Business model innovation in Swiss SMEs ::a co-word analysis

Business model innovation (BMI) is increasingly relevant to practitioners as companies look for alternative ways to compete beyond product or process innovations (Henry Chesbrough, 2007; IBM, 2016). Whereas products and processes can often be easily copied by competitors, the dynamic and complex nature of BMI makes it harder to do so (Amit & Zott, 2012; Schneider & Spieth, 2014). Despite clear advantages, BMI tools and processes are deficient (Osterwalder & Pigneur, 2003; Zott, Amit, & Massa, 2011). One reason may be due to the lack of empirical and theoretical research to support BMI within organizations (Venkatraman & Henderson, 1998). In order to promote the establishment of adequate management frameworks and mechanisms that lead to BMI, more empirical foundations are necessary (Sosna, Trevinyo-Rodríguez, & Velamuri, 2010). Theory development should evolve toward a construct that best approaches “the hypothesized course of [observed] events” (Weber, 1949, p. 44) aimed at rigorous theory building (George & Bock, 2011). By elaborating a review and presenting findings from an inductive study of practitioner perspectives, our aim is to better understand BMI in order to advance scholarly knowledge and research. In a nutshell, to provide a preliminary bridge from the phenomenon in managerial practice to the literature. The findings of the analysis are discussed and implications are drawn in the conclusion. Finally, the limitations are stated and recommendations for future research presented