Transformative Strategic Thinking

In an era marked by rapid innovation and disruptive technologies like AI, unforeseen global challenges like the recent pandemic, and pressing sustainability challenges, businesses’ survival and success hinge on their ability to transform continuously.

The success stories of industry giants like Amazon, Uber, and Airbnb reveal a crucial insight: Thriving in today’s market isn’t just about innovative products or cutting-edge technology—it’s about pioneering business models.

This book introduces the Transformative Strategic Thinking (TST) toolkit, a creative thinking methodology designed for businesses eager to embrace change and explore new business model scenarios. The TST toolkit combines analytical tools for evaluating current business models with five transformational practices for experimenting with new ones.

Concluding with real-life success stories of three entrepreneurs who navigated disruptive innovations and black swan events through the TST approach, this book provides a hands-on perspective on transforming business models. Different from traditional strategy literature, this book doesn’t offer off-the-shelf formulas but empowers you to think creatively. With step-by-step guidance, visual collaboration tools, real-world case examples, exercises, and design tips, you will learn to dissect your current business model, identify areas for improvement, and foster a creative approach to developing new models.

Targeted at forward-thinking managers, daring entrepreneurs, aspiring business leaders, and ambitious startup founders, the TST toolkit equips them to challenge conventional business models and design innovative ones. It is equally valuable for students and enthusiasts of business design, design thinking, and entrepreneurship.

About the Author

Michele Simoni is full professor of Innovation and Business Design at the University of Naples Parthenope. He is the director of the PhD in Entrepreneurship and Innovation jointly held by the University of Campania Vanvitelli and Parthenope University and is currently the coordinator of the Observatory on Local Innovation Systems (SLIOB), created in 2018 by DISAQ as part of its Department of Excellence project funded by MIUR. Michele is a member of the executive committee of the Master's program in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management - MEIM, launched in 2022 by Parthenope University in collaboration with the Sloan School of Management of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology - MIT and he sits on the scientific committee of the VIMASS, a research lab devoted to innovation in the healthcare sector. He also participates in the faculty of Fintech Lab Naples, dedicated to promoting open innovation in the Fintech sector and is the author of several books and articles published in leading international journals.

Eva Panetti is an Assistant Professor at the School of Management Fribourg (HEG-FR), University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland (HES-SO). Until 2024, she served as an Assistant Professor of Innovation and Business Design and Business Planning at the Parthenope University of Naples (Italy) and as an Adjunct Professor at Vilnius University, teaching Strategic Management. Eva's expertise extends to her role as a Design Coach at Parthenope University's "Fintech Lab," where she supports master's students and practitioners in developing innovative fintech solutions for the banking and insurance industries. She has also advised companies in the publishing and insurance sectors, aiding them in transforming their business models. Her research focuses on business model innovations, entrepreneurship, and innovation ecosystems, complemented by her involvement in initiatives aimed at strengthening the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Marco Ferretti is full professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Parthenope University of Naples where he has served as a member of the Board of Directors. He is also responsible for the "Department of Excellence" project with a budget of 6.5ML and champion of the newly established UNESCO Chair "Entrepreneurship and lifelong learning innovation in the business ecosystems of MENA countries". In 2020, the Minister of University and Research appointed him as the national coordinator for preparing the section dedicated to the blue economy in the National Research Program 2020-2027. He has a degree in Economics from the University of Naples, an MBA from the Sloan School of Management of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a PhD in Engineering from the University of Padua. His research interests focus on the topics of strategy, innovation and entrepreneurship and has a long-standing experience in building and accelerating startups. He is the author of over 90 published in authoritative Italian and foreign scientific journals.