商业模式创新已经成为企业可持续竞争优势的重要来源。但商业模式的系统性特征使其在创新过程中表现出一种维持现有结构稳定的“刚性”,从而成为创新和创造持续竞争优势的“双刃剑”。本文通过理论分析归纳了商业模式刚性的组成结构,将商业模式刚性分为主观刚性和客观刚性两个维度。在此基础上,运用“复制逻辑”进行跨案例分析,构建了一个商业模式刚性的演化模型。该模型表明:商业模式刚性会朝着相互矛盾的两个方向演化,即增强与减弱,但不同维度的刚性具有不同的演化机制。同时,不同维度的刚性之间存在包含反馈联系的时间顺序关系,某一维度的减弱可能同时伴随着其他维度的增强。本文阐明了商业模式刚性是一个不同于组织惰性的概念,它是商业模式创新的“副产品”:创造性地构建了商业模式刚性的结构分析理论框架,分析了组织认知、结构、资源等系统要素对竞争和外部环境变化的反应和调适过程:生动地描述了商业模式创新的动态性和复杂性,指导管理者在商业模式创新中如何实现共赢、保持稳定性和灵活性的平衡,以及调和多种商业模式之间的矛盾。
Business model innovation has become an important source of sustainable competitive advantage, but it manifests a kind of "rigidity" which preserves the stability of existing structure due to its systematic feature. Therefore, the stability becomes a double-edged sword for innovation and creating sustainable competitive advantage. The structure of business model rigidity which consists of subjective rigidity and objective rigidity has been summarized through theoretical analysis. An evolutionary model of business model rigidity has been formed through cross-case analysis applying "rephcation logic". The model shows that: business model rigidity can evolve towards two opposing directions (enhancement or weakening), but different dimensions of business model rigidity have different evolutionary mechanisms. There is a chronological order with feedback relationship between different dimensions, the weakening of certain dimension may be accompanied by the enhancement of other dimension. We illustrate that the concept of business model rigidity is different from organizational inertia, it is a byproduct of business model innovation. We build a theoretical framework for analyzing the structure of business model rigidity, and analyze the responding and adjusting process of systematical elements such as cognition, structure and resources facing the change of competition and external environment. We describe the dynamics and complexity of business model innovation, provide guidelines for managers to achieve win-win situations, balance stability and flexibility, and reconcile the conflict between different business models.