Understanding the Legitimacy Challenges for Sharing Economy Disruptors: A Topic Modeling Approach
Description
The sharing economy has disrupted traditional business models (e.g. Airbnb, Uber in disrupting lodging and transport industries). To be successful, these disruptive start-ups seek legitimacy and sustainability in the incumbent market. However, challenges of legitimacy for disruptive start-ups are still unclear. Our study attempts to understand the new legitimacy formation by surfacing the underlying issues of contestation in a sharing economy disruption. Using topic modeling approach, we identify the legitimacy challenges surrounding Uber and Airbnb, two leading firms in sharing economy, from news published between 2008 and 2018.
Understanding the Legitimacy Challenges for Sharing Economy Disruptors: A Topic Modeling Approach
The sharing economy has disrupted traditional business models (e.g. Airbnb, Uber in disrupting lodging and transport industries). To be successful, these disruptive start-ups seek legitimacy and sustainability in the incumbent market. However, challenges of legitimacy for disruptive start-ups are still unclear. Our study attempts to understand the new legitimacy formation by surfacing the underlying issues of contestation in a sharing economy disruption. Using topic modeling approach, we identify the legitimacy challenges surrounding Uber and Airbnb, two leading firms in sharing economy, from news published between 2008 and 2018.