Evaluation of drivers for sustainable business model innovation: TISM and Fuzzy MICMAC approach

Purpose Today’s business environment is complex; organisations are increasingly forced to adjust. By innovating their business model, organisations have become increasingly capable of creating positive social and environmental value. This paper aims to expand knowledge on driving forces for sustainable business model innovation (SBMI). Design/methodology/approach This research employed Total Interpretive Structural Modelling (TISM) and Fuzzy MICMAC analysis to examine the contextual relationships among SBMI drivers. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with experts in sustainable business innovation across various sectors. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify driving forces, followed by TISM to establish a hierarchical structure of interrelationships. Fuzzy MICMAC analysis further classified the drivers based on their influence and dependence levels. Findings A total of 12 driving forces, internal and external to organisations, were identified. A hierarchical structure of the system composed of the drivers and their contextual relationships was developed. The resulting model provides an improved articulation of the interpreted contextual links between the drivers. Then, the study presents the level of influence and dependency of each driver for SBMI within the system. Originality/value The study provides a rich insight into the understanding and awareness of how innovative sustainable business model implementation unfolds in new and established organisations which guides organisations to tailor processes based on their needs. Findings help empower top-level management and policy makers since they help differentiate between the drivers and their contextual relations, allowing them to better focus effort and resources on the most relevant.