policies. Last, we suggest future research topics, e.g. expanding the notion of a business model by interpreting ‘adding value’ as prevention of losses. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.     

我国工商管理探索性案例研究的发展现状及规范性评估

鉴于工商管理学科实践性与应用性强的特点,国内学界对于开展理论贡献与应用价值相融合的学术研究已达成广泛共识,探索性案例研究作为基于情境性管理实践的科学研究是关键的实现途径之一.由于舶入国内工商管理领域的时间有限,当前对该方法使用规范的准确认识与掌握仍是做出高水平案例研究的重要基础.首先系统梳理了2010—2019年十年间...     

Identifying Worldviews on Corporate Sustainability: A Content Analysis of Corporate Sustainability Reports

Companies commonly issue sustainability or corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports. This study seeks to understand worldviews of corporate sustainability, or the corporate message conveyed regarding what sustainability or CSR is and how to enact it. Content analysis of corporate sustainability reports is used to position each company report within stages of corporate sustainability. Results reveal that there are multiple coexisting worldviews of corporate sustainability, but the most dominant worldview is focused on the business case for sustainability, a position anchored in the weak sustainability paradigm. We contend that the business case and weak sustainability advanced in corporate sustainability reports and by the Global Reporting Initiative are poor representations of sustainability. Ecological embeddedness, or a locally responsive strategy that is sensitive to local ecosystems, may hold the key to improved ecological sensemaking, which in turn could lead to more mature levels of corporate sustainability worldviews that support strong sustainability and are rooted in environmental science. This must be supported by government regulation. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment     

The Impact of Business Strategies on Online Sustainability Disclosures

With increasing attention being paid to corporate sustainability, pressure from stakeholders, especially customers, is forcing companies to implement sustainability strategies and practices that express their commitment to sustainable development, and engage with stakeholders through voluntary sustainability disclosure. To better understand the sustainability disclosure mechanisms from a business strategy perspective, this study investigates the influence of business strategy, formulated by customer groups, on online sustainability disclosure. It provides empirical observation of Malaysian public‐listed companies based on the combined lens of stakeholder and legitimacy theory. Despite the comparatively low level of corporate sustainability disclosure in Malaysia, this content analysis of online sustainability information disclosure reveals that the companies with more diversified product lines disclose more sustainability information, and that the corporate sustainability effort is significantly related to brand name. Hence, companies should be encouraged to proactively improve their sustainability performance and disclose more sustainability information in order to strengthen their brand names. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment     

A Cognitive Interpretation of Data Analysis

This paper proposes a scientific model to explain the analysis process. We argue that data analysis is primarily a procedure to build understanding, and as such, it dovetails with the cognitive processes of the human mind. Data analysis tasks closely resemble the cognitive process known as sensemaking. We demonstrate how data analysis is a sensemaking task adapted to use quantitative data. This identification highlights a universal structure within data analysis activities and provides a foundation for a theory of data analysis. The competing tensions of cognitive compatibility and scientific rigour create a series of problems that characterise the data analysis process. These problems form a useful organising model for the data analysis task while allowing methods to remain flexible and situation dependent. The insights of this model are especially helpful for consultants, applied statisticians and teachers of data analysis.     

“新零售”路在何方:基于商业模式前景分析视角的案例研究

本文对盒马鲜生与缤果盒子两家“新零售”企业进行了案例研究,得出以下结论:盒马鲜生借助线上线下整合、供应链技术与运营技术实现了对传统零售低效环节的赋能,能够通过空间网络效应获得递增回报,行业经验不足,从制度角度考虑,没有与现有制度产生摩擦;缤果盒子借助无人零售技术嵌入社区,降低运营成本,获得递增回报,行业经验同样不足,依赖风险投资的资本支持,从制度方面来说,性质与现有制度存在摩擦。     

The Road to Sustainability: Exploring the Process of Corporate Environmental Strategy Over Time

We explore corporate environmental strategy over time, investigating the patterns of evolving environmental investment decisions. Longitudinal case studies provide evidence that environmental strategy evolves through a feedback process, wherein outcomes of earlier decisions have an impact on subsequent decisions. Specifically, positive feedback from outcomes like innovation triggers higher goals, enhancing the undertaking of advanced investments, whereas negative feedback from outcomes, such as increased costs, decelerates the adoption of further investments. The study points to an emergent view of environmental strategy, where capabilities that are gradually developed in concomitance with environmental outcomes lead to an upgrading of environmental goals, thus triggering the feedback process. The process eventually culminates in higher levels of environmental conduct, being more and more integrated with business strategy and competitive advantage. Managers' values and environmental attitudes influence environmental decisions and actions, affecting the acceleration of the feedback process and the magnitude of responses. Managerial implications are discussed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment     

企业流程创新管理模式研究——以联想业务变革经理制为例

本文以联想业务变革经理制为研究对象,运用理论与案例相结合的研究方法,探讨中国企业业务流程创新管理模式。通过阐述联想业务变革经理制产生的背景、业务变革经理的职能以及相关案例,来揭示联想在企业流程创新管理中所做出的努力以及成果。希望通过对联想业务变革经理制的研究,为中国大型企业管理模式转型、梳理业务组织架构、提高管理效率、优化决策模式提出一个新的方向。     

企业行为分析及其伦理规范──基于企业高层领导者的视角

企业作为一个特殊的社会公民、独立的经济实体和伦理主体参与社会经济生活,其行为归根到底是企业内部人员的行为,而企业高层领导者对企业行为决策的制定起主要的作用。分析和规范企业行为,不仅有利于企业自身的健康发展,也有利于社会的进步。     

家族企业公司治理模式对上市公司价值的影响

广东家族控制的上市公司的管理模式,主要有未聘用职业经理人、管理者和职业经理人并行,但家族控制、完全聘用职业经理人管理模式三种,目前有一半以上的企业未聘用职业经理人。通过比较三种不同公司治理模式,其中聘用职业经理人并实现所有权和控制权的完全分离是一种不错的选择;而采用聘用职业经理人但家族仍控制企业经营权的管理模式时,企业价值在总体平均上比由家族单独控制还要低。     

合法性视角下产品企业服务商业模式的案例研究

以传统产品为核心的企业向服务商业模式转型是目前研究和管理关注的热点。基于合法性理论,指出新的服务业务能否获取市场合法性是服务商业模式成功的关键,并建立了影响制造企业服务业务合法性的理论框架。研究结果表明:内部特征、外部合作、行业认可度三个方面对服务业务合法性有着重要的影响。     

Assessing the Effects of Cultural Intelligence on Team Knowledge Sharing From a Socio‐Cognitive Perspective

Drawing upon social cognitive theory, this research postulates cultural intelligence as a key driver of knowledge sharing among culturally diverse teams. An empirical testing of the proposed model, by investigating team leaders from high‐tech industries, reveals the applicability of social cognitive theory in understanding cultural intelligence, perceived team efficacy, and knowledge sharing. Specifically, the test results herein show that knowledge sharing is directly influenced by metacognitive, cognitive, and motivational cultural intelligence. At the same time, knowledge sharing is indirectly impacted by metacognitive and behavioral cultural intelligence through the mediation of perceived team efficacy. Lastly, this research provides managerial implications and limitations. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

深化企业实践内涵,提升企业实践实效

高等职业教育作为高等教育的一个重要组成部分,高职院校相对企业来说,最大的特点在于拥有一批高素质高学历的教师队伍,教师基本上都是本科学历,并且有不少的年轻教师具有硕士学历,将教师们的科研课题与企业实践紧密结合起来,这样对高职院校教师和企业发展都有益。     

Sustainability Management within Supply Chains – A Resource Dependence View

Proceeding from three basic concepts of resource dependence theory – organizational effectiveness, interdependence and external control – we conducted a multiple‐case study to investigate factors that facilitate and hinder sustainability management within supply chains. Our empirical observations highlight that focal firms do not necessarily transfer their own corporate sustainability agendas into control mechanisms for managing the sustainability of their suppliers. Based on this insight, we develop a new theory that explains how intra‐ and interorganizational sustainability management is affected by a firm's business case for promoting sustainability, control mechanisms, trade‐offs, trust and market liberalization. The theory offers new insights into drivers and barriers for effective interorganizational sustainability management, whereas previous theories could not fully explain the reasons for diverging sustainability management practices in supply chains. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment