Short answer
When designing products or services, consider how the underlying business model can be structured to actively promote ecological and social well-being, rather than merely minimizing harm.
- Field
- Sustainability
- Source
- Organization & Environment (2015)
- Method
- Literature Review and Comparative Analysis
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
Existing business model frameworks, often optimized for profit, hinder the development of truly sustainable practices; a new ontology is needed to describe and enable business models that prioritize ecological and social well-being alongside economic viability. This sustainability research insight is drawn from a 2015 study published in Organization & Environment. Using Literature review and comparative analysis, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing products or services, consider how the underlying business model can be structured to actively promote ecological and social well-being, rather than merely minimizing harm.
Strongly Sustainable Business Models Require a Paradigm Shift Beyond Profit-Centric Frameworks
Existing business model frameworks, often optimized for profit, hinder the development of truly sustainable practices; a new ontology is needed to describe and enable business models that prioritize ecological and social well-being alongside economic viability.
Organization & Environment · 2015
Key Findings
- 01Profit-oriented business model ontologies are insufficient for describing strongly sustainable business models.
- 02A new ontology is required that incorporates principles from ecological economics and natural, social, and system sciences.
- 03Strongly sustainable business models necessitate a re-evaluation of core business propositions and principles.
Application
Design takeaway
When designing products or services, consider how the underlying business model can be structured to actively promote ecological and social well-being, rather than merely minimizing harm.
How to apply
When developing new products or services, use the principles of strong sustainability to question and redesign the associated business model, ensuring it aligns with long-term ecological and social goals.
Project actions
- 01When researching a product, investigate the business model behind it and assess its sustainability.
- 02Consider how a different business model could make your designed product more sustainable.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a foundational framework for understanding and developing sustainable business models.
- +Highlights a critical gap in current business model theory and practice.
Limitations
It can be difficult to access detailed information about a company's internal business model and its true sustainability impact.
Reliability & validity
The validity of the proposed ontology relies on the transdisciplinary review and comparative analysis. Further empirical testing and validation through real-world case studies would enhance its reliability.
Think critically
To what extent can a profit-oriented business model ever be truly 'strongly sustainable', or is a fundamental shift in purpose always necessary?
Design Principles
"Design for systemic sustainability: Ensure that the product or service's business model actively contributes to ecological regeneration and social equity, not just economic efficiency."
Designers and engineers are increasingly tasked with creating products and systems that are not only functional and desirable but also environmentally and socially responsible. Understanding the underlying business models that drive product development is crucial for embedding sustainability from the outset.
What This Means for Your Design
Businesses usually focus on making money, which can make it hard to be truly good for the planet and people. This research suggests we need a new way to think about how businesses work, one that puts sustainability first, not just profit.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify the need for a sustainable business model for your design project.
- 2.Compare your proposed design's business model to traditional profit-driven models, highlighting the benefits of a strongly sustainable approach.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The research by Upward and Jones (2015) highlights that conventional, profit-centric business models often act as significant constraints to achieving genuine sustainability. Their work proposes a new ontology for strongly sustainable business models, emphasizing the need to integrate principles from ecological economics and social sciences. This suggests that for design projects aiming for true sustainability, it is crucial to consider and potentially redesign the associated business model to prioritize ecological and social well-being alongside economic viability, moving beyond a purely profit-driven approach.
Source
Organization & Environment
An Ontology for Strongly Sustainable Business Models
journal · 2015
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about strongly sustainable business models require a paradigm shift beyond profit-centric frameworks?
- When designing products or services, consider how the underlying business model can be structured to actively promote ecological and social well-being, rather than merely minimizing harm. Evidence: Organization & Environment (2015).
- Why does "Strongly Sustainable Business Models Require a Paradigm Shift Beyond Profit-Centric Frameworks" matter for design?
- Designers and engineers are increasingly tasked with creating products and systems that are not only functional and desirable but also environmentally and socially responsible. Understanding the underlying business models that drive product development is crucial for embedding sustainability from the outset.
- How can designers apply this research?
- When designing products or services, consider how the underlying business model can be structured to actively promote ecological and social well-being, rather than merely minimizing harm.
- What were the main findings?
- Profit-oriented business model ontologies are insufficient for describing strongly sustainable business models.. A new ontology is required that incorporates principles from ecological economics and natural, social, and system sciences.. Strongly sustainable business models necessitate a re-evaluation of core business propositions and principles.
- What research method was used?
- Literature Review and Comparative Analysis.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2015 journal from Organization & Environment.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When developing new products or services, use the principles of strong sustainability to question and redesign the associated business model, ensuring it aligns with long-term ecological and social goals.
- What are the limitations?
- The proposed ontology is theoretical and requires further validation through practical application and case studies.