Harvesting Impact: Navigating Growth and Scaling of Digital Platforms in Mission-Driven Firms
Typ
Examensarbete för masterexamen
Master's Thesis
Master's Thesis
Program
Quality and operations management (MPQOM), MSc
Publicerad
2024
Författare
Betsén, Petter
Gerber, Philip
Modellbyggare
Tidskriftstitel
ISSN
Volymtitel
Utgivare
Sammanfattning
This master’s thesis examines the growth and scaling of digital platforms for missiondriven
firms. This has been achieved by examining two cases operating within the
Swedish agri-food industry: Mylla and Skira. Twelve interviews were conducted
with individuals currently or previously employed at Mylla or Skira. The findings
suggest that being a mission-driven firm affects how strategic decisions are made
and influences growth and scaling across three platform development stages. Firstly,
during the initial growth phase, the study implies that embedding mission values early
on integrates core values and the mission into every aspect of the platform from the
onset, attracting producers at an early stage. Second, in the growth stage, the study
finds that protecting mission values is vital to continue delivering a value proposition
anchored through alignment with the mission. Lastly, during the scaling phase, the
study finds that assuring mission values seems to be crucial in order to ensure that
scaling efforts enhance rather than dilute the mission’s influence. The theoretical
contributions of this study point towards the idea that mission-driven firms need to
adopt a more cautious approach than profit-driven firms during their growth efforts,
both to ensure mission alignment and due to often limited financial resources. This is
aligned with the practical contribution provided that mission-driven firms ensure and
leverage alignment to the mission continuously throughout the growth and scaling
efforts.
Beskrivning
Ämne/nyckelord
digital platform , mission-driven , agri-food industry , growth , scaling , mission impact