We need new and alternative business models to avoid being totally disrupted.

Henrik Køhler Simonsen is one of five winners of an ELEXIS travel grant within this first call.

He is curiously exploring new opportunities for lexicography and wants to go new paths for innovating common business models in terms of digitalization.

We wanted to know more…

© Henrik Køhler Simonsen, 2018

How did you learn about the ELEXIS travel grants?

I am a proud and long-time member of LEDA (Lexicographers in Denmark) and NFL (Nordic Association for Lexicography) and read about the ELEXIS travel grants from one of their newsletters.

What is your project about?

My research shows that we really need a new business model, which is viable, sustainable and geared for the future.

My project is about developing new digital business models for lexicography and exploring new opportunities for lexicography.
The main objectives of my research visit are to plan and facilitate a number of business model generation workshops with a view on how to generate new ideas, new insights and new knowledge on alternative business models in lexicography.

“I believe that both lexicography and business can be compared in a number of areas.”

My research project evolves in three phases:
Before my researching visit, I will take care of some practical arrangements, such as interview preparation and the planning of strategy workshops.
During my stay at KDictionaries, I will conduct preparatory interviews with relevant experts, businesses and companies.

I am planning to organize some strategy workshops at and with KDictionaries, business model generation workshops at and with KDictionaries and a business model generation seminar at the Tel Aviv University:
There I will present an overview of the different business models, where relevant participants present their business models and their ideas to new strategies and where contacts can be developed.

In the third phase, I will analyze the interviews and seminar data and use the outcomes for writing articles on the project, perhaps even an article in KDictionaries.

What is your background that brought you up to this point?

I hold an MA in Business Communication from Aarhus School of Business (1996), a PhD in corporate lexicography from Aarhus School of Business, Centre for Lexicography (2002) and an MBA in Emergent Management from Aalborg University (2016) and I have published numerous articles on corporate lexicography, user involvement, mobile lexicography and business development in lexicography.
Lexicography as a science and practice is absolutely wonderful and I have enjoyed every second of my journey.
However, it has become increasingly clear to me over the years that we really need new and alternative business models to avoid being totally disrupted.

“Lexicography as a science and practice is absolutely wonderful and I have enjoyed every second of my journey.”

Where does your interest in languages/lexicography come from and what keeps you motivated?

My interest in and passion for lexicography AND business come from different positions at Danish universities and leadership positions in Danish industry.
I believe that both lexicography and business can be compared in a number of areas:
Both lexicography and business share an interest in the user or the customer and their challenges and also an interest in offering job-specific solutions to those challenges.
That is what keeps me motivated and I am really curious about exploring new avenues of research in business model generation.

Find out more about ELEXIS visiting grants and former winning projects:

Profile: Henrik Køhler Simonsen
Travel Grant Call 1
Period of stay 5.12. – 16.12.2018
Project-title Business Model Innovation in the Dictionary Industry
Home institution Copenhagen Business School #elexis_dk
Hosting institution K Dictionaries (KD, Israel) #elexis_il

Find out more about Henrik Køhler Simonsen on Linked-In