Responding to open business models

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide guidelines for practitioners in choosing the right response to potential threats by open business models. Design/methodology/approach The study focuses on identifying the dimensions of open business models. It consisted of 32 interviews with experts on open business models complemented by panel discussions with a selection of experts to validate the findings. Findings Five dimensions of open business models are identified: motivation, object, community, action and governance. Based on those dimensions, three responding strategies are proposed. Practical implications This paper offers insights for strategists and entrepreneurs who consider developing open business models or are attacked by competitors or other market players with open business models. Originality/value Complementing previous research, this paper highlights how the five dimensions of open business model can serve as a tool to design appropriate strategies when confronted with new forms of competition.