Why is Business Model Innovation so poorly innovative ? Uncovering the critical role of collaborative design in Business Model Innovation

In this paper we propose to analyze two cases of business model innovation process Uber and a French health care company-with the models developed by design theory. In particular we demonstrate, relying on C-K theory, how the traditionally unchallenged figure of a lone firm performing business model innovation has implications on the outcomes of the process, preventing innovative business models to emerge. In particular we show that the coordination structure chosen by the firms engaging in business model innovation has major consequences. Therefore we propose a categorization of business model innovation process based on the level of implication of each firm. We argue that a more collaborative approach in designing business models that overcomes the difficulties raised by collective design is needed so that the outcomes are innovative. We discuss the implications of this result for business model innovation literature, disruptive innovation theory and design theory. Introduction In this paper, we propose, using recent advances in design theory, to discuss the innovative power of business model innovation. We thus propose analysing two business model innovation processes: the case of Uber business model and an ongoing business model innovation project in a French Health care company. The first case is famous among practitioners as it is used as an example of current disruptions occurring in several industries. The second project is an example of such a process in an incumbent company. Although the study of business models (Amit and Zott, 2001) and in particular business model innovation (Chesbrough, 2010) opens new fields for the innovation literature, the literature seems to focus on the model of a focal firm performing alone a business model innovation process (Amit and Zott,