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T. Biasion:
"A Network-based Business Model Framework for the Internet of Things";
Supervisor: S. Schulte, C. Hochreiner; Institute of Information Systems, Distributed Systems Group, 2017; final examination: 2017-02-16.

Business models are studied in management science and are investigated in practice to create a common understanding of how companies create and capture value. Mostly, business models are examined from a company perspective to reveal the role and capabilities of the company in a market. In complex network-based industries this perspective neglects the importance of relationships to partners and customers. The Internet of Things (IoT) serves as the paragon for a business network that is missing out network-based business models to propagate groundbreaking products and services. The main goal of this master thesis is to foster innovative business models for the IoT by providing a network-based business model framework. The framework, called NBMF, is first defined in theory, then implemented as a web-based design tool and finally evaluated by conducting an IoT case study. To gain concrete insights into challenges and opportunities in the IoT, business models of the most common types of companies in the IoT are analyzed in the graphical form of the Business Model Canvas. The limitations of the Business Model Canvas for modelling the companies and their relationships in the business network are resolved by extending the Business Model Canvas. The NBMF introduces intra-company relations between its building blocks and inter-company relations expressing the exchange of value propositions and financial transactions. Furthermore, the NBMF integrates amongst others concepts the e3-value ontology and the IoT Business Model Builder. The resulting coherent framework for business models includes a customer viewpoint, a network viewpoint, a company viewpoint and a statement for an automated profitability calculation. A case study about a Home Automation Ecosystem shows the functionality of the web-based design tool and itsunderlying theoretical framework. Additionally, the case study reveals opportunities for business model innovation in the IoT.