”Resistance and resilience.” Quest for the survival or prosperity of small and medium-sized Sicilian wine enterprises

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the wine sector are facing increasing pressures from various external factors, such as climate change, global competition and technological disruption. In this context, Business Model Innovation (BMI) represents a key lever for organisational resilience and antifragility. However, these SMEs might exhibit strong organisational resistance to BMI, rooted in tradition and leadership cognition. This study aims to propose an innovative methodological approach that integrates Business Model Canvas-based surveys with in-depth case studies of SMEs operating in Sicily (Italy) to develop a taxonomy of SMEs along two main axes: resistance to BMI and resilience/antifragility. Consequently, the objective of the current study is to understand how organisational cognition and leadership styles influence BMI activation, addressing the need to explore the human and behavioural aspects of BMI.