Cooperative capacity and sustainable transportation: an emerging business model

摘要

Purpose: We discuss business model innovation and show how the concepts of cooperation and sustainability can offer the paradigmatic contexts that enlarge the decisional capacity of organizations to a resource abundance logic from the more traditional resource scarcity logic. In contrast to the more typical competitive strategic models, cooperative capacity is seen as having the potential to enhance performance outcomes for multiple players that may otherwise find themselves in positions of indirect competition. We argue that, by expanding the scope of substitution and by accepting nontraditional alliance frameworks, organizations can improve their own performance and contribute significantly to solving societal and environmental problems. Design: To illustrate, we offer the example of sustainable transportation, where cities display creative and comprehensive solutions through total transit cooperative models. Research Limitations: The research is limited by the scope of the research context, which for the purpose of this paper was focused on public transit. We offer suggestions for further research that can expand on the findings of this paper. Findings: The findings suggest that some types of cooperative strategies can have better chance of success than others. We show the conditions necessary for these strategies to be implemented successfully. Originality: The study examines innovative business modeling in the context of sustainability and shows how organizations can design cooperative arrangements with indirect competitors. Implications: We show how this model has implications for research and holds significant potential in industries than public transportation as well.