In this study, we contribute to the scholarly conversation on firm-level business model changes following a neoconfigurational approach. By exploring configurations of business model changes over time, we add the direction of business model changes—namely business model convergence or divergence—as a vital avenue to the business model innovation literature. We identify necessary business model convergence and divergence recipes in a sample of N = 217 strategic dyadic alliances. Firstly, technological proximity emerges as a single pre-condition to both converging and diverging business models. Secondly, business models between competitors either converge through complementarities or tend not to change relative to each other. Thirdly, equity participation enables business model divergence through co-specialization. We conclude with a discussion of business model trajectories and future research directions.

在这项研究中，我们为遵循新配置方法的公司层面商业模式变化的学术对话做出了贡献。通过探索商业模式随时间变化的配置，我们将商业模式变化的方向——即商业模式融合或分歧——作为商业模式创新文献的重要途径。我们在 N = 217 个战略二元联盟的样本中确定了必要的商业模式融合和分歧配方。首先，技术接近性成为融合和分散商业模式的单一先决条件。其次，竞争者之间的商业模式要么通过互补而趋同，要么相对于彼此保持不变。第三，参股通过共同专业化实现商业模式分化。