The concept of ecosystem in economic and management studies

Abstract

The concept of ecosystem enjoys growing popularity among academics and practitioners around the globe. However, due to the inconsistent use and the vagueness of definitions, the application of the concept in economic and management studies is impeded. The paper systematizes the prerequisites, theoretical foundations and conceptual framework of ecosystems as a concept for describing a new structure of social relations. The methodological basis of the research is organizational ecology theory, dynamic capabilities theory and neo-institutional theory. Structural-logical, bibliographic and criterion analysis are the main research methods. The article substantiates the expediency of using the prefix “eco-” when describing the interaction between a company and its environment, and indentifies the primary provisions of organizational ecology affecting the emergence of the ecosystem concept. The author examines the intermediate position of the ecosystem in the neo-institutional dichotomy of market– hierarchy. The study discusses the extent to which the ecosystem influences dynamic capabilities of a firm, and demonstrates inconsistencies in using the term “ecosystem” in academic texts. As a result of bibliographic analysis, we distinguish between four central research discourses of the ecosystem concept (business, innovation, entrepreneurial and platform-based ecosystems), as well as establish their terminological peculiarities and main research avenues. The results obtained can be used to develop the theory of ecosystems and describe ecosystems of real business.

The research tree of the innovation ecosystems

“…So Ramenskaya L.A. found that "the number of scientific publications with the keywords "business ecosystem" in google.scholar has grown 6.5 times over the past 18 years" [6]. At the same time, this author, among other representatives of the scientific community, does not fully share the optimism regarding the widespread use of the term ecosystem [7].…”

Development of Approaches and Organizational Models for the Mass Implementation of Information Modeling Technologies in the Investment and Construction Sphere

“…Developing digital environments is a stable trend developed in developing economies (Stonig et al 2022;Rudnik et al 2021). Use of BIM technologies in construction increased urgency of forming the stage-specific digital environments in the course of development project life cycles (Stepanova et al 2019;Bank of Russia 2021;Marnewick and Marnewick 2022;Cabeças and Marques da Silva 2021;Ramenskaya 2020;Riaz et al 2022) with consecutive transformation into the company environment for projects. A digital platform can facilitate interaction between construction industry stakeholders and enable design of an environment (internal and external) for managing investment and construction projects (Hein et al 2020;Yasnitsky et al 2022).…”

Formation of Innovative Ecosystems: Relevant Priorities for Dynamic Sustainability of Regional Development

“…Enhancing the innovation process, ensuring the continuity of the innovation cycle ACHIEVING SUSTAINABILITY OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT implemented), the importance of a comprehensive studies of the structure and specificity of the processes of integration and interaction of CIE elements, which, according Y. Su et al, are their most significant characteristics [19]. In fact, understanding the features of the CIE landscape, formed by the level of development of science, technology and business (STB) and their interaction, contributes to the rationalization of the search for ways of innovative growth, making management decisions to create an infrastructure for the development and development of innovations, and intensive development of the network environment.…”

“…It is customary to distinguish the research and commercial components within a certain CIE [19][20][21]. Thus, according D. Oh D. et al, with achievement of a systemic compromise of their goals and interests, it is possible to form effective informational, organizational and economic interactions that contribute to balancing the relationships between the selected subsystems of CIE.…”