Kelvin Wade Ivanković defends his PhD thesis

Read the dissertation in the National Research Archive

This dissertation began with a simple question: what if businesses started owning less and sharing more? What started as a conceptual curiosity has, over the course of this research, revealed itself to be both a practical reality and a complex organisational phenomenon. Across industries and regions, firms are beginning to rethink long-standing assumptions about resource ownership, control, and value creation. Resources that once remained idle within organisational boundaries are now being mobilised through new forms of inter-organisational sharing, giving rise to what is increasingly recognised as the business-to-business sharing economy (B2B SE). 

Sharing economy in a B2B context 

Few developments have disrupted markets and business models as profoundly as the rise of the SE. Having transformed many consumer markets, the SE is now gaining momentum in B2B contexts, with many new initiatives emerging around the world, enabling businesses to share everything from equipment, office space, vehicles, data, and even employees. Both scholars and practitioners predict that the B2B SE is poised for substantial growth and is expected to disrupt B2B markets. Yet despite the growing practical relevance, academic research on the phenomenon remains scarce. While SE models have been widely studied in consumer contexts, their application in B2B settings remains underexplored. Inspired by these recent developments, emerging practices and the lack of existing research, this dissertation focuses on the SE in B2B contexts.  

This dissertation contributes to the emerging research agenda by synthesising existing scholarship, advancing conceptual clarity and providing empirical insights into emerging B2B SE practices. It clarifies how B2B SE differs from related concepts and offers insights into perceived benefits, implementation challenges, and value-creation processes. It also offers practical recommendations for businesses, facilitators and policymakers. 

Insights and practical implications

This dissertation is a publication-based thesis comprising a synopsis and three articles. The first article draws on business network and ecosystem perspectives to investigate value co-creation in the B2B SE. Through our analysis, we provide insight into the coexistence and interdependence of a diverse range of actors, and our findings reveal that the B2B SE fosters shared value creation by enabling businesses to use resources more collaboratively, creating economic benefits for businesses and environmental benefits for society.  

The second article examines triadic relationships among facilitators, resource providers, and resource users in the B2B SE. The study highlights how B2B SE relationships differ from conventional B2B exchanges. The findings show that SE facilitators play a crucial role in reducing transaction costs and perceived risks that might otherwise deter participation. By integrating insights from Industrial Marketing and Purchasing (IMP) and SE research, the study extends understanding of relationship management in the B2B SE and offers practical guidance for managing complex inter-firm SE relationships.  

The third article explores how SE principles can help startups gain access to resources for prototype development, testing, and verification. Drawing on two empirical cases, one in South Africa and one in Norway, the findings highlight the central role of the facilitator and the importance of hands-on engagement with startups. This research suggests that effective sharing of tangible resources depends on access to complementary intangible resources, such as technical expertise and industry knowledge. 

In summary, these findings challenge both researchers and practitioners to reconsider established assumptions about “business as usual”, as the future of industrial markets may be less about what firms own and more about how they share. In such a scenario, this dissertation offers practical guidance for (a) business participation in the B2B SE, highlighting opportunities to create value through more efficient and sustainable use of existing resources; (b) facilitation, emphasising facilitators’ central coordination role; and (c) policy, calling for clear regulations to support B2B SE development while addressing potential risks and downsides. 

Biography 

Kelvin is originally from South Africa and holds bachelor’s, honours and master’s degrees (cum laude) from Stellenbosch University, where he specialised in entrepreneurship and innovation management. He has also studied at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in the United States, KU Leuven in Belgium and the University of Adelaide in Australia.  

Kelvin first came to Norway in 2020 as an international student to participate in HVL’s master's course, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Practice in a Regional Context. He later returned to pursue his PhD in Responsible Innovation and Regional Development. As a PhD research fellow at the Mohn Centre for Innovation and Regional Development (now part of the Innovation Studies department at the HVL Business School), Kelvin participated in collaboration projects between Norway and South Africa (including INTPART, UTFORSK, and DIKU) and lectured on topics in innovation management, entrepreneurship, design thinking and B2B marketing at bachelor’s and master’s levels. During his PhD, he presented at 14 international conferences and was a visiting scholar at the Education University of Hong Kong during autumn 2024.  

Trial Lecture

The trial lecture will take place on november 10, 2026 kl. 10.15 at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, campus Kronstad, K2 room M005

Theme:
«What does the sharing-economy perspective add to our understanding of B2B exchange and value creation?»

Public Defence

The public defence will take place on november 10, 2026 kl. 12.15 at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, campus Kronstad, K2 room M005

Title of the dissertation:
«The B2B Sharing Economy: Rethinking Business as Usual—A Shift from Ownership to Access»

Streaming

https://hvl.zoom.us/j/65007810266?pwd=4eYv6AD45LUEUoQfXu186Fo1oyW2MA.1
Passcode:123198

Evaluation Committee

Chair:
Associate Professor Tore Frimannslund, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

Opponents: 
Professor Vadim Grinevich, University of Bradford of Management, UK

Professor Christina Öberg, Linnaeus University

Supervisors

Professor Inger Beate Pettersen, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

Professor Natalia Mæhle, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

Chair of the defence

Vice-dean for research Stig Erik Jakobsen