Licentiatavhandling Umeå : Umeå University. Umeå School of Business, 2009

So far I have identified that certain multifaceted problems facing the transportation industry have led to the development of biofuels. These biofuels are considered to be product innovations as per the definition of Boar and During (2001). Their implementation has been described as a complex one in so far as it requires other complimentary innovations in order to develop the necessary biofuel transport system. Innovation is therefore the core element of the study, in the analysis the individual innovations involved in the innovation process will be identified. More specifically however I seek to understand the inter-organisational and hence complex innovation process towards the development of a biofuel transport system. Institutional theory will be used as an analytical tool to facilitate a better comprehension of the arena within which the collaborative efforts occur. This is according to the industries within which the organisations have been involved in the past, and the rules and resources associated with them that will, theoretically at least, dictate their behaviour. Whilst the concept of business ecosystems will be used as a normative framework of systems development with which to compare and contrast the development of a biofuel transport system and better understand the process according to the development stages laid out by the concept.