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How to respond to social and environmental concerns while pursuing economic goals remained a dilemma for today’s businesses. Besides, the digital revolution has profoundly changed people's lifestyles, turning out the challenge of how to present products and services to the new generations of consumers through emerging digital channels. To overcome these challenges, a business needs to rely on its internal capabilities but must make them dynamic and modify them, when necessary, in response to or anticipation of external changes. This study aims to propose a model for business model innovation (BMI) with the goal of pursuing sustainability and adapting to the changes of the digital age pursuing dynamic capabilities principles.

This study followed a mixed-method design, using meta-synthesis in its first phase (qualitative) and interpretive structural modelling in its second phase (quantitative).

The proposed model consists of four layers including approach, aspect, dimension and component. Based on quantitative results, the 16 dimensions were categorised in four main levels of “sustainable computing”, “sustainable execution”, “sustainable engagement” and “sustainable results”. Considering sustainability and digital transformation as main change drivers for contemporary businesses, this paper proposes a novel framework in the field of BMI.

The results of this study suggest that BMI requires not only proper business design based on social and environmental sustainability and digital transformation requirements but also attention to a new component called sustainable engagement, which represents the need for engaging with social and environmental issues in addition to customers.

Horses play an important role in the agricultural industry around the world. The equestrian sector offers new markets and sustainable business opportunities. This paper, based on a structural equation modelling approach, seeks to explore the interests of Romanian entrepreneurs in developing a sustainable business in the equestrian sector by investing in the use of horse manure. This manure is an important renewable resource in the circular economy, including in the production of bioenergy and bio-fertilizers. The present research investigates whether there is an interest in developing such a business in Romania, built around three pillars: the environment, society and the economy.

PLS-SEM is an appropriate method for this research, where prediction of interest for sustainable entrepreneurship plays a central role. In total, 153 responses have been collected and validated based on a questionnaire and the invitations to complete were sent to people who are already entrepreneurs or have intention to become entrepreneurs in the near future.

The structural model shows that society's interest has the strongest effect on developing a sustainable business model through horse manure. Surprisingly, the study does not reflect an expected correlation between the interest in the environment and the development of a sustainable business model through horse manure resulting in bioenergy.

This study contributes to arousing the interest in research and even the development of a business by presenting the sustainability factors in the horse industry and adopting technological innovations, services, products and business models. The study was conducted in Romania, where, currently, the manure produced by horses is underexploited, and the equestrian sector requires new business models, innovations and sustainable development.

This study aims to analyze the internal and external factors of the acceptance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to implemented sustainable business model innovations (SBMI) that depend on external factors, dynamic performance expectancy, facilitating conditions, social influence, effort expectancy, hedonic motivation and factor internal speed.

This is a quantitative method research project conducted through a survey of SMEs in Semarang, Central Java, from February to June 2021. SMEs that have been operated to sustainable business were chosen purposively as samples. Based on the requirement, there are 220 entities used in this study. Data analysis was conducted by using Structural Equation Model.

The results of this study provide empirical support that the factors studied affect the acceptance of SME business actors toward the implementation of SBMI. The application of this SBMI is used to design and implement a sustainable business model for SME businesses. This study has identified, explained and empirically supported the behavioral structures (composites and factors) that influence the adoption of SBMIs that are commonly available for business modeling.

The main limitation of this research is the static view of the structure (construction) that influences the use or application of SBMI by SME actors which often changes over time, experience and failure.

This study supports the execution of sustainable innovation initiatives that have yet to be investigated at the strategic, operational and tactical levels. This is especially true when beginning a firm, because entrepreneurs encounter uncertainty while putting their plans into action at one of three levels: strategic, operational or tactical.

This chapter examines the significance of green innovation and technologies for sustainable business in Asia, focussing on the issues and challenges confronted by contemporary sustainable business models. The concept of sustainable development is introduced, which seeks to minimize negative impacts on ecosystems and preserve the environment for future generations. This chapter's methodology entails a comprehensive review of existing literature and research on green innovation, green technology, and sustainable business models in Asia. The expansion of ‘green’ energy is directly proportional to the global demand for energy resources. Understanding how green innovation influences a company's capacity for sustainable development is essential for identifying the factors that influence sustainable business models and their economic consequences. Green innovation practices encompass a variety of factors, including government regulations, preferences, supplier competence, and consumer concerns. Green technologies, such as green human resource management (HRM) practices and green innovation practices, play a crucial role in attaining sustainable development by conserving energy, protecting the environment, and enhancing business efficiency. Businesses that adopt green innovation acquire a competitive edge and enhance their performance. This chapter emphasizes the importance of green innovation research and application for business stability in Asia, where sustainability and green concepts are acquiring momentum. Customer, government, and societal pressures further emphasize the significance of green innovation in businesses. For the success of ecological innovation practices, collaboration and knowledge-sharing among various stakeholders are crucial. The adoption of green innovation practices is influenced by external environmental impacts, stakeholder pressure, and organizational support. Green technology innovation, which concentrates on resource conservation, energy efficiency, and environmental protection, is crucial to the sustainability of a business. This chapter concludes by emphasizing the importance of business sustainability in achieving environmental and economic goals and assuring sustainable corporate development. Long-term success requires an understanding of the process of value creation, delivery, and capture within sustainable business models.

This study aims to analyse the components of sustainable business models (SBMs) in the dairy industry, in relation to firm-relevant organisational features (size, ownership structure and production process) and through the lenses of the business model framework and the sustainable value exchange matrix (SVEM). This contribution proposes a taxonomy of emerging SBMs and sustainable value creation in the dairy industry.

This research makes use of a multiple case study approach, with cases selected in collaboration with industry experts. The selected firms are highly committed to sustainability transition. Results are drawn from qualitative data obtained from in-depth interviews and secondary sources. The interpretation phases, initially based on open coding, have been enriched by applying the components of business models (BMs) frameworks and the SVEM, and the analyses have been enhanced through an additional interpretative workshop with experts.

The authors related the BMs characteristics of some typical dairy firms transitioning to sustainability, using SBM components and taxonomies emerging in the literature, based on the formalisation of sustainability practices, the scope of operations, and the degree of integration of the three dimensions of sustainable value. These findings led to the discovery of three types of SBM in this dairy industry, referred to as “Milky Ways”.

This paper contributes to the scant literature on sustainability in dairy firms, highlighting the different paths followed by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), cooperatives and large companies in remoulding their business models towards sustainability and thus achieving sustainable value creation.

Sustainable management requires companies to build up new knowledge to acquire the competencies needed for action. This chapter aims to deliver knowledge about sustainability and knowledge for sustainability. Firstly, we systematically analyse the sustainability literature in the social sciences through a bibliographic analysis and topic modelling using VOSviewer and Mallet software. We outline research directions, themes and critical contributions for each research cluster identified. Additionally, we categorise over 30 definitions of sustainability identified by Meuer, Koelbel, and Hoffmann (2020). Secondly, we enumerate knowledge types needed for effective sustainability transitions of organisations. We trace typologies of sustainable business models and their distinct evaluations of sustainability. In this chapter, we argue that integrating the triad of social, ecological and economic goals is central for sustainability attempts as well as long-term thinking. Therefore, our research offers a comprehensive overview of sustainability in the social sciences supporting researchers and practitioners to navigate this miscellaneous and scattered field. Accordingly, our study is precious to young scholars researching sustainability who want to use the term in an informed and meaningful way.

This study aims to synthesize the body of sustainable value creation (SVC) research within sustainable business model literature through a systematic literature review.

A systematic literature review of 85 research articles of SVC through business models from 2011 to 2020.

The systematic literature review allowed the authors to identify five core SVC elements: value forms, stakeholders, temporal view, spatial view and tensions and conflicts. Moreover, a conceptual framework presenting the interrelationships of the SVC elements is proposed.

This study carries implications for practitioners in the form of guiding questions provided in the framework. Those questions help responsible managers to plan, identify and choose strategic sustainability actions and to develop companies’ business models aiming to lead to the creation of long-term sustainable value in different time frames and locations or different parts of the value network. Additionally, the framework guides managers to identify and manage potential tensions and conflicts which can otherwise hinder SVC.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first systematic literature review of SVC through business models with the conceptual development of SVC. The study synthesizes the fragmented literature to identify SVC elements and build basis for conceptualization of SVC through business models.

As the size of the population is growing and the capacity of the planet Earth is limited, human beings are searching for sustainable and technology-enabled solutions to support society, ecology and economy. One of the solutions has been developing smart sustainable cities. Smart sustainable cities are cities as systems, where their infrastructure, different subsystems and different functional domains are virtually connected to the information and communication technologies (ICT) and internet via sensors and devices and the Internet of Things (IoT), to collect and process real-time Big Data and make efficient, effective and sustainable solutions for a democratic and liveable city for its various stakeholders. This chapter explores the concepts and practices of sustainable smart cities across the globe and explores the use of technologies such as IoT, Blockchain technology and Cloud computing, etc. their challenges and then presents a view on business models for sustainable smart cities.

The purpose of this study is to discuss the construction of a structural measurement model utilizing structural equation modelling (SEM) to confirm the link between Industry 4.0 technologies, sustainable manufacturing practices and organizational sustainable performance. Relationship among the paradigm has yet to be fully investigated, necessitating a more conceptual and empirical examination on what impact they have on organizational sustainable performance when used together.

Industry 4.0 and sustainable production practices aim to progress a company's business competitiveness, forming sustainable development that benefits manufacturing companies. The aim of the study is to analyze the relationship between constructs that lead to operational excellence in firms that use Industry 4.0 technologies and sustainable manufacturing techniques. Experts from diverse automotive industries, who are applying both Industry 4.0 and sustainable manufacturing practices, provided data for the study.

Statistical estimations (hypotheses) are created to substantiate the measurement model that has been developed. The structural model was analysed, and the findings were discussed. The statistical estimate is either approved or rejected based on the findings. According to the conclusions of this study, strong link exists between Industry 4.0 technologies and sustainable manufacturing practices that affect organizational sustainable performance environmentally, economically and socially.

The research was conducted in the framework of automobile component manufacturing companies in India. The outcomes of the study are practically feasible.

The authors' novel contribution is the construction of a structural model with Industry 4.0 technologies and sustainable manufacturing practices into account.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between dynamic capabilities and sustainable business performance in Vietnamese small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), focusing on the mediating role of digitalization strategies. Specifically, the authors seek to explore whether and how the three critical characteristics of dynamic capabilities (DCs) – sensing, seizing and transforming capabilities – are linked to business model innovation (BMI) or sustained performance and what dimensions contribute to their development and adoption in digitalization strategies.

The authors analyse a sample of 596 Vietnamese SMEs using a validated measurement framework to explore the three clusters of DCs activities and their contributions to digitalization strategies, BMI and sustainable business performance across economic, social and environmental dimensions.

The study highlights the pivotal role of sensing, seizing and transforming capabilities in the adoption of digitalization strategies, BMI, as well as in promoting sustainable business performance. Firstly, sensing capability profoundly influences product digitalization strategy, whereas seizing capability has the greatest impact on process digitalization strategy. Secondly, sensing and transforming capabilities significantly contribute to BMI. Thirdly, both process and product digitalization strategies exert a significant positive influence on sustainable business performance, especially the environmental dimension. Finally, the study exhibits the indirect impacts of seizing and sensing capabilities on sustainable business performance through product and process digitization strategies.

This study extends recent research by investigating the DCs underlying a firm’s digitalization strategies and contribute to ongoing calls for further investigation in the DCs literature. This research design, which draws from a validated measurement framework, responds to recent calls to broaden the toolkit used in DCs research. The practical implications of this study can benefit SMEs in Vietnam and beyond as they seek to enhance their digitalization strategies and achieve sustainable competitive advantage.