Short answer

When exploring business model innovation driven by digitalization, prioritize understanding how your existing value proposition and network position enable or constrain new digital opportunities, and proactively address internal skill gaps.

Field
Innovation & Design
Source
Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management (2018)
Method
Qualitative empirical research
Sample
12 key informants
Evidence
Moderate effect

Digitalization significantly influences business model innovation by creating new opportunities for value creation, proposition, and capture, but the extent to which these opportunities are realized depends on a company's existing value proposition and its position within the value network. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2018 study published in Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management. Using Qualitative empirical research with 12 key informants, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When exploring business model innovation driven by digitalization, prioritize understanding how your existing value proposition and network position enable or constrain new digital opportunities, and proactively address internal skill gaps.

Study
Innovation & DesignHigh ImpactModerate effect

Digitalization Drives Business Model Innovation by Reshaping Value Propositions and Network Positions

Digitalization significantly influences business model innovation by creating new opportunities for value creation, proposition, and capture, but the extent to which these opportunities are realized depends on a company's existing value proposition and its position within the value network.

Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management · 2018

01

Key Findings

  • 01Digitalization is perceived as important for business model innovation.
  • 02The perceived options for business model innovation through digitalization are determined by the value proposition and the company's position in the value network.
  • 03Organizational capacities and employee competences are identified as future challenges for industries adapting to digitalization.
02

Application

Design takeaway

When exploring business model innovation driven by digitalization, prioritize understanding how your existing value proposition and network position enable or constrain new digital opportunities, and proactively address internal skill gaps.

How to apply

When developing a new digital product or service, consider how it might alter your company's value proposition and its relationships within the broader industry value chain. Assess the internal readiness for digital transformation.

Project actions

  • 01When researching a new product, consider how digital technologies could enable a new business model, not just a new feature.
  • 02Analyze how your proposed product fits into the existing value chain and how it might change customer relationships.
03

Method & Evidence

AimTo explore how digitalization influences business model innovation, specifically examining its impact on value creation, proposition, and capture, and how companies navigate these changes.
MethodQualitative empirical research
ProcedureConducted in-depth interviews with key informants from the media and automotive industries to understand their perspectives on digitalization and its effects on business models.
Sample12 key informants
ContextMedia and automotive industries

Variables

IVDigitalization
DVBusiness model innovation (value creation, proposition, capture)
CVIndustry (media, automotive), Company position in value network, Value proposition
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Provides empirical insights into a growing area of research.
  • +Focuses on practical aspects of business model innovation in response to digitalization.

Limitations

The findings are based on a small sample from specific industries, so they might not apply to all businesses or sectors. The qualitative nature means interpretations can vary.

Reliability & validity

The qualitative approach with a small sample size may limit the generalizability and statistical reliability. Validity is enhanced by focusing on in-depth insights from industry experts.

Think critically

To what extent do the identified challenges in organizational capacities and employee competences represent a barrier to innovation, and how can design interventions mitigate these barriers?

05

Design Principles

"Digitalization opportunities for business model innovation are contingent upon a firm's existing value proposition and its strategic positioning within the industry's value network."

Understanding how digitalization impacts business models is crucial for strategic planning and competitive advantage. Designers and strategists must consider how digital technologies can be leveraged not just for new products or services, but to fundamentally alter how value is delivered and captured within an industry.

06

What This Means for Your Design

Digital tools can help businesses change how they make and sell things, but how much they can change depends on what they already offer and their place in the market. Companies also need to make sure their staff have the right skills for these changes.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Use this research to justify exploring business model innovation as part of your design project, especially if digitalization is a factor.
  • 2.Reference the findings to explain why understanding value propositions and network positions is critical for successful business model adaptation.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research highlights that digitalization's impact on business model innovation is significant, influencing value creation, proposition, and capture. However, the successful exploitation of these digital opportunities is heavily dependent on a company's existing value proposition and its position within the broader value network. Furthermore, the study identifies organizational capacities and employee competencies as critical factors for navigating these changes, suggesting that any design project aiming for business model innovation must consider these internal elements alongside external market dynamics.

09

Source

Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management

Digitalization and its influence on business model innovation

journal · 2018

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about digitalization drives business model innovation by reshaping value propositions and network positions?
When exploring business model innovation driven by digitalization, prioritize understanding how your existing value proposition and network position enable or constrain new digital opportunities, and proactively address internal skill gaps. Evidence: Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management (2018).
Why does "Digitalization Drives Business Model Innovation by Reshaping Value Propositions and Network Positions" matter for design?
Understanding how digitalization impacts business models is crucial for strategic planning and competitive advantage. Designers and strategists must consider how digital technologies can be leveraged not just for new products or services, but to fundamentally alter how value is delivered and captured within an industry.
How can designers apply this research?
When exploring business model innovation driven by digitalization, prioritize understanding how your existing value proposition and network position enable or constrain new digital opportunities, and proactively address internal skill gaps.
What were the main findings?
Digitalization is perceived as important for business model innovation.. The perceived options for business model innovation through digitalization are determined by the value proposition and the company's position in the value network.. Organizational capacities and employee competences are identified as future challenges for industries adapting to digitalization.
What research method was used?
Qualitative empirical research with 12 key informants.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2018 journal from Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management.
What should I do differently in my next project?
When developing a new digital product or service, consider how it might alter your company's value proposition and its relationships within the broader industry value chain. Assess the internal readiness for digital transformation.
What are the limitations?
The study is limited to two specific industries (media and automotive) and relies on qualitative data from a small number of key informants, which may limit the generalizability of findings to other sectors or a broader population.