Prof. Dr.

Karolin Frankenberger

Professor of Strategic Management

Prof. Dr. Karolin Frankenberger is Full Professor in the field of Strategy and Innovation, Director of the Institute of Management and Strategy, and Academic Director of the Executive MBA at the University of St. Gallen. Her research focuses mainly on the topics of business model innovation, (digital) business transformation, ecosystems, and circular economy. Prior to her academic career, Prof. Frankenberger worked at the management consulting company McKinsey & Company for almost 7 years. Her publications appear regularly in top-tier academic and practitioner-oriented outlets such as the «Academy of Management Journal» or the “Harvard Business Review”. Her book «The Business Model Navigator: 55 Models That Will Revolutionize Your Business» was translated in multiple languages and is known worldwide as a standard reference for business model innovation literature. Prof. Frankenberger was named Thinker of the Month, May 2019, by Thinkers50, the world’s most reliable resource for identifying, ranking, and sharing leading management ideas. She supports numerous Fortune 500 companies and is an internationally renowned keynote speaker.

Head of Competence Centers

Member of Competence Centers

Strategy Processes and Corporate Transformation

About

Since April 1, 2018, Prof. Dr. Karolin Frankenberger has been a Full Professor at the Institute of Management & Strategy focusing on strategy and innovation. She is also Academic Director of the Executive MBA at the Executive School of Management, Technology and Law at the University of St.Gallen (ES-HSG). Mrs. Frankenberger received her diploma in business administration from the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt in 2000. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of St.Gallen in 2004. The topic of her thesis was: «The role of the social context in strategy-making», supervised by Prof. Dr. Günter Müller-Stewens and Prof. Dr. Andreas Herrmann. During her doctoral studies, she was a visiting PhD student at Harvard Business School and the University of Connecticut. After completing her PhD, she started working in consulting for McKinsey & Company worldwide for almost seven years. In 2011, she returned to the Institute of Technology Management at the University of St.Gallen as a post-doc researcher. She was named Assistant Professor of the Institute in 2014. During this time, she was also Director of the Competence Center Business Model Innovation, which blossomed globally under her supervision. From 2016 to 2018, she was Professor of Strategic Management at the University of Lucerne.

Research Focus Business Model Innovation, (Digital) Business Transformation, Circular Economy and Ecosystems

Prof. Frankenberger’s research focus includes business model innovation, (digital) business transformation and circular economy and ecosystems. She spends time researching how businesses can develop and implement new business models to remain competitive in the market. Her focus is also on the topic of sustainable business models. Mrs. Frankenberger’s experience includes many publication activities, both academically and related to practice. Her articles in the «Academy of Management Journal» and her published books are particular highlights. Her book «The Business Model Navigator: 55 Models That Will Revolutionize Your Business» was translated in multiple languages and is known worldwide as a standard reference for business model innovation literature. She regularly attends international conferences or in-house management events as a keynote speaker.

Broad experience in teaching and executive education

Karolin Frankenberger has a tremendous amount of experience in education. For many years, she has been teaching on the topic interface of strategy and innovation in the Bachelor, Master and Executive programs at the University of St.Gallen, the University of Lucerne and the University of Zurich, and continues to receive excellent feedback from her students. She experimented with various teaching methods in order to meet the particularly high requirements of executive education. She authored four case studies and a business model kit for educational purposes. She is also an experienced provider of in-house continuing education courses.

CV & Awards

Education

Year	Degree	University
2004	Visiting PhD	Harvard Business School, USA
2003	Visiting PhD	University of Connecticut, USA
2004	PhD	University of St. Gallen
1996-2000	Diploma	Katholic University Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
1996	Diploma	Friedrich-List-Gymnasium Reutlingen, Deutschland

Work Experience

Year	Position	Organisation
2016-2018	Assistant Professor & Chair Owner Strategic Management	University of Lucerne, Switzerland
2014-2016	Assistant Professor & Head of Competence Center Business Model Innovation	Institute for Technology Management, University of St. Gallen
2011-2014	Postdoctoral researcher & Head of Competence Center Business Model Innovation	Institute for Technology Management, University of St. Gallen
2004-2011	Senior Engagement Manager	McKinsey & Company, Zürich

Awards

Year	Award	Awarding Organization
2019	Thinker of the month May	Thinkers 50, the world’s most reliable resource for identifying, ranking, and sharing leading management ideas
2018	AcademiaNet – Expert Database for Outstanding Female Academics	Robert Bosch Stiftung and Spektrum der Wissenschaft (Nature Publishing Group)
2017	NRP 73	SNF Research Foundation
2013	Nominated for the “Best Conference Paper Award” of the Annual Conference in Atlanta	Strategic Management Society
2013	Finalist Strategy Process Best Proposal Award der Annual Conference in Atlanta	Strategic Management Society
2013-2014	Basic Research Fund	Universität St. Gallen, Schweiz
2006	Winner of the Sumantra Ghoshal Research and Practice Award	Academy of Management
2006	Winner of the Distinguished Paper Award	Academy of Management
2003	Finalist Best Research Article	Academy of Management
2003-2004	Full time Scholarship	Swiss National Science Foundation

Publications

Publications

Academic Publications

Frankenberger, K; Sauer, R. 2018. Cognitive antecedents of business models: Exploring the link between attention and business model design over time. Long Range Planing, forthcoming
Gassmann, Oliver; Frankenberger, Karolin & Sauer, Roman: A Primer on Theoretically Exploring the Field of Business Model Innovation. In: The European Business Review (2017), S. 45-48
Bonakdar A, Frankenberger K, Bader M, Gassmann O. 2017. Capturing value from Business Models: The role of formal and informal protection strategies. International Journal of Technology Management. 73 (4), 151-175
Frankenberger K, Weiblen T, Gassmann O. 2014. The antecedents of open business models: an exploratory study of incumbent firms. R&D Management 44(2): 173‐188.
Frankenberger K, Weiblen T, Gassmann O. 2013. Network configuration, customer centricity, and performance of open business models: A solution provider perspective. Industrial Marketing Management 42(5): 671‐682
Frankenberger K, Weiblen T, Csik M, Gassmann O. 2013. The 4I‐framework of business model innovation: A structured view on process phases and challenges. International Journal of Product Development 18 (3/4): 249‐273
Lechner C, Frankenberger K, Floyd S. 2010. Task contingencies in the curvilinear relationships between intergroup networks and initiative performance. Academy of Management Journal. 53 (4), 865‐889.

Best Paper Proceedings

Bonakdar, A., Frankenberger, K., Gassmann, O. 2014. Intra‐firm networks and noveltycentered business models. Academy of Management Best Paper Proceedings. (top 10% of papers).
Marx1, K., Lechner, C., Floyd, S. 2006. The costs and benefits of intrafirm networks: an embeddedness perspective. Academy of Management Best Paper Proceedings. (top 10% of papers).

Academic Work Under Review

Frankenberger, K., Stam, W. Entrepreneurial Copycats: the contingent value of business model imitation, 2nd round Revise & Resubmit at Long Range Planning.

Academic Work in Progress

Frankenberger K., Zott C. The role of differentiation, integration and organizational governance in business model innovation.
Frankenberger K., Voelz D., Prescott J., Gassmann O. The role of partnership networks in innovation initiatives.

Books

Gassmann, Oliver; Frankenberger, Karolin & Csik, Michaela : Geschäftsmodelle entwickeln : 55 innovative Konzepte mit dem St. Galler Business Model Navigator. 2. Auflage. München : Hanser Verlag, 2017, – ISBN 978-3-446-45175-9.
Gassmann O, Frankenberger K, Csik M. 2013. Geschäftsmodelle entwickeln: 55 innovative Konzepte mit dem St. Galler Business Model Navigator. 1. Auflage. München: Hanser Verlag, 2013. ‐ ISBN 978‐ 3‐446‐43567‐4. (Bestseller, over 10.000 copies sold, the FAZ reviewed as “nothing less than a sensation”)
Gassmann O, Frankenberger K, Csik, M. 2014. The Business Model Navigator, 55 Models that will revolutionise your Business, FT Publishing Pearson, Harlow, UK, 387 pages. (translated to more than 10 other languages)
Gassmann O, Frankenberger K, Sauer R. 2015. Business Model Innovation: Research theories on the phenomenon. Palgrave McMillan. Basingstoke, UK. ISBN 978-3-319-41143-9.
Gassmann O, Frankenberger K, Csik M. 2017. Geschäftsmodelle entwickeln: 55 innovative Konzepte mit dem St. Galler Business Model Navigator. Zweite und erweiterte Auflage. Hanser Verlag. München. ISBN 978‐3‐446 43567‐4.
Gassmann O, Frankenberger K, Csik M. 2017. Geschäftsmodelle entwickeln: 55 innovative Konzepte mit dem St. Galler Business Model Navigator. Zweite und erweiterte Auflage. Hanser Verlag. München. ISBN 978‐3‐446‐43567‐4.

Book Chapters

Gassmann O, Frankenberger K 2016. Geschäftsmodelle entwickeln: Von der Kunst zum Handwerk. In: Geschäftsmodellinnovationen. Springer, Wiesbaden, 17‐33. ISBN 978‐3‐658‐08622‐
Gassmann O, Frankenberger K, Csik M 2016. Innovation Strategy: From new Products to Business Model Innovation. In: Business Innovation: Das St. Galler Modell, 2016
Gassmann O, Frankenberger K, Csik M. 2013. Konstruktionsmethodik für Geschäftsmodellinnovation. In: Das unternehmerische Unternehmen. Berlin: Springer‐Gabler, 2013, ISBN 978‐3‐658‐02058‐3.
Gassmann O, Frankenberger K, Csik M. 2013. Revolutionizing the business model. In: Gassmann O, Schweitzer F. Hrsg, 2013: Management of the Fuzzy Front End of Innovation, Springer, Cham, p. 339.
Marx11 K, Lechner C. 2005. The Role of the Social Context for Strategy Making: Examining the Impact of Embeddedness on the Performance of Strategic Initiatives. In: Innovating Strategy Processes. USA: Blackwell Publishers, 2005: 135‐148. ‐ ISBN 1405129395

Practicioner Oriented Journals

Gassmann O, Frankenberger K; Sauer R, Emmonet S, Amann C. 2017. Neue Geschäftsmodelle erfolgreich entwickeln und umsetzen: Ansätze zur Steuerung und Organisation von Geschäftsmodellinnovationen. Controlling: Zeitschrift für erfolgsorientierte Unternehmenssteuerung, 29 (2). 12‐20.
Frankenberger K. 2016. Innovatives Vorlesungsformat; An der Wirtschaftsfakultät der Universität Luzern, zentralinfo, Informationen der Industrie‐ und Handelskammer Zentralschweiz, 04/2016
Gassmann O, Frankenberger K. 2014. Branchen‐Revolution durch neue Geschäftsmodelle, GfM‐Forschungsreihe, 02/2014.
Gassmann O, Csik M, Frankenberger K. 2012. Aus alt mach neu: Ein Fahrplan für Innovationen. Harvard Business Manager. 34(06): 18‐19
Lechner, C., Marx, K., & Müller‐Stewens, G. 2004. The race for new e‐business models. European Business Forum. (16), 65‐69.

External Engagements

Editorial Board: Journal of Management Studies, 2014‐present
Ad‐Hoc Reviewing: Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, R&D Management, Long Range Planning
Conferences: Academy of Management Conference, SMS. EURAM
Membership: Academy of Management (BPS division), Strategic Management Society
BMI Lab, Consulting Company on BMI, Founder (2013)
Bühler 2.0. project together with VRP and team, senior coach (2017‐present)
Swiss National Science Foundation Research Committee Lucerne (2017‐present)