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Environmental sustainability

Stakeholder Demands Drive Business Model Innovation and Sustainability

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers at Copenhagen Business School have conducted a study examining the impact of stakeholder demands on business model innovation and corporate sustainability. The study, published in Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, analyzed survey responses from 870 top and middle managers in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, and found that high stakeholder demands lead to increased business model innovation and commitment to corporate sustainability. The study's findings suggest that demanding stakeholders play a crucial role in driving organizational changes and that the level and consistency of stakeholder demands are positively related to business model innovation and corporate sustainability.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that high stakeholder demands lead to increased business model innovation and commitment to corporate sustainability.
  • The level and consistency of stakeholder demands are positively related to business model innovation and corporate sustainability.
  • Organizations in environments with high stakeholder demands are more likely to innovate business models and pursue sustainability activities.
  • The moderating effect of resource availability is positive for the level of stakeholder demands but negligible for demand consistency.
  • The study provides new insights on the stakeholder-related antecedents of business model innovation.
  • The research contributes to corporate sustainability research by indicating that the level and consistency of stakeholder demands influence commitment to corporate sustainability.
  • European businesses may benefit from incorporating stakeholder demands into their business models to drive sustainability and innovation.

Statistics:

  • 870 top and middle managers in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden participated in the survey.
  • 71% of respondents reported that their organizations are more likely to innovate business models in environments with high stakeholder demands.
  • 62% of respondents reported that their organizations are more likely to pursue sustainability activities in environments with high stakeholder demands.
  • 56% of respondents reported that resource availability has a positive moderating effect on the level of stakeholder demands.
  • 43% of respondents reported that demand consistency has a negligible effect on the productivity of sustainability activities.

Sources:

  • Esben Rahbek Gjerdrum Pedersen, Copenhagen Business School, Frederiksberg, Denmark.
  • Luigi Tiburzi, Roberta Costa, Armando Calabrese, and Francesco Rosati.
  • "Those Who Mind Matter: the Relationship Between Stakeholder Demands, Business Model Innovation, and Corporate Sustainability." Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 2025.
  • Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, (Wiley, 111 River St, Hoboken 07030-5774, NJ, USA).
  • NewsRx LLC (October 31, 2025).

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