Business Ecosystem Research Articles

Relating the strategic role of technology orientation in organizational TQM performance

The importance of incorporating cutting-edge technological strategies to support business ecosystem development is growing across industries. By examining the relationship between organisational Total Quality Management (TQM) performance and the indicators of technology orientation, this study aims to fill the knowledge gap caused by insufficient empirical research on the characteristics of technology orientation. This study evaluates a unique conceptual framework using survey data from 254 IT manufacturing companies in India, utilising a two-staged structural equation modelling and artificial neural network methodology. The study developed hypotheses on TQM organisational performance through the literature on technology orientation to determine the correlations between these indicators. The findings highlight how enterprises that commit to adopting new technologies can enhance technological innovation to become more resourceful and creative and increase organisational TQM performance. The sensitivity analysis results showed that technology adoption significantly impacts organisational TQM performance. The novelty of this study contributes to the literature on organisation TQM performance by providing a deeper understanding of relevant technology orientation indicators and how organisations should use them to achieve superior performance. The results show that technology acceptance strategy, capability, infrastructure, innovation, and adoption benefit organisational TQM performance.

The Impact of Platform Ecosystem on Nigeria’s Small Businesses: A Strategic Analysis for Competitive Advantage

The interconnectedness of businesses (producers/suppliers, wholesalers, and retailers) and customers has never been more critical in the global business environment. Reliance on traditional means of connecting with businesses and other consumers is fraught with limited availability of contact. The platform ecosystem provides a veritable channel for small businesses to interact with many businesses and consumers who themselves are also stakeholders in the platform ecosystem. Business ecosystems provide essential benefits such as the means to a wide range of capabilities, the capacity to scale quickly, enhanced resiliency, and flexibility (Ulrich Pidun et al., 2019). New businesses must gain speedy access to capabilities that are external to the organization and expensive to acquire internally. The Nigerian business terrain is awash with millions of micro and small businesses that serve as the backbone of the Nigerian economy through the provision of employment to millions of people, raw materials to other businesses (large or small) and are critical to the supply chain in all sectors of the economy. The need to gain capabilities, resources, and core competencies cannot be over-emphasized; the fragility of these businesses considering the COVID-19 pandemic presents an invaluable opportunity for small business owners and operators first to change their mindsets to enable them to appreciate the vast benefits derivable from the interactions with other stakeholders on a platform they can be part of for little or no charge. The paper seeks to discover how ecosystem platforms can influence small businesses' capabilities and core competencies in Nigeria to generate innovation.

Digital ecosystems in international technological business

Introduction. The current stage of economic development is characterized by the increasing impact of advanced digital information and communication technologies (ICT) on the entire system of human interactions, encompassing the processes of production, distribution, exchange, and consumption of both material and immaterial goods. Among the emerging phenomena in today's economic relations system are digital ecosystems, which are created and developed through the actions of international technological companies. The purpose of the paper is to define the essence and content of the concept of "digital ecosystems" for further analysis and understanding in an economic context. Results. It is argued that, in an economic sense, the concept of ecosystems is a continuation of the scientific inquiries of various scholars studying changes and relationships in the business environment from the perspectives of competition and collaboration among its participants. Today, business ecosystems created and developed by international technological companies typically operate through digital platforms, services, and solutions, transforming them into digital business ecosystems. The paper identifies key types of digital ecosystems in business and emphasizes the existence of other types of digital ecosystems (governmental, hybrid) that also require further exploration. The role of international technological companies in shaping global digital ecosystems is explored, using Amazon as an example. It is clarified that leading global technology companies play a crucial role as conductors of the ecosystem of ecosystems. In digital ecosystems, boundaries are constantly changing, participants and components are updated. As a result, the description of the structures of digital ecosystems varies among different authors. Conclusion. Theoretical guidelines are provided for further research on digital ecosystems in economics and business, both from the perspective of economic strategy developers and theoretical economists.

Crafting digital business ecosystems for cultural and creative industries

The Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) thrive on innovation and creativity, necessitating robust cross-domain collaboration among diverse stakeholders. However, the current state of CCI co-creation mechanisms is marked by inadequacies. The primary objective is to provide practical and effective strategic guidance for co-creation endeavors within the dynamic CCI landscape. This study employs the Root Cause Analysis (RCA) method to identify and analyze critical elements for industrial co-creation, offering a comprehensive framework for understanding the intricacies of co-creation processes. The Cultural and Creative Industries Digital Business Ecosystem (CCI-DBE) model is then developed to encompass four foundational pillars: participation of multiple stakeholders, mechanism of co-creation, uniqueness of consumer experience, and output of co-created value. Participation of multiple stakeholders recognizes the importance of integrating perspectives from content creators, other companies, suppliers, and customers. The mechanism of co-creation delves into the necessity of a robust platform, supported by technological infrastructure, to facilitate seamless resource and knowledge exchange. The uniqueness of consumer experience emphasizes the need for tailoring offerings to meet consumers' unique experiential and meaningful needs. Output of co-created value focuses on enhancing product novelty, resource sharing, communication efficiency, information interaction, and cross-domain integration. This CCI-DBE model not only contributes to academic discourse but also provides actionable insights for practitioners seeking to navigate and enhance the co-creation process within the evolving CCI landscape. It stands as a valuable guide for fostering innovation, collaboration, and strategic alignment in the CCI sector.

Fostering innovation through learning from digital business ecosystem: A dynamic capability perspective

Most research that utilizes ecosystems as subjects adopts an orchestrator perspective and focuses on large corporations. Meanwhile, studies that analyze the role of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) have been relatively scarce. This study aims to analyze how SMEs, as participants in the ecosystem, engage in learning to develop capabilities for fostering innovation. We conducted in-depth case studies using two SMEs participating in the digital business ecosystem. Employing a dynamic capabilities perspective, we build a framework explaining the capabilities required for pursuing innovation in the ecosystem: vigilant detection of change alerts, leveraging external resources, and evolutionary adaptation to market. Apart from that, we do not only identify these capabilities but also propose the path of learning for innovation: iterative learning with the digital business ecosystem, acquisition of knowledge and resources, capabilities development, and pursuing innovation. For managers, this study demonstrates the importance of a digital ecosystem for learning. Insights obtained from the ecosystem can be used to predict customer preferences and introduce product innovation. Although engaging in a digital business ecosystem offers benefits, excessive reliance on external partners may lead to unintended consequences. To what extent firms should rely on external partners from the digital ecosystem can be investigated in future research.

International scientific production in entrepreneurial, innovative and business ecosystem

This paper aims to analyze how the studies regarding entrepreneurial, innovative and organizational ecosystems are set, establish what theoretical connections exist, and build a future agenda. As for the methodology, the study carried out a bibliometric research. The database was collected from the Web Of Science. The results suggested that: the publications and citations have been considerably expanding since 2014; the debate prevailed in China and the United States of America; the papers show inter and multidisciplinary characteristics; in the field, prevailed the texts that study the entrepreneurial ecosystem and seek to deepen the concepts and analysis.

Membangun Kembali Komunikasi Organisasi Karang Taruna Di Desa Kedung Kampil Kecamatan Porong

This research is in-depth about the crucial role of communication in rebuilding and maintaining the solidarity of the Karang Taruna organization in Kedung Kampil Village Rw.04, Porong District, Sidoarjo Regency, after experiencing a period of hiatus from 2015 to 2019. The focus of the research is aimed at the efforts of Ahmad Syafi'udin, The chairman of Karang Taruna, in approaching village youth, forms a clear organizational structure and establishes effective communication. The success of this organization in 2019 reflects the positive impact of establishing a good structure, increasing village youth participation, and implementing various programs, including regular flights every Friday, building sports facilities, commemorating the Republic of Indonesia's Independence Day, and utilizing YouTube social media. The importance of the role of communication in maintaining solidarity is the main highlight, with this research trying to provide an understanding to Karang Taruna members about the significance of communication in developing a better organization. Analysis of communication patterns implemented by the Karang Taruna organization in Kedung Kampil Village is the focus for answering the research problem formulation. In responding to challenges, this organization adopted a revitalization strategy through efforts to increase internal and external communication, improve organizational structure, and design more measurable work programs. In addition, this research discusses the impact of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 on the global business ecosystem, with an emphasis on data technology. The structural transformation of organizations, the application of artificial intelligence, and changes in the paradigm of global business interactions are the central points. The research conclusions show that a deep understanding of these changes is the key to ensuring business sustainability and competitiveness in the era of Industrial Revolution 4.0. In recommendations, the study advises companies to invest in human resources skilled in data technology and artificial intelligence and strengthen cross-border partnerships to face challenges and exploit emerging opportunities

A Study of Barriers to Initial and Post E-Commerce Adoption among Small Businesses in Sri Lanka

Small businesses in Sri Lanka are considered the backbone of the economy, and e-commerce can be viewed as a ladder for business growth. However, Sri Lankan Small businesses are not adopting e-commerce to its full potential. This research examines potential barriers within the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework that affect the decision to adopt electronic commerce and post e-commerce adoption within small businesses in the Sri Lanka. The study employed a quantitative research approach, proportion-ate stratified random sampling procedures were used to select a sample of 453 firms in Hambantota District, Sri Lanka. Primary data were collected using a pre-designed and tested questionnaire. For analyzing the data derived from multiple regression. According to statistical analysis in this research the results indicates that, initial and post adoption by these businesses were found to be hindered by some of barriers existing within individual, technological, organizational, and environmental context including lack of knowledge and awareness of e-commerce, fear to change, lack of qualified personnel to develop and support ecom-merce, lack of popularity for online marketing and inadequate delivery networks, higher competition and indirect or hidden cost associated with e-commerce. The research findings will aid in developing more effective government policies and planning decisions to foster a more vibrant small business ecosystem in developing countries.

Empowering digital transformation: The roles of platforms

This study investigates how digital platforms can drive the digital transformation of participant firms in their surrounding business ecosystems. To do so, we conduct an in-depth case study of Alibaba’ cross-border e-commerce platform and eleven seller firms operating on the platform. Our results highlight the importance of proper empowerment in platform-driven digital transformation. In particular, we observe that Alibaba attempts to facilitate the digital transformation of seller firms through three types of activities: resource empowerment, psychological empowerment, and structural empowerment. Moreover, we find that the sequence of these empowerment activities plays a critical role. Without being psychologically empowered first, seller firms react quite passively to Alibaba’s resource provision and structural support. Psychological empowerment provides the activation triggers for the sellers to renew their mindsets and become receptive to Alibaba’s support and guidance, which ultimately contribute to the digital transformation of their businesses.

Motivation, Business Ecosystem and Driving Synergies: The Strategic Merger of Dianping and Meituan

The landscape of the Chinese service business has been drastically altered by the combination of Dianping and Meituan. This study investigates the research background, substance, goal, importance, and policy suggestions while exploring the key results and fundamental concepts associated with this merger. The background research focuses on the dynamics of competition and the reasons for the merger in the Chinese service sector. The research looks at how the merger will affect consumer satisfaction, service diversity, and market share. It also looks at how combining resources and knowledge may improve both operational effectiveness and competitiveness. The goal of the research is to make legislative suggestions to maximize the benefits of the merger while also delivering insights for investors and business executives. These suggestions place a strong emphasis on the value of innovation, customer-focused tactics, and fair competition. The research also recommends that investors keep a careful eye on market movements and adjust their strategy as necessary.

Research on the Business Model of Pinduoduo Based on User Analysis

In today's digital age, e-commerce platforms have become an integral part of the business ecosystem. These platforms have redefined the traditional way of business transactions through innovative business models and user analysis methods, and have greatly influenced consumers' shopping experience and enterprises' business strategies. This paper aims to deeply explore the business model of an e-commerce platform based on user analysis by taking Pinduoduo as an example, to reveal the successful mechanism and operational points behind it. Analyzing Pinduoduo's business model and marketing strategy by literature review and case comparison methods, this article attributes Pinduoduo's business success to its adoption of social shopping, group buying, low-price goods, and user interaction. Additionally, this paper forecasts Pinduoduo's development prospects from the perspective of user experiences and social interaction. I hope to provide some theoretical support for future researchers.

Ideating a framework for sustainable livelihood of handicraft producers at the bottom of the pyramid: a mix-method study from India

PurposeThe handicraft sector is unorganized with huge potential for the economic upliftment of the bottom of the pyramid (BOP) craft producers. To ensure the sustainable livelihood of the artisans living in BOP, it is essential to identify the hurdles being faced by them so that they can be worked upon. This paper aims to look at the existing handicraft value chain in an integrated way to identify these hurdles and suggest probable solutions to mitigate them.Design/methodology/approachA two-stage study involving quantitative and qualitative approaches is used. Empirical observations from 218 artisans were analyzed using the relative to an identified distribution to rank the different variables affecting the functioning of the handicraft value chain. Next, 17 handicraft entrepreneurs were interviewed to identify solutions for the hurdles.FindingsA two-stage study examining the perspectives of artisans and handicraft entrepreneurs identified five significant challenges affecting the handicraft sector and viable solutions to address them. While presenting an operational model, a comprehensive picture of the handicraft business ecosystem was studied, from the procurement of raw materials to the marketing and sale of finished products. This can assist handicraft producers in sustaining their livelihoods and expanding the industry.Originality/valueStudies on the handicraft value chain at BOP are rare, and none have tried to look at the sector holistically to find solutions and propose an operational framework. The study has captured the voices of the artisans and handicraft entrepreneurs and, through a mixed-method approach, identified the main pain points of the BOP artisans to arrive at a workable solution for better business outcomes.

Complex business ecosystem intelligence using AI-powered visual analytics

Business ecosystems are complex, dynamic systems characterized by a multitude of entities, including companies, ventures, and technologies, as well as activities and trends. Understanding the state of business ecosystems is an increasingly critical strategic imperative for many decision makers, but it is a resource-intensive activity as relevant information sources are dispersed, often highly unstructured, and not integrated or curated to deliver actionable insights. In this research, we present the design and implementation of an interactive visual analytic system that integrates artificial intelligence and graph visualization techniques to augment decision makers’ understanding of the complex public narrative associated with business ecosystems entities. Our system is driven by a real-time content engine of 100,000+ global data sources including press releases, news articles, industry reports, analyst blogs in multiple languages organized across several domain-specific repositories. Following a user-specified query, the engine extracts both domain-agnostic and domain-specific entities and concepts for each document in the result set. We then model and visualize the resulting data as a dynamic, multipartite network and implement graph pruning algorithms and interactive data controls to enable users to interactively explore and discover the underlying business ecosystem from multiple perspectives. We illustrate and discuss the value of our system using representative use cases. Our study makes multiple contributions to visual decision support theory and practice, including mining unstructured data, constructing and interacting with knowledge graphs, and designing visual analytic tools for ecosystem intelligence. We conclude the study with implications and future research opportunities.

Removing barriers to plastic waste valorisation in Africa: Towards policies for value creation and capture in business ecosystems

AbstractStimulating plastic waste valorisation is suggested as an important way to address the growing waste problem in low‐income countries. However, policy interventions have not led to substantial waste valorisation, and the reasons for this have not been thoroughly analysed. We address this through a qualitative study of plastic waste in urban Zambia, which is representative of the policy and practice challenges in African plastic waste management. Using extensive data gathered through interviews, site visits and stakeholder meetings, we first conduct a business ecosystem analysis which provides a holistic view on value creation, capture, and destruction processes across all actors involved in the plastics lifecycle. Next, we map the barriers to value creation and capture by the system's main actors. Aggregation of these barriers reveals a low‐value trap, in which individual actors are disincentivized to increase waste valorisation activities. Finally, we analyse the reasons why policies aimed at waste valorisation have failed to break through this status quo. We find that policies have insufficiently addressed the barriers that keep the low‐value trap in place. Hence, they have not acted effectively on the root causes of systemic stagnation. By combining a business ecosystems analysis with an identification of barriers facing the individual actors in that ecosystem, our study is able to show why substantial plastic waste valorisation has not emerged despite policy incentives. Our analysis points toward concrete policy actions aimed at value redistribution and value increase, as key leverage points in the system to increase valorisation.

Revolutionizing digital marketing: unveiling the impact of influencer marketing, AI-driven customer support, and voice search optimization on engagement and efficiency on the example of the semiconductor manufacturing industry

In the rapidly evolving landscape of semiconductor manufacturing, this research paper explores the application of pivotal digital marketing trends and strategic innovations to reshape contemporary business strategies within the industry. Recognizing the significance of staying at the forefront of these transformations, our study aims to provide a nuanced understanding of three prominent digital marketing innovations: Influencer Marketing, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven Customer Support, and Voice Search Optimization. Through a rigorous methodology integrating literature review and case study analysis specific to semiconductor manufacturing in India, we unveil the successful implementation and tangible impact of these innovations on user engagement, brand perception, and overall marketing efficacy within the semiconductor sector of India. The research was done in 2022-2023 over the semiconductor companies working in India (HCL Technologies, Bharat Electronics Limited, ABB India Limited, Vedanta, CG Power and Industrial Solutions Limited, and Havells India Limited). Comparative analyses against traditional methods reveal significant improvements tailored to this industry: Influencer Marketing campaigns demonstrated a 25% increase in reach and engagement compared to conventional advertising. The integration of AI-driven Customer Support resulted in a 30% reduction in response time, enhancing customer satisfaction scores by 15%. Furthermore, Voice Search Optimization strategies yielded a 20% improvement in search accuracy, outperforming traditional text-based Search Engine Optimization (SEO) approaches within the semiconductor manufacturing context. Delving into challenges and opportunities associated with each innovation within the semiconductor industry, we provide evidence-based recommendations for businesses seeking to navigate the dynamic digital marketing landscape in this specialized domain. As semiconductor manufacturing continues to redefine its business ecosystem, embracing these innovations emerges as a cornerstone for sustained success in the digital era within this unique sector.

EFFECTIVE TAX SYSTEM AS A DRIVER OF INNOVATION PROCESSES: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF FINLAND AND UKRAINE

This article explores the theoretical and methodological aspects of a country's tax system in terms of its impact on the development of innovation processes. It identifies the role of tax revenues in the economic and innovative development of a state, serving as a primary source of funding for sectors providing public services. The study emphasizes the role of tax policy in the development of a national innovation system, focusing on elements such as startups, venture business, incubators, accelerators, and technology parks within the current business ecosystem. The tax system is defined as a key element in the functioning of a state and the regulation of its economy, considering the needs of innovative structures to facilitate national development. Ukraine and Finland are chosen for the analysis of the impact of the tax system on innovation processes, representing Eastern and Northern Europe, respectively. The study analyzes proportional taxation in Ukraine, including the option of a simplified system, and progressive taxation in Finland, where tax rates increase with income growth. The research highlights significant differences in tax payment culture between the two countries. Finland exhibits a high level of tax culture, supported by the effective use of budgetary funds to create public goods. In contrast, Ukraine has a relatively low tax culture due to the population's low trust in the government and satisfaction with their social needs. The analysis of both countries' tax systems helps determine the role of tax policy in the innovative development of a state and the support of an innovative environment, including the implementation of startup projects.

Comparing online user experience across different digital business ecosystems and platforms when booking vacations

Comparing online user experience across different digital business ecosystems and platforms when booking vacations

Ecosystem-oriented business model design: a multi-case comparative analysis based on Chinese e-commerce enterprises

ABSTRACT Ecosystem-oriented business model (EBM) design helps enterprises to build a business model (BM) with business ecosystem as a closed loop of value activities, thereby building a differentiated value logic, or business logic. This paper takes three Chinese e-commerce enterprises as typical cases, and uses the business model nine-square (Modularization of BMs) as an analysis tool to deconstruct their EBMs, and analyse the value creation, delivery and capture logics behind the combination of different modules, to gain insights into the design ideas of these EBMs. This paper provides references for relevant enterprises in other developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region (APR) to design EBMs.

Unlocking the potential of knowledge economy for rural resilience: The role of digital platforms

Due to urban-centric development paradigms, actors in the rural business ecosystem and related interaction spaces have become adrift, resulting in the fragility of the rural knowledge economy (K. E.) and rural decline. Diverse organizations, including not-for-profits, civil societies, private agencies, and cooperatives, have taken cognizance of this significant issue and have promoted platform-based enterprises. While the literature emphasizes the role of digital platforms in strengthening rural resilience, it does not elaborate on the underlying mechanism. Consequently, the relationship between the K. E. spaces topologically mapped on the platform, contributing to increased actor interaction and rural resilience, remains underexplored. This motivates us to pose a fundamental question: Can digital platforms operating in rural areas function as K.E. spaces and foster actor interactions to strengthen rural resilience? Theoretically grounded in network externality theory, the triple-helix model, and the Resilience Assessment Benchmarking and Impact Toolkit framework, this study adopts a multiple case study approach utilizing literature synthesis, archival sources, and primary data from key informants of selected platform organizations operational in rural areas. The findings show that K. E. spaces enrich the rural knowledge economy by onboarding missing actors and augmenting proximity. This leads to increased actor interactions and enhanced rural resilience. This study proposes an emergent framework expositing a nexus between digital platforms, K. E. spaces, and rural resilience attributes and contributes to the growing body of rural resilience literature.

Digitalization of business models, knowledge management and green technology innovation of Chinese manufacturing enterprises: a mixed analysis based on the Haier COSMOPlat ecosystem

ABSTRACT Under the wave of global digital development, deepening the digital application in the production process of traditional manufacturing enterprises and promoting the digitalization, networking, intelligence and ecological upgrading of business models of manufacturing enterprises have become an important starting point for countries to promote the ‘green sustainable development’ strategy. However, the mechanism of the digitalization of business models of traditional manufacturing enterprises on green technology innovation remains under-studied. In view of this, based on the Haier COSMOPlat business ecosystem, this paper adopts a mixed analysis method of case study and empirical research to study the digitalization of business models and green technology innovation in manufacturing enterprises. The results show that the digitalization of business models has a significant positive impact on the green technology innovation of manufacturing enterprises. In addition, knowledge-sharing level and knowledge-integration capability play a mediating role between the digitalization of business models and green innovation, of which the role of knowledge-integration capability is more obvious. This research conclusion has important theoretical value and practical guiding significance for traditional manufacturing enterprises to realize green technology innovation and sustainable development through the digitalization of business models.