Managing Turbulence: Business Model Development in a Family-Owned Airline

Abstract

How can a family business reduce environmental uncertainty and dependence by developing its business model, changing the logic of creating and capturing value through its activities? Cimber, a Denmark-based family-owned airline, has developed different business models since its establishment in 1950. Resource dependence theory can help illuminate the actions that Cimber took in this process. The family played an important role in balancing internal and external influences, shaping the scope and complexity of the business model, and creating specific path dependencies.