Design thinking to enhance the sustainable business modelling process - A workshop based on a value mapping process
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Publication Date
2016-07-07Journal Title
Journal of Cleaner Production
ISSN
0959-6526
Publisher
Elsevier
Volume
135
Pages
1218-1232
Language
English
Type
Article
This Version
AM
Metadata
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Geissdoerfer, M., Bocken, N. M., & Hultink, E. J. (2016). Design thinking to enhance the sustainable business modelling process - A workshop based on a value mapping process. Journal of Cleaner Production, 135 1218-1232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.07.020
Abstract
Sustainable business model innovation is an emerging topic, but only few tools are currently available to assist companies in sustainable business modelling. This paper works towards closing this gap by bringing together ‘design thinking’ and ‘sustainable business model innovation’ to refine the creative process of developing sustainable value propositions and improve the overall business modelling process.
This paper proposes a new workshop framework based on a value mapping process, which was developed by literature synthesis, expert interviews, and multiple workshops. The framework was transferred into a workshop routine and subsequently tested with companies and students.
The resulting ‘Value Ideation’ process comprises value ideation, value opportunity selection, and value proposition prototyping. The integration of design thinking into the innovation process helps to create additional forms of value and include formerly underserved stakeholders in the value proposition. Thus, the Value Ideation process helps companies to improve their performance while becoming more sustainable.
Workshop evaluations revealed that the Value Ideation process assists companies in enhancing their value proposition by including positive economic, societal, and environmental value and a wider range of stakeholder interests. The ‘design thinking’ elements stimulate the ideation process and help to harmonise often conflicting stakeholder interests.
Keywords
business model innovation, design thinking, corporate sustainability, value creation, value ideation, failed value exchanges
Sponsorship
This project was supported by ResCoM, which is co-funded by the European Union under the EU Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), Grant agreement number: 603843.
Funder references
EPSRC (EP/L019914/1)
EPSRC (EP/I033351/1)
Identifiers
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.07.020
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/257296
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
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