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1 – 10 of 22Laura Temmerman, Carina Veeckman and Pieter Ballon
This paper aims to share the experience of a collaborative platform for social innovation (SI) in urban governance in Brussels (Belgium) and to formulate recommendations for…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to share the experience of a collaborative platform for social innovation (SI) in urban governance in Brussels (Belgium) and to formulate recommendations for future initiatives.
Design/methodology/approach
The publicly funded collaborative platform “Brussels by us”, which aimed to improve the quality of life in specific neighbourhoods in Brussels (Belgium), is presented as a case study for SI in urban governance. The case study is detailed according to four dimensions based on the SI and living lab literature.
Findings
While the initiative appeared to be a successful exploration platform for collaborative urban governance, it did not evolve into concrete experimentation nor implementation of the solutions. Possible explanations and recommendations are formulated.
Research limitations/implications
The findings of this paper are based on the experience of a one-year initiative. The results should be completed by similar case studies of longitudinal initiatives, and with other levels of implementation such as experimentation and concrete implementation of solutions.
Originality/value
This paper presents a concrete case study of a collaborative platform implemented in a specific neighbourhood in Brussels (Belgium). Its digital and offline approach can help other practitioners, scholars and public institutions to experiment with the living lab methodology for the co-ideation of solution in urban governance. The four-dimensional framework presented in the study can provide future initiatives with a structured reporting and analysis framework, unifying and strengthening know-how in the domain of SI.
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Martijn Poel, Andrea Renda and Pieter Ballon
This paper aims to explain and demonstrate how business model frameworks can be used to understand market developments and to assess the role of policy in (multi‐sided) ICT…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explain and demonstrate how business model frameworks can be used to understand market developments and to assess the role of policy in (multi‐sided) ICT markets.
Design/methodology/approach
The research approach in the paper builds on integrated business model frameworks, which cover (much) more than the financial decisions of one single firm. A case study approach is implemented and tested in two studies on digital content platforms.
Findings
Relevant policy instruments are identified and explored. To some extent, the findings are complementary or contradictory to the findings of existing studies on digital content platforms. The paper includes policy recommendations related to mobile and fixed content platforms.
Research limitations/implications
Limitations of the study are due to the explorative and qualitative approach, and are to be complemented by other approaches. Policy makers and researchers can use the approach to analyse digital content platform developments and the impact of policy. Stakeholders in innovation processes can use the approach to address business models as well as policy issues for emerging platforms and services.
Originality/value
The use of business model analysis in the context of policy analysis is a relatively new approach that is inspired by research findings on information communication technology (ICT) platforms and multi‐sided networks, progress in business model studies, challenges in the policy mix for ICT, and the importance of case study methods for impact assessment.
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Simon Delaere and Pieter Ballon
This paper aims to give a short overview of European Union policy trends towards more flexible forms of spectrum management.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to give a short overview of European Union policy trends towards more flexible forms of spectrum management.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper presents a business modelling analysis, scenario construction, policy analysis and roadmapping. It argues that both flexible spectrum management and the concept of reconfigurability do not eliminate the need for a number of centralised controlling entities, and even introduce a number of new ones, performing regulatory, commercial and technical functions of a diverse nature. One of the most prominent control entities, the Cognitive Pilot Channel (CPC), is presented, and three different configurations of the CPC are outlined. Subsequently, the potential impact of different CPC configurations on business models for wireless services making use of such a channel is explored.
Findings
The paper concludes that a hybrid model combining a meta‐level CPC with operator‐deployed channels might provide the best mix of technical and strategic control for operators, and value for users.
Research limitations/implications
The study undertaken here is exploratory in nature since, for example, no exact estimations of cost and revenue, or harmonisation feasibility and roadmaps can be made at this time.
Originality/value
The CPC is a recent and potentially crucial concept which is not yet standardised or implemented and for which no business modelling analysis has been performed yet.
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Richard Hawkins and Pieter Ballon
This paper aims to explore the question: “What is the relationship between standards and business models?” and illustrate the conceptual linkage with reference to developments in…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the question: “What is the relationship between standards and business models?” and illustrate the conceptual linkage with reference to developments in the mobile communications industry.
Design/methodology/approach
A succinct overview of literature on standardization, business models and platform markets in the paper leads to a hypothesis on the relationship between present‐day standardization processes and business model design. This is then explored by means of three short case studies.
Findings
The case studies of Mobile‐ICT illustrate that regardless of institutional orientation or process, the most important standardization strategy for equipment and service providers is to create platforms that are open to the development of complementary products and services while at the same time preserving the proprietary edge necessary to ensure lock‐in effects. All three cases yielded strong reasons to doubt whether many of the traditional advantages of standardization (interoperability, economies of scale, positive externalities, etc.) will be achieved equitably for all of the stakeholders.
Originality/value
This is an exploratory paper that aims to shed light on present‐day concerns about “failure” in the standardisation paradigm.
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Olivier Braet and Pieter Ballon
The paper aims to discuss the business issues surrounding the choice between the end‐to‐end internet architecture, in particular peer‐to‐peer networks, versus managed…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to discuss the business issues surrounding the choice between the end‐to‐end internet architecture, in particular peer‐to‐peer networks, versus managed telecommunications architectures, in particular IMS, for the migration towards a next‐generation mobile system.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper organises the arguments available in the literature and technical field along four critical business design dimensions, providing a balanced overview of both sides of the argument.
Findings
The paper discriminates between weak and strong arguments on both sides, and introduces a number of recommendations towards actors that will implement IMS.
Research limitations/implications
The arguments collected from the literature and industry are not exhaustive but selected on their relevancy for business repercussions.
Originality/value
While most position papers on IMS or P2P are written from an opinionated perspective, this paper offers a trade‐off view of both side's advantages and disadvantages. It reframes the dispute as a number of design trade‐offs to be made on various levels.
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This paper aims to provide a theoretically grounded framework for designing and analysing business models for (mobile) information communication technology (ICT) services and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide a theoretically grounded framework for designing and analysing business models for (mobile) information communication technology (ICT) services and systems.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper reviews the most topical literature on business modelling, as well as general strategic management, industrial economics and network economics literature, it also constructs a new integrated framework.
Findings
The study finds that business model design is interpreted as the (re)configuration of control parameters on the one hand, and value parameters on the other hand within a particular innovation system.
Originality/value
The paper is informed by a wide range of theories and approaches and proposes an improved and generally applicable framework.
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Annabel Georges, Dimitri Schuurman, Bastiaan Baccarne and Lynn Coorevits
– The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the factors playing a role in the engagement of end-users to participate in Living Lab field trials.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the factors playing a role in the engagement of end-users to participate in Living Lab field trials.
Design/methodology/approach
Multiple case study analysis of three Living Lab cases in which field trials were organized.
Findings
Based on academic literature on field trials, user engagement and the technology acceptance model, the authors argue that several factors play a role in the participation of users in field trials. An influential factor that emerged is the functional maturity of the innovation, the extent to which a prototype resembles the functionalities and the processes of the final, go-to-market product at the moment of the field trial. Within this exploratory paper, we propose the “user engagement model for field trials” to explain the factors that play a role in the engagement of end-users in field trials.
Research limitations/implications
The methodological limitations of a case study design make it difficult to extrapolate the findings toward a larger sample. Therefore, this paper focuses on making an in-depth analysis rather than making general claims. However, the insights regarding user engagement for participation pave the way for future validation on a larger scale and suggest future research directions.
Practical implications
The findings of this paper suggest that Living Lab field trials should carefully take into account the (perceived) functional maturity of the innovation and the specific characteristics of the innovation when engaging end-users for field trials. Interaction and trust between the test-users and the other stakeholders is of great importance for the active engagement of test-users during field trials.
Originality/value
This exploratory paper adds to a general understanding of end-user involvement in innovation development processes and suggests guidelines to engage end-users to participate in field trials. In addition, it introduces the concept of functional maturity of innovations and the user-engagement model for field trials.
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This paper investigates the main trends and uncertainties that will define fourth generation mobile systems and services (4G) in Europe. It outlines two divergent visions on 4G…
Abstract
This paper investigates the main trends and uncertainties that will define fourth generation mobile systems and services (4G) in Europe. It outlines two divergent visions on 4G: the so‐called “immediate” 4G vision, consisting of wireless local area networks (WLANs) combined with other wireless access technologies, competing with 3G in the short term, and the so‐called “linear” 4G vision, in which the 3G standard is not replaced until the end of its life cycle by an ultra‐high speed broadband wireless network. Which of these visions will materialise, and what this means for the competitiveness of the main 4G stakeholders in Europe, will be to a large extent determined by which business models are feasible for 4G.
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