2016;138:170-80. However, to judge whether the field is maturing requires other methods that allow generalization and causalities, as will be discussed below. doi: 10.1080/14783363.2020.1864214. A safe operating space for humanity. PubMed/NCBI Kozlowski et al. View Article Bus Strat Environ. However, Gauthier and Gilmon [44] claim that a better understanding is needed about the extent to which BM transformations can be integrated into, and become dominant within, actors organizations, displacing established BM and modifying decision-making processes and management behaviors. Despite the overall comprehensive content of the book, some topics need clarification to improve comprehension. PubMed/NCBI Unlocking the potential of broad, horizontal curricular assessments for ethics, responsibility and sustainability in business and economics higher education. View Article J Manag. 2016;112:2833-50. *Correspondence: Maria S. Gianni, giannima@uom.edu.gr; mgiann@pme.duth.gr, Education for Sustainable Development: How Can Changes in Local Practices Help Address Global Challenges, View all PubMed/NCBI The studys main findings around dominating research designs (qualitative), sectoral focus (energy, manufacturing, food and beverage), geographical focus (northwestern Europe) and a future research agenda contribute to our understanding of the achievements of the SBM literature to date and offer insights into where the field could move next. J Clean Prod. In that sense, recent SBM studies drawing on institutional theory [73,78,82], evolutionary economics [76], paradox theory [22], actor-network theory [93], system dynamics [34], network theory [79], and resource dependence theory [84] are good examples of what could be the beginnings of a more profound theoretical engagement of SBM scholars towards a cumulative theory for studying SBMs. PubMed/NCBI Bocken NMP, Boons F, Baldassarre B. J Clean Prod. Bocken NMP, Mugge R, Bom CA, Lemstra HJ. The Sustainable MBA: A Business Guide to Sustainability, 2nd Edn. 2008;62(1):107-15. One example of a quantitative study is Rantala et al. 2018;175:82-95. Google Scholar, 90. J Adv Nurs. J Clean Prod. Long Range Plan. 2018;177:378-86. PubMed/NCBI 2017;167:1546-65. In addition, social media references have enriched the second edition of the book. View Article Stl HI, Corvellec H. A decoupling perspective on circular business model implementation: Illustrations from Swedish apparel. Finding 2: Dominant empirical focus on the energy, manufacturing and food sectors. Advancing Higher Education for Sustainable Development: international insights and critical reflections. PubMed/NCBI This study identifies, explores, analyses and summarises the main theoretical approaches and themes surrounding SBM research to date, contributing to deepening the literature by identifying the priority areas concerning sustainable business models and encouraging future research of an internationally excellent standard. View Article That is, many SBM studies remain more descriptive and phenomenon-based and seem to lack a broader theoretical underpinning or contribution (see also [5]). Harvard Bus. Hellstrm M, Tsvetkova A, Gustafsson M, Wikstrm K. Collaboration mechanisms for business models in distributed energy ecosystems. PubMed/NCBI The implementation of SBMs needs more research to gain more insights into the mechanisms, process models etc. PubMed/NCBI In this respect researching scalability can be worthwhile as it is essential to truly advance such models (see e.g., [81]), as can an assessment of practical tools can guide the transition to, and development/management of SBMs? [18] argue for the importance of deeper knowledge about the development of business models to allow firms to develop their business models into models that support sustainable value creation. Geissdoerfer M, Vladimirova D, Evans S. Sustainable business model innovation: A review. Similarly, more longitudinal case studies could shed light on dynamics, changes and outcomes [70] while efforts have been made to experiment with how best to understand success and failure of the value proposition related to new business models [19,71]. Many business model innovation attempts fail, this remains relatively unexplored. Chicago (IL, US): University of Chicago Press; 2012. View Article They include energy, manufacturing and the food and beverage sectors. Moreover, which measurement- and control systems need to be in place to support a successful SBM? 2014;344(6186):838-43. ? PubMed/NCBI Organiz Environ. Ciulli F, Kolk A. Incumbents and business model innovation for the sharing economy: Implications for sustainability. 2018;198:401-16. x]sFtEnf0 IJ)KNg)]%`k'd.WH}r.2!$/ZTY]|G?OvlVn:z-r}=U~I~>lxk6Vn w=eWo'6YzMgT_h/LO~l_?t+!s?G .Uu.3U\Lym?zx8]@cwWN_-Ym4O.F8'{u;dhiS we${~JD1yY@_NWr2B (AXq2JQ,CG*:j`+asMwqOj"_on_A~\/P:{>*vG=O(ukl[ktf}6,DU"eQ*/BT Therefore, more and different qualitative research would be useful. endobj Google Scholar, 89. View Article 2018;177:721-31. Google Scholar, 34. Built to scale? Manage. Second, while the first contribution is clearly one that breathes positive encouragement, the second contribution this study seeks to make is more critical and contains a message of caution and concern. Debates over the definition of SBMs are ongoing [8] and rather than offering our own definition we briefly discuss some of SBMs central aspects that have been identified [15,28], and that in fact contain striking similarities with the definitions used by most articles in this studys sample. Therefore, rather than employing an organization-centric view, they promote a systems-based view which includes a more long-term perspective [8]. Google Scholar, 28. View Article Switzerland: Palgrave MacMillan. The geographic concentration of this research on a very specific, and relatively small part of Europe is noteworthy. doi: 10.1007/s11625-011-0132-6, Keywords: management, sustainable development, business school, textbooks, higher education curriculum, sustainability management, corporate sustainability, Citation: Gianni MS (2021) Book Review: Foundations of Sustainable Business: Theory, Function, and Strategy. To evaluate potential patterns among articles, we analysed how articles are jointly cited. 2018;172:4565-79. Third, paramount to the SBM must be an explicit emphasis on a broad range of internal and/or external stakeholders. [90] and Brehmer et al. Long Range Plan. Prieto-Sandoval, V., Jaca, C., Santos, J., Baumgartner, R. J., and Ormazabal, M. (2019). PubMed/NCBI View Article Google Scholar, 6. Long et al. J Clean Prod. Managing Sustainable Business-An Executive Education Case and Textbook. This requires the SBM to be considered as part of the ecosystem [79] or understood as belonging to an ecology of business models allowing business models to be understood in their wider context [71]. Perey R, Benn S, Agarwal R, Edwards M. The place of waste: Changing business value for the circular economy. PubMed/NCBI Springer. Nair and Paulose [40] investigate algae biofuel for aviation; Hellstrom et al. 2011;37(4):1019-42. Finding 3: The empirical focus of SBM scholars is strongly concentrated on northwest Europe and the Nordic countries. Copyright 2022 Elsevier B.V. or its licensors or contributors. For instance, in Chapter 2 there is a letter from the former Ph.D. student to her supervisor asking for advice on a water contamination issue. Google Scholar, 17. Google Scholar, 63. As well as scrutinizing the usual sections on suggestions for future research included at the end of a study, any suggestions for future research included in the main bodies of the studies were extracted. Organiz Environ. Koberg E, Longoni A. Bidmon CM, Knab SF. Also, while the manufacturing sector is diverse, its relevance in the context of SBMs is clear. Respons. To address the second research question on promising directions for further SBM research, an innovative method was used that drew on an inductive form of qualitative content analysis. View Article View Article Morioka SN, Bolis I, Carvalho MM. We need also to consider for whom these sustainability effects are relevantthe effects on stakeholders will vary. [85] and Van Bommel [22] suggest the utility of a longitudinal approach or an action research methodology. 2016;29(1):53-73. View Article Boons F, Ldeke-Freund F. Business models for sustainable innovation: state-of-the-art and steps towards a research agenda. A Book Review on Foundations of Sustainable Business: Theory, Function, and Strategy, Nada R. Sanders, John D. Wood (Wiley Global Education US), 2019, 2nd Edition, 352 pages, ISBN: 978-1-119-57755-3. To serve societal needs, higher education needs to adapt to the new orientation understanding sustainable development as the golden thread intertwining university systems (Lozano et al., 2013). (Faculdade de Cincias Sociais e Humanas, Universidade da Beira Interior and. Central, here, is the creation of value through the integration of economic prosperity, environmental integrity and social equity among society at large, rather than prioritization of organizational profit [9,1315]. [38] look at distributed energy ecosystems; Gaulthier and Gilomen [44] examine energy efficiency in urban districts; and Tolkamp et al. Ldeke-Freund F, Dembek K. Sustainable business model research and practice: Emerging field or passing fancy? doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.03.034. Second, the level of analysis was the broader SBM research program and its achievements which has provided a general overview of SBM research. Investigating the additional value added provided by a SBM would provide information on its positive and negative effects [18]. Palomares-Aguirre et al. Int J Manag Rev. This needs a focus on one of the definitional pillars of a SBM, namely the wider system in which the model is embedded (see Section Defining a Sustainable Business Model). Sustainable business model adoption among S&P 500 firms: A longitudinal content analysis study. PubMed/NCBI [64] discuss SBMs to make the chocolate industry more sustainable and Ribeiro et al. Birkin F, Cashman A, Koh SCL, Liu Z. PubMed/NCBI Fundamentals of Sustainable Development, 3rd Edn. Rev. View Article Schaltegger S, Ldeke-Freund F, Hansen EG. J Clean Prod. View Article Moreover, which conceptual models and underlying mechanisms help to better understand the development, implementation and management of SBMs? Bus. PubMed/NCBI View Article For instance, Boons and Ldeke-Freund [13] argue that the value proposition of an SBM is more than just economic; rather it hinges on a dialogue between business and society regarding the balance among social, environmental and economic needs. J Clean Prod. One of the most frequent understandings is provided by Osterwalder and Pigneur [26] who describe the building blocks in the business model architecture. Bus. Those included needed to have an official ranking or classification. Taken together, the SBM field is fertile ground for another ten years of interesting research to provide theoretically robust and practically relevant answers to societys pressing challenges. We leverage these insights to formulate and propose a future research agenda for SBM. Corp Govern. J Clean Prod. Sustainable business models: A review. [50] review approaches to business model innovation for a circular economy and/or sustainability, and the review of Geissdoerfer et al. Dentchev N, Rauter R, Jhannsdttir L, Snihur Y, Rosano M, Baumgartner R, et al. 2009;461(7263):472-5. The focus on the energy sector can be expected in light of the relevance of SBMs in this sector. First, we discuss the background to the dimensions and definition of SBMs, after which we describe the methods employed to conduct the analysis. PubMed/NCBI J Clean Prod. J clean Prod. Weybrecht, G. (2014). Google Scholar, 31. Its key contributions are: (1) a review of the key underlying concepts, discussing their similarities and differences and offer new definitions where there is an identified need; (2) we identify a research gap; and (3) we deduct research questions to address the gap. There are a number of theoretical lenses that could be drawn upon to guide these analyses, including paradox theory [22], institutional logics [82], transition theory [83], and resource dependence theory [84]. 2019;215:198-216. Finally, as the SBM field matures there will be a need for quantitative and mixed-methods research.