Search Results (102)

This paper presents platforms as a solution to rethink how we build, addressing the pressing paradox between meeting growing housing demands. The construction sector has not fully grasped the advantages of platforms beyond standardisation and efficiency. In contrast, other sectors have begun acknowledging that platforms can capture increased value through interactions among firms within a networked ecosystem. Learning from other sectors, this paper investigates platforms in the construction context, aiming to define, classify, and assess their impact on the construction value chain. The research approach was abductive, involving a cross-sectoral review of 190 platforms across 16 Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) industries and semi-structured interviews with stakeholder groups of the construction value chain in Australia. The findings categorise platforms as physical, digital, or hybrid, highlighting their potential to move value-added activities upstream, facilitate collaboration, and foster innovation through data-driven insights. The paper’s novelty lies in the exhaustive cross-sectoral review, the classification of platforms in the construction context, and the proposition of a platform approach as a versatile framework tailored to diverse needs and circumstances that offers a fresh perspective on sustainable building practices. The practical contribution of this study lies in offering guidelines for industry practitioners aiming to develop or refine a platform-based approach tailored to the construction context. Full article

As sustainability becomes increasingly central to organizational strategy, social economy organizations (SEOs) are rethinking their business models. This study employs stakeholder analysis using the value mapping (VM) tool developed by Short, Rana, Bocken, and Evans for the development of the VOLTO JÁ project. The objective of the VOLTO JÁ project is to operationalize a senior exchange programme between SEOs. The VM approach extends beyond conventional customer value propositions to prioritize sustainability for all stakeholders and identify key drivers of sustainable business model (SBM) innovation. The multi-stakeholder methodology comprises the following elements: (1) sequential focus groups aimed at enhancing sustainable business thinking; (2) semi-structured interviews; and (3) workshop to facilitate qualitative analysis and co-create the VM. The findings are then categorized into four value dimensions: (1) value captured—improved participant well-being, enhanced reputational capital, mitigation of social asymmetries, and affordable service experiences; (2) value lost—underused community assets; (3) value destroyed—institutional and systemic barriers to innovation; and (4) new value opportunities—knowledge sharing, service diversification, and open innovation to foster collaborative networks. The study demonstrates that the application of VM in SEOs supports SBM development by generating strategic insights, enhancing resource efficiency, and fostering the delivery of socially impactful services. Full article

More than half the world’s population live in cities¹. According to UN Habitat, we are rapidly approaching the time when five billion people will live in cities, and by 2050 this could be 7.5 billion, with much of the growth concentrated in the global south. The context for this paper is how urban growth is linked to notions of community values which cross-link to concepts of heritage. Urban places are where the majority of the world’s population lives and will increasingly do so. Inextricably linked to this proposition is that urban places are where community memories, identity and sense of place are inherent, and here is the link with heritage. What do these paces mean to us? Are there regional, national and international differences? Parallel with these ideas of urban heritage is the sense of place and attachment people have for green spaces in cities and the incremental loss of green spaces. This prompts the question of how this phenomenon has stimulated scholarly and professional attention on the concept of greening cities. Underpinning the inquiry is an understanding of how urban green growth has become regarded as critical to the well-being of people in urban areas. Central to such concerns is the role of people and their social and cultural values which shape how they see their cities. Notable also is how there has been growing concern for urban conservation since the 1990s and the need to understand cities as people spaces, not just collections of buildings. Discourse on cities as spaces for people has its roots in, and builds on, a paradigm shift in innovative thinking and concepts in the twentieth century which has continued into the twenty-first century. Mindful of this background, the paper opens with a review of the historical background to these concerns on the premise that the past is not always a foreign country². It then moves into consideration of heritage values and the role of landscape and what we mean by values. This consideration is central to the paper and moves into an overview of the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach as new approaches and tools for urban conservation came into play. Full article

Platform-based agricultural service models have increasingly become a primary approach to agricultural socialized services in China. This study investigates a service-demand-driven platform-based agricultural service model through the case of JN Life initiated by nine ecological farms. Based on the theory of value co-creation, it traces the development of the JN platform ecosystem across three phases: emergence, formation, and expansion. The study examines how farm members and key stakeholders of the JN platform actively collaborate throughout these phases, transitioning from value propositions to institutional arrangements, resource integration, and achieving value co-creation. This process is referred to as an endogenous (vs. exogenous) platform-based agricultural service model. The findings provide valuable insights into advancing the sustainable development of ecological farms and agricultural socialized services, as well as enhancing collaborative innovation in the platform ecosystem. Full article

This paper aims to conduct an empirical study on the influence of relational resources (RR) and digital capability (DC) on entrepreneurial performance (EP), as well as to examine the mediating role of value proposition innovation (VPI). This research seeks to fill the gap in the existing literature regarding the impact of relational resources and digital capability on entrepreneurial performance. Data were collected from 191 respondents from small snack food production enterprises in China. The Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) method was employed to analyze and measure both direct and indirect effects and to test the hypothesized model. The findings indicate that while relational resources and digital capability do not have a significant positive influence on entrepreneurial performance, they significantly positively influence value proposition innovation, which in turn has a significant positive effect on entrepreneurial performance. Therefore, value proposition innovation fully mediates the relationship between relational resources, digital capability, and entrepreneurial performance. This study contributes to resolving the ongoing debate on the influence of relational resources and digital capability on entrepreneurial performance. Full article

Data-driven technologies in smart buildings offer significant opportunities to enhance energy efficiency, sustainability, and occupant comfort. However, the existing literature often lacks a holistic examination of the technological advancements, adoption barriers, and business models necessary to realize these benefits. To address this gap, this scoping review synthesizes current research on these technologies, identifies factors influencing their adoption, and examines supporting business models. Inspired by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a structured search of the literature across four major databases yielded 112 relevant studies. The key technologies identified included big data analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, the Internet of Things, Wireless Sensor Networks, Edge and Cloud Computing, Blockchain, Digital Twins, and Geographic Information Systems. Energy optimization is further achieved through integrating renewable energy resources and advanced energy management systems, such as Home Energy Management Systems and Building Energy Management Systems. Factors influencing adoption are categorized into social influences, individual perceptions, cost considerations, security and privacy concerns, and data quality issues. The analysis of business models emphasizes the need to align technological innovations with market needs, focusing on value propositions like cost savings and efficiency improvements. Despite the benefits, challenges such as high initial costs, technical complexities, security risks, and user acceptance hinder their widespread adoption. This review highlights the importance of addressing these challenges through the development of cost-effective, interoperable, secure, and user-centric solutions, offering a roadmap for future research and industry applications. Full article

The economic, social and ecological elements in the region constitute a complex ecosystem. The development trend, internal coordination and interactive effects of the economic–social–ecological (ESE) system have consistently constituted pivotal scientific propositions in the context of the social development process. The Yellow River Basin holds strategic importance, acting as both an ecological barrier and a center for economic development within China. Based on these considerations, this study focuses on the Yellow River Basin and innovatively establishes a theoretical framework and measurement model for the development of the ESE system. Quantitative methods, including the coupled coordination model and augmented regression tree model, are employed to evaluate the development, coordination, spatial patterns and influencing factors of the ESE system in the study area. The findings reveal that the economic and social subsystems are rapidly developing. Over the study period, the focus of ESE system development shifted eastward. Furthermore, there were noticeable disparities in the factors influencing coordinated ESE system development across the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River Basin. Thus, sustainable development policies for the region must be tailored to local conditions. This study also offers insights into the potential development paths for the Yellow River Basin and other river basins in China, contributing practical value to the promotion of sustainable development and the construction of an ESE system that reflects the unique characteristics of the Yellow River Basin. Full article

The hospitality business model has undergone profound changes influenced by successive waves of technological advances and platforms. This paper explores how different waves of technologies and platforms are shaping the evolution of the hospitality business model. Employing a systematic literature review, this research analyzes how platform innovation has driven significant shifts in the industry. The analysis yielded four key findings. Firstly, the incorporation of digital technologies resulted in a radical transformation of conventional business models, prompting substantial alterations in marketing strategies, distribution processes, and consumer behavior patterns. Secondly, the industry has undergone five significant technological revolutions, evolving from steam-powered transportation to the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), thereby driving a shift towards innovation-centric business models. Thirdly, the advent of digital platforms, most notably online travel agencies (OTAs), posed a challenge to traditional hospitality models by introducing personalized experiences and disrupting established market norms. While digital platforms offer advantages such as enhanced convenience and customization, they also present challenges, including intensified competition and declining profit margins. Nonetheless, technological advancements such as AI, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) present a potential avenue for redefining value propositions and enhancing customer experiences. Fourth, the future of the hospitality business model is poised for further disruption, influenced by the emergence of new virtual platforms and services. This could potentially result in a reshaping of the industry’s value chain and value proposition. Full article

The digital transformation (DT) encompasses profound technological changes. Businesses face the challenge of adapting their activities to the pace of new technologies to increase the efficiency of business processes, improve the customer experience, and create innovative value propositions while recognizing the importance of sustainability. This research focuses on how family businesses, which are a relevant part of global economic activity and job creation, address the challenges associated with the DT. Based on the case of the automotive retail sector in a small European country characterized by the high acceptance of technologies, we use fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to understand how critical success factors (causal conditions) combine towards adopting technologies representing different perspectives of the DT. The results confirm the existence of multiple configurations based on the importance of organizational culture, change management, knowledge, human capital, IT systems, and DT strategy towards the adoption of customer relationship management, digital marketing, and social networks technologies, thus helping family businesses to understand the adoption of these technologies leading to organizational success in the context of the DT. Full article

Effective rural solid waste management (RSWM) is crucial for sustainable rural development, particularly in developing countries, which face dual challenges from economic growth and environmental protection. To build a more sustainable business model for RSWM, this study employs a value proposition analysis approach to systematically analyze the multi-level requirements of various stakeholders involved in the current models of RSWM. It then proposes a novel optimizing approach for RSWM models from the perspective of business model innovation (BMI) by integrating the value proposition (VP) theory with the algorithm of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to fill the research gap. In this study, an AHP-based evaluating algorithm is firstly proposed based on the viewpoints of multiple stakeholders’ value propositions. Using this method, four typical pilot RSWM models across China are assessed and ranked, followed by a comprehensive analysis of the results and the incorporation of hierarchical criteria from multiple value dimensions. Building on the analysis of the results, optimization strategies for a novel RSWM model are proposed by constructing a conceptual framework of the business model. In addition, the analysis also indicates that both phases of sorting and collection and transportation are the main factors for fulfilling the overall satisfaction of the RSWM models. Lastly, this paper concludes by summarizing the relevant theoretical and managerial implementations of the proposed approach, providing a foundation for the scientific development of appropriate RSWM models by providing a new idea for BMI especially for environmental management projects that include multiple stakeholders. Full article

Business model innovation is crucial for enhancing company performance. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the six dimensions of sustainable business model innovation and company performance among Chinese electric vehicle brands. A structural equation model is constructed based on a comprehensive literature review and hypothesis development. Using PLS-SEM, this study empirically analyzes questionnaire data collected from the top 12 electric vehicle brands in China to explore the relationship between these six core dimensions and company performance. The results indicate that innovation in “value proposition to customers”, value creation, value delivery, and “value of residual” have a significantly positive impact on the performance of Chinese electric vehicle brands. However, value capture innovation and “value of after-sales service” innovation were not found to be statistically significant. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the mechanism through which sustainable business model innovation impacts company performance, enriching the theoretical foundation of academic research in this field and broadening its practical applications in management. Full article

Through the pivot to emergency remote teaching during the pandemic, most universities have managed to become ‘digital’, at least in the delivery of educational programmes and business operations. And yet, the purposeful design and use of technology for education is far from the reality of such a pivot and remains difficult to achieve. While most universities outline some level of digital transformation as part of their innovation narrative and strategies, there is only a limited number of universities that adopt the culture of co-creation. This paper illustrates a bottom-up approach to the co-creation of a new digital and medical education strategy in a London-based Russell Group university to bring on change that is fit for purpose. The findings include the key insights, specifically, the five key values of what the community believed to be crucial—(i) broadening access to education, (ii) flexibility, efficiency and convenience, (iii) authentic learning, (iv) business proposition, and (v) pastoral care; and the eight areas of opportunities and challenges—(i) human relationships, (ii) co-creation, (iii) digital engagement, (iv) digital pedagogy, (v) digital literacy, (vi) edtech and IT infrastructure, (vii) support, and (viii) digital assessment and feedback. This paper also outlines the strategic project plans that were generated and since implemented as a result of the co-creation process. The limitations and future directions of this study are also noted. Full article

This research explores how participants in an innovation ecosystem, operating without a focal firm, can collaboratively envision and create societal value beyond their individual business goals. Using participatory action research, the investigation focuses on two cases within the offshore wind energy sector, involving four complementary enterprises and nine enterprises that are both complementary and competitive. The findings suggest that ecosystem participants can collectively pursue opportunities for sustainable value creation that surpass the interests and goals of individual firms. This shift towards a future-oriented, ecosystem-wide perspective was driven by the focus on ecosystem-level value propositions and the dynamic organizing of heterogeneous knowledge, individual behaviors, and organizational behaviors, enabling successful future-oriented sensemaking. The research process highlights practices that led to significant innovation outcomes, such as halving investments, reducing accidents and rework, accelerating operational flow, and fostering long-term investments, like a floating port for installation and maintenance improvements. This study enhances understanding of how future-oriented sensemaking in innovation ecosystems without a focal firm can drive innovation and societal value creation, offering insights for practitioners, academics, and policymakers on governance and collaborative efforts to enable value creation in innovation ecosystems. Full article

With the development of large language model technologies, the capability of social robots to interact emotionally with users has been steadily increasing. However, the existing research insufficiently examines the influence of robot stance attribution design cues on the construction of users’ mental models and their effects on human–robot interaction (HRI). This study innovatively combines mental models with the associative–propositional evaluation (APE) model, unveiling the impact of the stance attribution explanations of this design cue on the construction of user mental models and the interaction between the two types of mental models through EEG experiments and survey investigations. The results found that under the influence of intentional stance explanations (compared to design stance explanations), participants displayed higher error rates, higher θ- and β-band Event-Related Spectral Perturbations (ERSPs), and phase-locking value (PLV). Intentional stance explanations trigger a primarily associatively based mental model of users towards robots, which conflicts with the propositionally based mental models of individuals. Users might adjust or “correct” their immediate reactions caused by stance attribution explanations after logical analysis. This study reveals that stance attribution interpretation can significantly affect users’ mental model construction of robots, which provides a new theoretical framework for exploring human interaction with non-human agents and provides theoretical support for the sustainable development of human–robot relations. It also provides new ideas for designing robots that are more humane and can better interact with human users. Full article

Presently, the practice of scientific crowdsourcing still suffers from user loss, platform operational inefficiency, and many other dilemmas, mainly because the process mechanism of realizing value co-creation through interaction between users and platforms has not yet been elaborated. To fill this gap, this study takes Kaggle as the research object and explores the realization process and internal mechanism of scientific crowdsourcing value co-creation from the perspective of knowledge flow. The results show that the operation process of Kaggle-based scientific crowdsourcing can be decomposed into five progressive evolutionary stages, including knowledge sharing, knowledge innovation, knowledge dissemination, knowledge application, and knowledge advantage formation. The knowledge flow activates a series of value co-creation activities of scientific crowdsourcing, forming a dynamic evolution and continuous optimization of the value co-creation process that includes the value proposition, value communication, value consensus, and all-win value. Institutional logic plays a key role as a catalyst in the value co-creation of scientific crowdsourcing, effectively facilitating the realization of value co-creation by controlling and guiding the flow of knowledge. The study unlocks the “gray box” from knowledge flow to value co-creation, providing new theoretical support and guidance for further enhancing the value co-creation capacity and accelerating the practice of scientific crowdsourcing. Full article