Business model innovation processes in large corporations: insights from BASF
Abstract
Purpose
Despite the fact that business model innovation (BMI) has attracted intense attention from scholars and practitioners alike, practicable knowledge on the organizational implementation of BMI efforts in large multinational corporations is rather rare. This paper aims to investigate how BMI is managed in the complex environment of the chemical industry based on a study at BASF SE, a leading global chemical company.
Design/methodology/approach
The empirical data draw from six case studies (i.e. six BMI projects) within BASF which were observed in the 2010-2014 timeframe.
Findings
There is not one uniform BMI process archetype. Three different types can be identified, whereby the degree of technology involvement and the maturity of this technology act as determining factors for the form of the process and its organizational implementation.
Originality/value
This paper profits from its unique empirical setting, which allows identifying practices for the organizational implementation of systematic BMI processes in large corporations. The guidelines derived are highly relevant for general managers and business development departments.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Dr Petra Bachem and Andres Jaffé for the opportunity to investigate BMI processes at BASF SE and Michael–Georg Schmidt and Christian Huber for their valuable insights into the fascinating world of the chemical industry.
Citation
Winterhalter, S., Weiblen, T., Wecht, C.H. and Gassmann, O. (2017), "Business model innovation processes in large corporations: insights from BASF", Journal of Business Strategy, Vol. 38 No. 2, pp. 62-75. https://doi.org/10.1108/JBS-10-2016-0116
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited