Profiting from Creative Performance and Business Models over Time

This study examines the business models of firms exhibiting creative performance that is inordinately high with respect to their economic and financial position. The study asks: why have some firms performed exceptionally well in terms of creativity, but not economically? To this end, a select review of the literature provides the basis for discussing the relation between business models and creative results, and a relevant case study serves to highlight some of the aspects addressed. The case study involves an Italian design firm in which the top decision makers and management have perceived a clear imbalance between the creative results and economic performance achieved. It is hypothesized that such a discrepancy between creative and economic performance may depend on the firm's business model, which may have yet to fulfill its potential or may not change adequately to achieve further results. Creative performance seems to outstrip economic results in part because both entrepreneurs and management obtain direct benefits in terms of self-realization and the achievement of subjective cultural goals.