A Soft Systems Methodology for Business Creation

The Lost World at Tyseley, Birmingham

Bibliographic Data

ID22018327
AuthorsMarianna Cavada (0000-0003-4039-270X, Lancaster University), Chris Bouch (0000-0002-6281-2050, University of Birmingham), Chris Rogers (0000-0001-9367-2356), C D F Rogers (0000-0002-1693-1999, University of Birmingham), Michael Grace (0000-0002-9825-5305), Michael J Grace (0000-0003-3269-0838, Birmingham City University), Alexander Robertson (0000-0001-6749-9254), A V Robertson (Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust)
Year2021
Volume6
Issue1
Pages32-48
Publication date2021-01-26
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueUrban Planning (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2183-7635 • E-ISSN: 2183-7635
PublisherCogitatio (PUBLISHER • PT)
DOI10.17645/up.v6i1.3499
OpenAlexW3123850932
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited45

Much has been written about the benefits of green infrastructure, but securing the resources necessary for its development and long-term maintenance is often difficult. This article’s premise is that, in general, people and organisations will take action to provide those resources when they can see value accruing to them; therefore narratives of value generation and capture (our definition of business models) are required to motivate and support that action. This article explores the application of soft systems methodology to the wicked problem of business model development in the context of a social enterprise, using a case study based on a piece of green infrastructure in the city of Birmingham, UK, called The Lost World. The research involved a workshop with several of The Lost World’s key stakeholders and aimed at identifying: The Lost World’s scope as a business; its potential value streams; and how they might be realised in a social enterprise. Analysis of the findings shows that while stakeholders can identify opportunities for their organisations, bringing those opportunities to fruition is difficult. The research demonstrates a compelling need for social entrepreneurs to act as catalysts and long-term enablers of the formulation and maintenance of businesses and business models—vital missing actors in the ambition to transform cityscapes

Business · Business model · Information system · Knowledge management · Narrative · Premise · Process management · Soft Systems Methodology · Complex Systems and Decision Making · Computer Science · Engineering · Innovation and Socioeconomic Development · Management and Organizational Studies · Marketing

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access