The business model bank: conceptualizing a database structure for large-sample study of an emerging management concept

TL;DR

This paper proposes a scalable database structure for systematically capturing and analyzing large samples of business models to advance empirical research and theory development in management.

Contribution

It introduces a conceptual framework for a database of business models, addressing scalability issues and enabling empirical and simulation studies.

Findings

A scalable database structure for business models is proposed.

Critical issues for database scalability are discussed.

Potential for empirical and simulation research is highlighted.

Abstract

The business model represents an increasingly important management concept. However, progress in research related to the concept is currently inhibited from inconsistencies in terms of formalizing and therewith also empirically measuring the business model concept. Taking this as a starting point, this paper offers a conceptualization for building a scalable database to rigorously capture large samples of business models. The following contributions are made: First, we suggest a concept for dimensions to be modeled in the database. Second, we discuss issues critical to the scalability of such an endeavor. Third, we point to empirical and simulation-based studies enabled by the population of such a database. Considerations for theory and practice are offered.