Ecosystem Dynamics: From Concept to Trade-offs

Abstract

Over the last few years, ecosystems have emerged as an important new area of research, as the likes of Google, Apple and Facebook have transformed the nature of competition. These companies have linked previously separate sectors of the economy and created broad-ranging networks of firms that both collaborate and compete to add value, changing the nature of competitive dominance. While there has been a mushrooming of excitement about the potential of studying ecosystems, many of them based on platforms, several questions remain unresolved: What new competitive trade-offs have emerged, what are the implications for traditional industries, and how can we make this construct useful not only for those at the centre of ecosystem but also for society as a whole? This panel will bring together some of the leading thinkers in the field to share some thoughts and illustrate their current / ongoing research projects that help elucidate what is distinct and interesting, and, crucially, what are the implications for strategic tradeoffs and choices that ecosystems can bring into sharper focus.