How can the actor-oriented architectural scheme guide organisational structure and solution offerings?

: a perspective on the business models of healthcare AI start-ups : a single case study

Abstract

This thesis investigates how the actor-oriented architectural scheme can inform both the internal organisational design and external solution offerings of healthcare AI startups. Drawing on a single-case study of Livv Health, a Norwegian digital health company developing an AI-powered platform to unify fragmented patient data, the research adopts an abductive approach, iteratively moving between empirical insights and theoretical reflection. Building on theories of value networks, actor-oriented architecture, and dynamic capabilities, this thesis proposes a dual application of actor-oriented logic: internally, through decentralized governance, collaborative problem-solving, and shared digital infrastructure; and externally, through a platform that empowers patients to manage and share their health data across clinical ecosystems. The analysis introduces the concept of dynamic alignment to capture how the recursive relationship between organisational design and value proposition enables continuous adaptation in response to environmental complexity. In doing so, this thesis positions actor-oriented architecture as more than an organisational form - it argues for its classification as a dynamic capability - one that supports business model innovation and strategic responsiveness in fast-evolving, regulated environments. This work contributes to emerging literature at the intersection of healthcare strategy, digital transformation, and organisational theory by offering a framework that integrates internal and external logic of coordination. It further illustrates how healthcare AI startups can serve as laboratories for organisational innovation, reimagining not just how care is delivered, but how health systems are structured.

Date of Award	23 Oct 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Thomas Hoholm (Supervisor)