Illustrating the concept of business ecosystem from views of bionics and competitive network and related theories

In this paper we illustrate the concept of business ecosystem by comparing it with other related concepts from the views of bionics and competitive network, involving theories of social Darwinism, general system theory, organizational ecology, value chain/network, industrial cluster and strategic alliance. This is aiming to better understand a business ecosystem and its applied advantage. The key point is: Business ecosystem is a good metaphor to demonstrate the growth and development path - birth, evolution, mutation and others forms for adapting to the environmental changes. The discussion is given followed by implications for future research direction.

[1]  Robert E. Spekman,et al.  Characteristics of partnership success: Partnership attributes, communication behavior, and conflict resolution techniques , 1994 .

[2]  Herbert Spencer,et al.  The Development Hypothesis. , 1875, Essays: Scientific, Political and Speculative.

[3]  M. Porter The Competitive Advantage Of Nations , 1990 .

[4]  Glenn R. Carroll,et al.  Ecological models of organizations , 1988 .

[5]  R. E. Miles,et al.  Causes of Failure in Network Organizations , 1992 .

[6]  Social Darwinism in American Thought, 1860-1915 , 1944 .

[7]  J. Jarillo On strategic networks , 1988 .

[8]  Varun Grover,et al.  Shaping Agility through Digital Options: Reconceptualizing the Role of Information Technology in Contemporary Firms , 2003, MIS Q..

[9]  Ludwig von Bertalanffy,et al.  General System Theory , 1969 .

[10]  G. Claeys The "Survival of the Fittest" and the Origins of Social Darwinism , 2000 .

[11]  M. Hannan,et al.  The Population Ecology of Organizations , 1977, American Journal of Sociology.

[12]  J. Rogers Darwinism and social Darwinism. , 1972, Journal of the history of ideas.

[13]  Ganesh N. Prabhu,et al.  Managing research collaborations as a portfolio of contracts: a risk reduction strategy by pharmaceutical firms , 1999 .

[14]  James F. Moore The Death of Competition: Leadership and Strategy in the Age of Business Ecosystems , 1996 .

[15]  M. Porter Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance , 1985 .

[16]  David J. Morrison,et al.  The Profit Zone: How Strategic Business Design Will Lead You to Tomorrow's Profits , 1997 .

[17]  The Organizational Ecology of Investment Firms in Egypt: Organizational Founding , 1998 .

[18]  Marco Iansiti,et al.  The Keystone Advantage: What the New Dynamics of Business Ecosystems Mean for Strategy, Innovation, and Sustainability , 2004 .

[19]  Harbir Singh,et al.  Learning and protection of proprietary assets in strategic alliances: building relational capital , 2000 .

[20]  H. Rao,et al.  The Demography of Corporations and Industries , 1999 .

[21]  M. Archibald,et al.  An Organizational Ecology of National Self-Help/Mutual-Aid Organizations , 2007 .

[22]  J. F. Moore,et al.  Predators and prey: a new ecology of competition. , 1993, Harvard business review.