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Purpose – The major part of studies in the field of strategic cognition focussed on strategy content, while process studies are comparatively rare. Those of the studies that are dedicated to explain strategy occurrence are dominantly restricted to formal decision making. In contrast to this, the purpose of this paper is to draw on a framework that helps to get a differentiated picture on contingent processes, strategies may pass through in organizations. Furthermore, an own elicitation procedure is introduced that enables to measure strategic cognition on different levels. Design/methodology/approach – The paper provides an empirical approach by applying collective causal mapping techniques, both on an individual as well as collective level. The conceptual framework of the study rests on the “genesis” concept of strategy formation introduced by Kirsch and colleagues. Findings – The main contribution of the paper is the presentation of a methodical approach to study the formation of shared strategic orientations in small companies. An operationalization to study these cognitive processes, based on collective causal mapping techniques is provided. Practical implications – Applying the methodical approach presented in the paper is expected to make a contribution to the understanding of the shared knowledge of organizational members about major strengths and weaknesses of a new strategic reorientation and to contribute to practical concerns of organizational members in specific problematic situations, especially in small companies. Originality/value – The study empirically approaches the complex phenomenon on strategy formation in small companies and therefore expands the understanding of shared cognition in organizations.

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Sustainability research has increasingly emphasized the importance of value networks in the design and development of sustainable business models (SBM). This is because SBMs must incorporate economic, environmental and social goals to achieve their desired impacts, hence designing such models requires firms to develop an understanding of value creation from the perspective of all key stakeholders in their networks in order to co-create economic, social and ecological value. To advance our understanding of how value network activities shape SBM development, we conducted a longitudinal case study of RECUP, a born sustainable startup with a circular economy business model that has developed and worked with a broad value network to achieve a major reduction in waste from linear consumption. We identify three sets of value network activities that supported the continuous development of the firm’s value proposition and contributed to mutual value creation among stakeholders from business, politics and society: B2B-partnering, political agenda-setting and mobilizing end-consumers. Our contributions to research on SBM innovation and design include demonstrating how value network activities initially emerge through experimentation and consolidate over time through iterative learning processes. Such learning and adaption through dynamic value network activities is especially important, we argue, when value-creating factors are not sufficiently known in advance by startups and/or their stakeholders.

Die internationale Geschäftstätigkeit ist für die Unternehmen, die davon berührten Länder und die Weltwirtschaft zum Schlüsselfaktor des Erfolges geworden. Die Herausgeber beabsichtigen mit der Schriftenreihe mir-Edition, die multidimensionalen Managementanforderungen der internationalen Unternehmenstätigkeit wissenschaftlich zu begleiten. Die mir-Edition soll zum einen der empirischen Feststellung und der theoretischen Verarbeitung der in der Praxis des internationalen Managements beobachtbaren Phänomene dienen. Zum anderen sollen die hierdurch gewonnenen Erkenntnisse in Form von systematisiertem Wissen, Denkanstößen und Handlungsempfehlungen verfügbar gemacht werden.Diesemangewandten Wissenschaftsverständnis fühlt sich seit nunmehr dreißig Jahren auch die in über 40 Ländern gelesene und jüngst von 1380 US-Professoren als ,best rated joumal' im internationalen Management plazierte internationale Fachzeitschrift mir -Management International Review -verpflichtet. Während dort allerdings nur kurzgefaSte Aufsätze publiziert werden, soll hier der breitere Raum der Schriftenreihe den Autoren und Lesern die Möglichkeit zur umfänglichen und vertieften Auseinandersetzung mit dem jeweils behandelten Problem des internationalen Managements eröffnen. Der Herausgeberpolitik von mir entsprechend, sollen auch in der Schriftenreihe innovative und dem Erkenntnisfortschritt dienende Beiträge einer kritischen Öffentlichkeit vorgestellt werden. Es ist beabsichtigt, neben Forschungsergebnissen, insbesondere des wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchses, auch einschlägige Werke von Praktikern mit profundem Erfahrungswissen im internationalen Management einzubeziehen.Das Auswahlverfahren sieht vor, daß die Herausgeber gemeinsam über die Veröffentlichung eines in der Reihe erscheinenden Werkes entscheiden. Sie laden zur Einsendung von Manuskripten in deutscher oder englischer Sprache ein, die bei Auswahl jeweils in der Originalsprache publiziert werden.Die Herausgeber hoffen, mit dieser Schriftenreihe die fachliche Diskussion und praktische Lösung von Problemen des internationalen Managements zu stimulieren und wünschen der mir-Edition eine positive Aufnahme in den Zielgruppen von Wissenschaft, Praxis und Studium des internationalen Geschäfts.

PurposeA large part of maritime container supply chain costs is generated by carriers in port hinterland logistics. Carriers which operate in the hinterland are under pressure to reduce costs and increase profitability, and they face challenges of fierce price competition. This study aims to explore how collaboration is perceived and implemented by carriers in truck container logistics in the port hinterland as a way to tackle these issues.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopts a qualitative multiple case study approach. Qualitative interviews with carriers in the port hinterland of Hamburg, Germany, were conducted and analyzed using grounded theory.FindingsThe study reveals two collaboration types in the hinterland, based on the different carriers' interpretation of market conditions as changeable or as given, driving their collaboration mindsets and strategic actions: The developer, who has a proactive collaboration mindset and practices strategic maneuvers toward changing poor market conditions through collaboration, and the adapter, who has a defensive collaboration mindset and perceives market conditions as given and constraining collaboration.Research limitations/implicationsThe qualitative results will help researchers better understand how collaboration practices depend on the carriers' subjective interpretations and perceptions of the market.Practical implicationsBased on the findings, managers of carriers gain an understanding of the different types of actors in their market and the relevance of acknowledging these types. Consequently, they can design appropriate strategic measures toward collaboration.Originality/valueThe findings for the first time provide exploratory insights of carriers' mindsets.