Turning Mental Models Around: Boundary Objects as Enablers of Sustainable Business Model Innovation
通过工业自动化领域的案例研究，揭示了决策者心智模型的差异如何影响可持续商业模式创新的机会识别，并展示了边界对象如何缓解认知障碍，为管理者提供了改善战略决策的实用建议。
ABSTRACT Organizations increasingly innovate their business models (BMs) toward sustainability to maintain competitiveness and comply with regulations. Sustainable business model innovation (SBMI) requires decision‐makers to identify ecological and social opportunities while balancing economic goals. However, BMs as mental models are guided by experiences and cognitive biases, influencing the recognition of SBMI opportunities. Research on how mental models affect opportunity recognition for SBMI in incumbent firms remains limited. We examine how boundary objects enhance opportunity recognition in SBMI. Through a single case study in the industrial automation sector, we identify significant variations in decision‐makers' mental models and demonstrate how boundary objects mitigate cognitive barriers. Findings highlight differences between managers with diverse professional backgrounds and propose measures to foster the identification of suitable opportunities in SBMI. This study contributes to SBMI research by identifying micro‐level cognitive constraints and offers practical recommendations to improve strategic decision‐making in contexts of sustainability innovation.