The Degree of Openness of an Innovative Business Model Based on New Technologies and Competitive Advantage

Existing literature underlines the importance of an open approach towards interactions with business actors to generate innovative solutions. However, companies can present an open approach in some cases and remain closed in others. The chapter investigates how business model innovation based on new technologies influences a company’s competitive advantage, taking into account different levels of openness. To address this objective, an empirical study was conducted employing both qualitative (focus group interviews) and quantitative (CATI) methods. The findings reveal distinct levels of openness linked to specific activities undertaken by companies implementing business model innovation based on new technologies. Moreover, the analysis demonstrates how these varying degrees of openness shape a company’s competitive advantage. The results contribute to the advancement of the open innovation framework and provide practical insights for managers seeking to enhance competitiveness through business model transformation.