Martti Ahtisaari Institute's doctoral researcher, M.Sc Rashid Dehkordi defended his dissertation about legitimacy and business models in the emerging electric commercial vehicle ecosystem.
The study explores how firms seek legitimacy with their business models (BMs) in emerging ecosystems. It sheds light on the interdependencies between actors in the ecosystem and how their BMs contribute to seeking legitimacy. The research question framing this inquiry is, “How do firms seek legitimacy with their BMs in the emerging ecosystem?” The study adopts the BM as a tool for analyzing the business ecosystem and addressing its legitimacy challenges. The approach facilitates understanding of how these BMs shape the broader ecosystem, thereby offering a novel view of legitimacy within the ecosystem.
The study employs an exploratory qualitative case study method, focusing on the Electric Commercial Vehicle (ECV) ecosystem in Finland and Sweden. This ecosystem is currently at a critical phase of evolution, making it an ideal subject to study the challenges of seeking legitimacy in an emerging business context.
The research contributes to the academic understanding of emerging ecosystems and the role of BMs within them. It emphasizes the critical role of BMs in seeking legitimacy within the emerging ecosystem, highlighting that firms' actions and strategic choices directly shape their legitimacy. The study proposes the importance of designing alternative BMs, considering various ecosystem facets and stakeholder groups, to enhance firms’ legitimacy in the ecosystem. In addition, the research elucidates that the legitimacy of firms within emerging ecosystems is deeply entwined with the mutual acceptance of their business models by other ecosystem actors. It emphasizes the role of collective actions and collaborative efforts among various ecosystem participants in seeking legitimacy in the emerging ecosystem.
THESIS EVENT INFORMATION
Date and time of the thesis defence
Tue 25.6.2024 at 12.00
Place of the thesis defence
Linnanmaa, TA105
Topic of the dissertation
Smart energy: Challenges of newness. Legitimacy and business models in the emerging electric commercial vehicle ecosystem
Doctoral candidate
Master of Science Rashid Dehkordi
Faculty and unit
University of Oulu Graduate School, Oulu Business School, Martti Ahtisaari Institute
Subject of study
Management
Opponent
Docent Taina Eriksson, University of Turku
Custos
Professor Petri Ahokangas, Martti Ahtisaari Institute