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Leading Business Model Research: The Seven Schools of Thought

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Exploring the Field of Business Model Innovation

Abstract

This chapter examines how business model research has been addressed in the past by presenting the seven dominant schools of thought on business models. Each of their theoretical background particularly enables us to understand patterns, causal and logical relationships, as well as processes of business models. By analysing a case from the perspective of each school of thought, the schools are portrayed in a comprehensive manner. In addition, commonalities, overlaps, and differences such as their demarcation from strategy research are discussed. The chapter rounds off in building the bridge to the subsequent chapters of this book and highlighting the role of theories for explaining the phenomenon.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Technology Management, University of St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland

    Oliver Gassmann & Roman Sauer

  2. Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland

    Karolin Frankenberger

Authors
  1. Oliver Gassmann
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  2. Karolin Frankenberger
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  3. Roman Sauer
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Gassmann, O., Frankenberger, K., Sauer, R. (2016). Leading Business Model Research: The Seven Schools of Thought. In: Exploring the Field of Business Model Innovation. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41144-6_2

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