TY - JOUR AU - AB - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the approach of imitation (across industry boundaries) on business models. We analyzed nine case studies of firms that introduced breakthrough business models by transferring and adapting characteristic business model components of other industries. Our results show that companies can facilitate cross-industry innovation on business model level through a process of abstraction, analogy identification and adaptation. Imitation is realized by deconstructing and mapping business model components based on their contribution to abstract, generic elements of the value proposition. We propose a systematic process model for business model innovation analyzing structural similarities between industries on the level of these abstract elements linked to specific other components of the business model. Firms can leverage this process by transformative learning processes, especially provided through a broad industrial and functional experience of members in business model innovation teams. TI - IMITATION PROCESSES AND THEIR APPLICATION FOR BUSINESS MODEL INNOVATION: AN EXPLORATIVE STUDY JF - International Journal of Innovation Management DO - 10.1142/s1363919613400057 DA - 2013-02-01 UR - https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/crossref/imitation-processes-and-their-application-for-business-model-7F9S2OX5uR SP - 1340005 VL - 17 IS - 01 DP - DeepDyve ER -