Hybrid Business Models Research Articles

Адаптація гібридних бізнес-моделей до виду діяльності суб’єкта малого підприємництва

The relevance of the study is driven by the need to identify effective strategies for small business development in the context of dynamic changes in the economic environment. Hybrid business models combine various approaches to business operations, enabling increased flexibility, competitiveness, and adaptability of small enterprises to market challenges. It is important to analyze the implementation of such models in various sectors of Ukraine's economy, considering the specific characteristics of each type of activity. The aim of the study is to adapt hybrid business models to the types of activities of small businesses in Ukraine, identify their advantages and vulnerabilities, and assess the impact of these models on the stability and competitiveness of enterprises. To achieve the stated goal, a comprehensive approach was used, including a literature review, statistical analysis of the structure of small businesses in Ukraine, comparative analysis of traditional and hybrid business models, and the case study method. The main research hypothesis is that adapting hybrid business models according to the type of small enterprise activity contributes to its effective development, enhances competitiveness, and reduces risks. The results of the study confirm that the use of hybrid business models enables small businesses to expand markets, minimize costs, and quickly adapt to changing conditions. The most effective hybrid models have been identified for various economic sectors, including trade, manufacturing, services, and the IT sector. The scientific novelty of the study lies in determining the key factors for the successful implementation of hybrid business models in small businesses, depending on the type of activity. The obtained results can be utilized by entrepreneurs, consultants, and policymakers to develop strategies for supporting small businesses. Future research prospects include the development of detailed recommendations for implementing specific hybrid models in small businesses, analyzing their impact on financial performance, and assessing the long-term effectiveness of these models.

The multidimensionality of the collaborative economy in the light of the constitutional relations between the EU and the member states

Some platforms in the collaborative economy offer a combination of sectoral and information society services, which characterises them as a hybrid entity. The concurrent provision of disparate types of services necessitates the determination of the predominant activity of a given platform on a case-by-case basis. This, in turn, gives rise to legal uncertainty and inconsistent case law at the national level. This paper examines the impact of the choice of institutional alternatives in the context of multilevel governance in the EU on the legal status of collaborative economy business models such as Uber and Airbnb in the EU single market. The paper employs a mixed-methods research approach to analyse pivotal jurisprudential decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) and national courts. It reaches the conclusion that the Airbnb platform, in its capacity as an information society service provider, is subject to the provisions of the Electronic Commerce Directive (2000/31/EC). Conversely, Uber, by virtue of its definition as a transport undertaking, is subject to shared jurisdiction between EU institutions and Member States in the field of transport services. This paper initiates a discussion on the suitability of the extant regulatory apparatus and underscores the necessity for the establishment of an appropriate institutional framework, either centralised at the EU level or decentralised at the level of Member States, that would provide substantive rules aimed at comprehensively regulating the legal status of hybrid business models, thus allowing for more uniform conditions for their operation in the EU single market.

РОЛЬ ФИТНЕС-ИНДУСТРИИ В СОЗДАНИИ РАБОЧИХ МЕСТ И ПОДДЕРЖКЕ МАЛОГО ПРЕДПРИНИМАТЕЛЬСТВА

The article analyzes the role of the fitness industry in creating jobs and supporting small businesses. The paper examines the mechanisms contributing to the development of the industry, including government support, digital transformation and modern business models. The study uses statistical analysis, a comparative approach, as well as an overview of modern economic models of fitness business management. The authors use data from official sources, scientific publications, and industry analytics. The main results of the study show that the fitness industry is an important source of employment, providing jobs for trainers, administrative staff, marketers and digital technology specialists. Small businesses in this area are characterized by high adaptability and flexibility in responding to market changes. Government support in the form of preferential taxation, subsidies and educational programs helps to increase the number of small businesses in the fitness industry, stimulating investments in the development of sports infrastructure. Digitalization affects the development of the industry through the introduction of CRM systems, online courses, mobile applications and personalized training programs, optimizing business management, expanding the customer audience and increasing the competitiveness of organizations. It is expected to strengthen the role of digital technologies, the development of hybrid business models and the expansion of government support, which will lead to the growth of the fitness services market.

Quality as the cornerstone in hybrid business models: building brands and shaping consumer behaviour

PurposeThis research explores how perceived product and service quality affect brand equity within hybrid business models, particularly in the automotive industry. Additionally, it examines how brand equity influences consumer behavioural intentions, emphasising the mediating role of consumer satisfaction.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative approach was utilized, employing a survey to gather data from a diverse sample of automobile consumers in India’s National Capital Region. PLS-SEM was applied to analyse the relationships among the constructs.FindingsThe results indicated that product and service quality significantly enhanced brand equity, with service quality exerting a more substantial influence. Furthermore, brand equity positively influenced consumer behavioural intentions, such as repurchase intentions and word-of-mouth referrals, with consumer satisfaction as a partial mediator in this relationship.Originality/valueThis research pioneers a fresh perspective by delving into hybrid business models that integrate products and services, providing a comprehensive understanding of how perceived quality builds brand equity, which in turn drives favourable consumer behaviours. Notably, the study integrates three theoretical frameworks, consumer empowerment, the compensatory effect and the theory of reasoned action, to offer deeper insights into research on quality, brand management and consumer behaviour within the automotive context.

Unlocking the potentials of hybrid business models in the sharing economy: an integrative review and new research agenda

ABSTRACT Based on a review and synthesis of literature on Hybrid Business Models (HBMs) and the sharing economy (SE), this study advances a conceptual framework for HBMs in the context of the SE. The study sheds light on key research themes within the domain of HBMs, encompassing value proposition, governance and coordination, resource allocation, sustainability, reputation building, communication channels, and key sharing ecosystem partners. These models integrate elements such as access, platform, and the community-based economy, which are crucial for SE dynamics. This integration represents the best of both approaches, creating a balanced strategy and strengthening overall business operations The managerial implications, including the need for managers to leverage information technology for developments, are identified and outlined.

Bridging the Gap Transnationally—Coupling Migrants' Informal and Formal Business Activities Through Hybrid Business Models

Bridging the Gap Transnationally—Coupling Migrants' Informal and Formal Business Activities Through Hybrid Business Models

The company of the future: Integrating sustainability, growth, and profitability in contemporary business models

The company of the future: Integrating sustainability, growth, and profitability in contemporary business models

Examining local community socio-economic benefits from community forest programmes in Namibia

ABSTRACT Although academic debates since the 1990s have focused on the outcomes of community forest management interventions these debates have not been widespread within the African context. Literature on a hybrid business model to enable socio-economic security for communities has generally been inadequate. This study examined the socio-economic benefits derived from the Okongo and Uukolonkadhi community forests in Namibia to better understand the local communities’ perceptions of forest management beneficiation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with residents of these community forests and key government and civil society informants involved with forest management programmes. Although there is an enabling framework in place for benefit sharing, these are unequal, and most residents are unaware of the benefit distribution plans. The government also lacks sufficient economic and technical resources to support communities in developing inclusive hybrid business models. Scholarship must consider the divergent southern geographic contextual challenges to better understand forest beneficiation outcomes.

The pathway to net-zero emission in aviation – How much can we rely on sustainable aviation fuel?

The pathway to net-zero emission in aviation – How much can we rely on sustainable aviation fuel?

融合B2C和G2C的Metaverse： 旅游业的新商业模式

The Metaverse, a buzzword after last pandemic, is accepted as a functional tool enable for multi sided platforms in a single phygital world. The key contributions of this article include an organized evaluation of metaverse concepts, components, main facilitator technologies and implementation in tourism and a critical analysis of how metaverse can be facilitated in tourism including designing a new metaverse ecosystem by means of Metaverse as a service (MaaS) platform. In designed metaverse, it is aimed to merge two business models B2C &G2C to construct a new hybrid business model B2CG2Ccamping, glamping activities. In order to concrete the designed metaverse, two scenarios were generated by means of scenario-based approach. The metaverse designed by means of Spatial.io on a desktop computer with a 512 GB capacity with processor 11th Gen Intel(R) Core (TM) i9-11950H @ 2.60GHz 2.61 GHz, 16.0 GB RAM, 64-bit -Windows 10 Enterprises. Results show that designed metaverse is applicable for tourism activities such as glamping as a case on this study. Besides, the designed ecosystem approved the two business models can be merged in a one platform: Metaverse.

СОВЕРШЕНСТВОВАНИЕ НАЛОГОВОГО АДМИНИСТРИРОВАНИЯ В УСЛОВИЯХ ЦИФРОВОЙ ЭКОНОМИКИ: ПРАВОВЫЕ АСПЕКТЫ

The dynamic development of information technology, which currently is taking place all over the world, is changing the existing conditions in the economy and public administration. Borders between countries have not been perceived as a barrier to information and financial flows for a long time, and the mobility of capital and the development of financial technologies have led to the fact that the minimization of taxpayers' obligations is increasingly taking place in the digital field. New virtual and hybrid business models are being created, the spread of digital goods and services is accompanied by the development of fraud in the field of electronic commerce, and the emergence of startups based on modern technological solutions leads to the invention of shadow digital assets. As a result, the behavior of not only consumers but also professional participants in the turnover, as well as government agencies, is changing.

Sustainable Social Enterprise Built by Empowering Women Artisans: A Case of Gramshree, India

This case presents the hybrid business model of a social venture Gramshree. It provides a detailed description of the dilemma faced by the board of trustees regarding the selection of marketing channels for Gramshree to bring sustainability to the business. Gramshree aimed at empowering women artisans by ensuring a steady income for them so that they could become a catalyst for sustainable economic development and social change. However, with growing competition and difficulties in selling, generating market demand was a key challenge for Gramshree. This case illustrates the strategies for the development and value creation of a hybrid social business model. It also describes the challenges faced by social organizations. The case provides an opportunity to evaluate the current situation and proposes a solution for the sustainability of the organization.

Overcoming the challenges of cooperative startups businesses: insights from a bibliometric network analysis

In recent decades, advances in technology have led to the adaptation of business models to the connected era. This has resulted in the modification of the goals of both startup and cooperative models, leading to the emergence of a new hybrid business model combining the two and known as cooperative startups. The present study aims to investigate the evolution, functioning and characteristics of cooperative startups as a potential research area that may be of future relevance due to its potential growth. To this end, a bibliometric analysis using Web of Sciences academic database and VOSViewer software is conducted to identify specific characteristics, opportunities, and challenges that cooperative startups should understand in order to achieve business success. In this regard, a co-citation analysis, bibliographic coupling and keyword concurrency analysis are computed to understand the literature published in this research field to date. The findings of this analysis contribute to the creation of knowledge on cooperative startups identifying 19 future research questions linked to 5 research categories in cooperatives startups: strategy, members of the team, performance, finance and economy and innovation. The results provide insights on the challenges and characteristics of this new business model that is characterized by the management of investments and economy democracy while boosting innovation and handling competence. Finally, theoretical and practical implications are presented.

The National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Digital Transformation: An Explanatory Case Study

Purpose. Digital transformation in the global sport industry has resulted in digitally focused business strategies, innovative business models, targeted social media marketing strategies, increased consumer, and sponsor demand, accelerated growth in women’s sports, and streaming media (OTT) worldwide. This paper aims to study the case of the U.S.-based National Basketball Association’s (NBA) digital transformation, including multiple interactions of actors in the digital transformation process. A key aim is understanding the synergies resulting from the league’s integration of digital technologies, its business strategy, the evolution of its hybrid business model and the increase in revenue and global branding. Design/methodology/approach. An explanatory case study design was selected to examine the NBA’s integration of digital technologies, digital and social media marketing strategies, business model innovation, multimedia partnerships, and strategic sponsorships. Data was derived from: (1) academic journals; (2) research based white papers; (3) sport industry reports and periodicals; (4) selected sport industry websites; and (5) recorded interviews with selected NBA officials. Gleaned content was analysed with a theory-oriented triangulation approach. The study period was from 2000 to 2023. Findings. The NBA’s digital transformation, led by an entrepreneurial management team contributed to a successful business strategy aimed at engaging with digitally focused consumers across multiple media channels. The NBA developed an ecosystem-based consumer-focused hybrid business model, content-focused digital assets, and partnerships with media, brands, and cultural events. Its media partnerships and strategic sponsorships are synergistic with its business and marketing objectives, digital initiatives, and acquisitions. By the 2017-2018 season, the NBA had validated its position as a successful global entertainment property. Originality/value. This paper examined the NBA’s digital transformation, including how the league integrated digital technologies with its business strategy and model to increase revenue and create a global brand. The analysis examined how the NBA’s digital transformation facilitated the league’s business strategy, enhanced the NBA fan experience, generated revenue from innovative digital products and services, and transformed its business model. The NBA’s business strategy and hybrid business model provide an exemplar for professional teams, leagues, and federations worldwide seeking to digitally transform their enterprises.

When the window of opportunity opens: how does open search impact the business model design of digital startups?

ABSTRACT Open search is crucial to business model design. In recent years, the digital revolution has significantly reshaped the open search environment and the business model landscape. The traditional ‘either/or’ paradigm that separately tests the effects of open search breadth and depth on business model design is no longer applicable. By introducing the ‘both/and’ paradigm, this study explores how open search breadth and depth, both jointly and in an orderly manner, impact hybrid business model design. Using a sample of digital startups during the opportunity window of China’s digital entrepreneurship, we find that open search breadth positively relates to the balance between technology- and consumer-oriented business models. Furthermore, under the premise of high breadth, open search depth shows a U-shaped relationship with this balance. This study not only enriches our knowledge of the antecedents of business model design but also provides a comprehensive understanding of the role of open search.

Financing social entrepreneurship in tourism in a volatile environment

ABSTRACT This exploratory study focuses on the understudied area of financial services available to tourism social entrepreneurs. Understanding the unique user experience of fundraising by tourism social entrepreneurs leading hybrid business models, where social value creation is intertwined with profitability, gives us insights into the effectiveness of current finance tools, especially during crises. These insights can help optimize financial instruments that contribute towards higher volumes of successful social entrepreneurship in tourism, ensuring their survival during crises. Data was collected during COVID-19 through qualitative semi-structured interviews. Findings suggest a need for more understanding of relevant social business models by financial providers and a dearth of trust in tourism businesses. The conceptual framework presented in this paper takes an empathetic approach to understand the user experience of tourism social entrepreneurs, using a grounded theory approach to improve existing financial tools. This study is relevant to entities dedicated to financing tourism businesses, tourism social entrepreneurs, and policymakers keen on developing tourism for economic and community development while simultaneously contributing to the scant literature on social finance.

Antitrust Unchained: The EU’s Case Against Self-Preferencing

Abstract Self-preferencing is the symbol of the competition policy Zeitgeist in digital markets. Large online platforms acting as gatekeepers to their ecosystems and engaging in a dual mode intermediation are accused of taking advantage of their hybrid business model by granting preferential treatment to their own products and services. Alongside the recent legislative initiatives undertaken around the world to impose a neutrality regime over digital gatekeepers by targeting different forms of self-preferencing, this practice is also emerging in Europe as a new antitrust theory of harm advanced by courts and competition authorities. In the aftermath of the General Court’s decision in Google Shopping and against the risk that the new label may merely provide antitrust enforcers with the opportunity to skip the legal standards and evidentiary burdens required to prove traditional anticompetitive behavior, this paper investigates whether and to what extent self-preferencing could be considered a new standalone offence in EU competition law.

Innovative Data-Driven Energy Services and Business Models in the Domestic Building Sector

The market of energy services for the residential sector in Europe is very limited at present. Various reasons can be argued such as the high transaction costs in a highly fragmented market and the low energy consumption per dwelling. The rather long payback time for investments render Energy Services Companies’ (ESCOs) services financially unattractive for many ESCOs and building residents, thus hindering a large potential of energy savings in a sector that is responsible of almost half of Europe’s energy consumption. If the ambitious 2030 and 2050’s decarbonisation targets are to be met, the EU’s residential sector must be part of the solution. This paper offers insights about novel ESCO business models based on intensive data-driven Artificial Intelligence algorithms and analytics that enable the deployment of smart energy services in the domestic sector under a Pay-for-Performance (P4P) approach. The combination of different sources of energy efficiency services and the optimal participation of domestic consumers in aggregated demand response (DR) schemes open the door to new revenue streams for energy service providers and building residents and reduce the hitherto long payback periods of ESCOs services in the sector. Innovative business models for ESCOs and demand flexibility Aggregators are thoroughly described. Especially customised Performance Measurement and Verification protocols enable fair and transparent P4P ESCO contracts. The new human-centric energy and non-energy services increase the energy consumption awareness of building users and deploy behavioural and automated responses to both environmental and market signals to maximise the economic benefit for both energy service providers and consumers, always respecting data protection rules and the consumers’ comfort preferences. The new hybrid business models of P4P energy services make traditional EPC more attractive to energy service providers, with low cost data collection and treatment systems to bring payback periods below 10 years in the residential building sector.

The impact of the pandemic on the business models of air cargo carriers

The impact of the pandemic on the business models of air cargo carriers

Social Enterprises, Cooperatives or Benefit Corporations? On Reconciling Profit and the Common Good in Doing Business from a Polish Perspective

The aim of the article is to demonstrate that economic, technological and social changes, also thanks to the principle of sustainable development, lead to the transformation of existing and the emergence of new hybrid forms of conducting business activity. On one hand, there is a noticeable expansion of social economy mechanisms that reflect an ‘economic’ approach to providing broadly defined goods and services in the public interest, and there is also resurgence of democratic member-based organizations (DMOs), such as cooperatives with their dual nature and social and economic dimensions. On the other hand, traditional forms of for-profit business are transforming into entities that integrate social and environmental goals into business, known as Sustainability-Driven Hybrid Business Models (SHBMs), and of which benefit corporations (like U.S. Benefit Corporation or Social Purpose Corporation, Italian Societ. Benefit or French Soci.t. . mission) are an example. The transformation and emergence of these qualitatively new organizations is an illustration of the process of creative destruction described by Joseph Schumpeter. The article presents advantages and disadvantages associated with the benefit corporations. The analysis is concluded with the open question of whether legislative intervention is needed in this area, in particular whether it would be expedient to introduce ‘mission companies’ in Poland.