Since it was founded, Amazon has launched a range of services (such as one-click shopping, Amazon Prime, and Amazon Web Services) and products (such as the Kindle e-Reader, and the Amazon Echo) (see Can amazon deliver again? by the Economist for an analysis of Amazon’s growth). Which of these launches and products are Business Model Innovations (BMI)? What are the criteria to determine if something is a BMI? What is a Business Model anyway, and how can you capture it?

In the first lecture of the master elective Business Model Innovation at the Radboud University Nijmegen, we will take the first step in finding the answers to these questions. Students develop an understanding of the basic concepts of business model innovation, and familiarize themselves with tools like the Business Model Canvas and the Business Model Navigator. They will also learn more about the course, its structure, and its requirements.

Required Readings

• Foss, N. J., & Saebi, T. (2017). Fifteen years of research on business model innovation: How far have we come, and where should we go? Journal of Management, 43(1), 200–227. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206316675927
• Snihur, Y., & Markman, G. (2023). Business Model Research: Past, Present, and Future. Journal of Management Studies, 60(8). https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12928

The Course

This lecture is part of the master elective Business Model Innovation at the Radboud University Nijmegen. The course teaches master students how to redesign an organization’s business model and make it future-proof. In an increasingly interconnected world, organizations are confronted with unprecedented levels of turbulence, uncertainty, and complexity. Global trends such as rapid urbanization, climate change, global economic power shifts, digitalization influence the effectiveness and efficiency of existing business models. To ensure future competitive success, organizations must rethink the way they create, deliver, and capture value. In this course, students will learn how to design a future-proof business model in three steps: Analyze the current business model, Anticipate the future performance of the current business model, and Advise an organization about Business Model Innovations that are most robust and future-proof.