›› 2017, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (12): 27-38.

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Open Learning and Business Model Innovation: The Moderating Role of Competitive Environment

Wei Zelong, Song Xi, Quan Yiming   

  1. School of Management, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049
  • Received:2015-10-12 Online:2017-12-28 Published:2017-12-20

Abstract:

Although some companies have improved performance through business model innovation, many others failed. Companies are now focusing on how to identify suitable learning approach to prompt business model innovation in the transition context. This paper investigates the effects of intra-industry learning and extra-industry learning on business model, and also the moderating effects of competitive intensity and dysfunctional competition based on business ecosystem, open learning, and institution theories. We also empirically test our model with data from 183 Chinese high-technology companies. We find that although intra-industry learning and extra-industry learning both promote business model innovation, over intra-industry learning constrains business model innovation. Furthermore, we find that dysfunctional competition weakens the effect of intra-industry learning but strengthens that of extra-industry learning on business model innovation. We also find that competitive intensity strengthens the effect of intra-industry learning but weakens that of extra-industry learning on business model innovation.

Key words: business model innovation, open learning, dysfunctional competition, competition intensity