Title: Assessing business model relevance for business leaders in the construction industry

Authors: Thierry Verstraete; Estèle Jouison-Laffitte; Florence Kremer; Martine Hlady-Rispal

Addresses: Entrepreneurship Research Team, Institut de Recherche en Gestion des Organizations (IRGO), University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; Pôle Universitaire de Sciences de Gestion, 35 avenue Abadie, 33072 Bordeaux, France ' Entrepreneurship Research Team, Institut de Recherche en Gestion des Organizations (IRGO), University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; Pôle Universitaire de Sciences de Gestion, 35 avenue Abadie, 33072 Bordeaux, France ' Entrepreneurship Research Team, Institut de Recherche en Gestion des Organizations (IRGO), University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; Pôle Universitaire de Sciences de Gestion, 35 avenue Abadie, 33072 Bordeaux, France ' Entrepreneurship Research Team, Institut de Recherche en Gestion des Organizations (IRGO), University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; Pôle Universitaire de Sciences de Gestion, 35 avenue Abadie, 33072 Bordeaux, France

Abstract: This paper studies the business model (BM) relevance for business leaders in the construction industry. Specifically, we address the question of the comprehension and utility of the generation, remuneration, participation (GRP) model, a BM representation, for leaders within an established sector. Using an action research methodology, our findings empirically prove that the BM can be taken out of its original context of start-ups, and used within existing organisations. Our results also suggest that in traditional small-sized companies, where strategic tools are rarely mobilised, the BM might be appropriate for leaders to address the question of business growth. Interaction between leaders and researchers also contributed to the advancement of the GRP model and the homogenisation of its visual representation.

Keywords: business models; visual representation; action research; construction industry; qualitative research; strategic tools; business leaders; generation remuneration participation; GRP model; small firms; business growth.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2017.081039

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2017 Vol.30 No.1, pp.58 - 79

Received: 16 Dec 2015
Accepted: 16 Jan 2016
Published online: 19 Dec 2016 *

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