@article{2015:oschlies:performanc,
title = {Performance Consequences of Fit between Financials and Strategy Descriptions in the Renewable Energy Industry: A contingent view on the business model consistency heuristic},
year = {2015},
note = {A dimension that has received little attention in business
model-performance assessments is consistency or “configuration as a
quality”. Business model consistency in this regard indicates the
degree of fit of different business model elements. Managers and
researchers seem to follow a business model consistency heuristic that
regards a high degree of consistency superior to lower degrees of
consistency. However, when considering costs of consistency within
emerging industries we also find arguments in favor of a low degree of
consistency. This paper explores contingency factors that determine
whether consistency is rational or not. Our proxy for measuring
consistency is the fit between financials and business descriptions
within multi-year observations of 210 wind and solar firms in the
renewable energy industry. We find that contingency factors such as
industry, business model-themes or pattern of firm growth can impact
the consistency-performance relationship positively as well as
negatively. Based on our findings, we propose to account for the
distinct contingencies of business model consistency rather than
uncritically considering business model consistency as being rational
per se. Implications for managers, investors and researchers apply.},
journal = {Die Unternehmung},
pages = {302--321},
author = {Oschlies, Melanie K. and Loock, Moritz},
volume = {69},
number = {3}
}