Systems of innovation and innovation ecosystems: a literature review in search of complementarities

This paper aims to clarify to what extent the emerging theory of innovation ecosystems (IE) and the theory of systems of innovation (SI) are complementary and then identify how its communities could benefit from cross-fertilization. We performed a critical literature review of both topics using meta-synthesis as method to identify, analyze and compare the two theories. Using a framework, this paper explores the elements belonging to each theory’s domain, in order to identify the key factors necessary to compare the two theories. The results of this analysis show that both theories involve the assessment of three key aspects: the understanding of innovation activities, the role of the agents involved, and the interaction and resulting networks among them. A similarity was found showing that these two different theories are applications of System Thinking approach. Another finding, which has not been mentioned in previous research on the topic, is that the construction of the initial concepts of the IE theory was originally rooted in several SI elements. Finally, we found key factors that may be the cross-fertilization link between the two communities that represent each theory.

[1]  Lela V. Zimmer,et al.  Qualitative meta-synthesis: a question of dialoguing with texts. , 2006, Journal of advanced nursing.

[2]  J. Lopreato,et al.  General system theory : foundations, development, applications , 1970 .

[3]  J. Manyika,et al.  Disruptive technologies: Advances that will transform life, business, and the global economy , 2013 .

[4]  G. Bateson,et al.  Mind and Nature: A Necessary Unity , 1979 .

[5]  James K. Feibleman,et al.  The structure and function of organization , 1945 .

[6]  P. Cooke,et al.  Regional innovation systems: Institutional and organisational dimensions , 1997 .

[7]  Hamideh Afsarmanesh,et al.  Collaborative Networks for a Sustainable World - 11th IFIP WG 5.5 Working Conference on Virtual Enterprises, PRO-VE 2010, St. Etienne, France, October 11-13, 2010. Proceedings , 2010, PRO-VE.

[8]  V. Pilinkiene,et al.  Comparison of Different Ecosystem Analogies: The Main Economic Determinants and Levels of Impact☆ , 2014 .

[9]  Rodrigo Kazuo Ikenami,et al.  Unpacking the innovation ecosystem construct: Evolution, gaps and trends , 2016, Technological Forecasting and Social Change.

[10]  K. Warwick.  Beyond industrial policy Emerging issues and new trends , 2013 .

[11]  B. Lundvall.  Product Innovation and User-Producer Interaction , 1985 .

[12]  Yongjiang Shi,et al.  Business Ecosystems: Constructs, Configurations, and the Nurturing Process , 2014 .

[13]  Gaël Gueguen,et al.  La dynamique concurrentielle des écosystèmes d'affaires : Linux contre Microsoft , 2004 .

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

[15]  Frederick C. Furtek,et al.  The logic of systems , 1976 .

[16]  K. Pavitt.  Sectoral Patterns of Technical Change : Towards a Taxonomy and a Theory : Research Policy , 1984 .

[17]  R. Kapoor,et al.  Coordinating and competing in ecosystems: How organizational forms shape new technology investments , 2013 .

[18]  M. Porter,et al.  The Competitive Advantage of Nations. , 1990 .

[19]  B. Verspagen,et al.  Systems of Innovation , 2009 .

[20]  C. Freeman.  The ‘National System of Innovation’ in historical perspective , 1995 .

[21]  W RivkinJan,et al.  On the Origin of Strategy , 2007 .

[22]  Bengt-Åke Lundvall,et al.  Innovation System Research – Where it came from and where it might go , 2007 .

[23]  B. Leavy.  Interview – Ron Adner: managing the interdependencies and risks of an innovation ecosystem , 2012 .

[24]  M. Trevor.  Technology Policy and Economic Performance. Lessons from Japan , 1989 .

[25]  M. Rothschild,et al.  Bionomics : the inevitability of capitalism , 1990 .

[26]  Michael Barnett.  The Keystone Advantage: What the New Dynamics of Business Ecosystems Mean for Strategy, Innovation, and Sustainability , 2006 .

[27]  C. Fombrun,et al.  Collective Strategy: Social Ecology of Organizational Environments. , 1983 .

[28]  S. Nambisan,et al.  Entrepreneurship and strategic thinking in business ecosystems , 2012 .

[29]  Geoffrey M. Hodgson,et al.  The Elgar Companion to Institutional and Evolutionary Economics , 1994 .

[30]  Denise F. Polit PhD Faan,et al.  Essentials of Nursing Research: Appraising Evidence for Nursing Practice , 2009 .

[31]  Philip Selznick.  Foundations of the Theory of Organization , 1948 .

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

[33]  T. Higgins.  Book reviewSystems engineering handbook: edited by R. E. Machol, W. P. Tanner, Jr., and S. N. Alexander. 1054 pages, diagrams, illustr., New York, McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1965. Price, $29.50 , 1966 .

[34]  A. Gawer.  Bridging differing perspectives on technological platforms: Toward an integrative framework , 2014 .

[35]  B. Glaser.  Basics of Grounded Theory Analysis: Emergence Vs. Forcing , 1992 .

[36]  B. Lundvall.  Dynamics of Industry and Innovation: Organizations, Networks and Systems National Innovation Systems -analytical Concept and Development Tool National Innovation Systems -analytical Concept and Development Tool National Innovation Systems -analytical Concept and Development Tool , 2022 .

[37]  Björn Remneland Wikhamn,et al.  Structuring of the Open Innovation Field , 2013 .

[38]  R. Boschma.  Competitiveness of Regions from an Evolutionary Perspective , 2004 .

[39]  E. Andersen,et al.  National Systems of Innovation: Towards a Theory of Innovation and Interactive Learning , 1992 .

[40]  B. Lundvall,et al.  National systems of production, innovation and competence building , 2002 .

[41]  Maria J Grant,et al.  A typology of reviews: an analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies. , 2009, Health information and libraries journal.

[42]  A. Gawer,et al.  Industry Platforms and Ecosystem Innovation , 2013 .

[43]  Araújo,et al.  An Evolutionary theory of economic change , 1983 .

[44]  Steven Muegge,et al.  Platforms, Communities, and Business Ecosystems: Lessons Learned about Technology Entrepreneurship in an Interconnected World , 2013 .

[45]  Harald Overholm,et al.  Collectively created opportunities in emerging ecosystems: The case of solar service ventures , 2015 .

[46]  W. Leontief,et al.  The Structure of American Economy, 1919-1939. , 1954 .

[47]  Fabio Nonino,et al.  Methodology of business ecosystems network analysis: A case study in telecom italia future centre , 2013 .

[48]  H. Etzkowitz,et al.  Triple Helix Systems: An Analytical Framework for Innovation Policy and Practice in the Knowledge Society , 2013 .

[49]  Dragos Simandan.  Options for Moving beyond the Canonical Model of Regional Path Dependence , 2012 .

[50]  Ke Rong,et al.  Constructing business ecosystem from firm perspective: cases in high-tech industry , 2009, MEDES.

[51]  Omar A. El Sawy,et al.  Business Modelling in the Dynamic Digital Space , 2013 .

[52]  Ron Adner,et al.  Value Creation in Innovation Ecosystems: How the Structure of Technological Interdependence Affects Firm Performance in New Technology Generations , 2009 .

[53]  W. G. Astley.  The Two Ecologies: Population and Community Perspectives on Organizational Evolution. , 1985 .

[54]  Charles Edquist,et al.  The Systems of Innovation Approach and Innovation Policy: An account of the state of the art , 2001 .

[55]  Donovan Ray Hardenrbook.  The Wide Lens: A New Strategy for Innovation , 2014 .

[56]  M. Iansiti,et al.  Keynotes and Dominators: Framing Operating and Technology Strategy in a Business Ecosystem , 2002 .

[57]  Thierry Isckia,et al.  Une lecture lakatosienne de l’approche par les écosystèmes d’affaires , 2018, Management international.

[58]  Thierry Isckia,et al.  Understanding business ecosystems : how firms succeed in the new world of convergence? , 2013 .

[59]  Claire C.M. Stolwijk,et al.  The joint evolution of alliance networks and technology: A survey of the empirical literature , 2013 .

[60]  Jiang Yu,et al.  Linking business ecosystem lifecycle with platform strategy: a triple view of technology, application and organisation , 2013, Int. J. Technol. Manag..

[61]  B. Lundvall,et al.  Forms of knowledge and modes of innovation , 2007 .

[62]  Yong Lin,et al.  Understanding business ecosystem using a 6C framework in Internet-of-Things-based sectors , 2015 .

[63]  S. Edouard,et al.  Dictature de l'innovation et prime à la nouveauté dans le champ académique , 2011 .

[64]  John T. Stasko,et al.  Understanding Interfirm Relationships in Business Ecosystems with Interactive Visualization , 2013, IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics.

[65]  R. Nelson,et al.  National Innovation Systems , 1993 .

[66]  Staffan Jacobsson,et al.  Innovation systems: analytical and methodological issues , 2002 .

[67]  Ron Adner.  Match your innovation strategy to your innovation ecosystem. , 2006, Harvard business review.

[68]  C. Edquist.  Sectoral Innovation Systems: Technological Regimes, Schumpeterian Dynamics, and Spatial Boundaries , 2013 .

[69]  E. D. Hartigh,et al.  Business ecosystem as a perspective for studying th e relations between firms and their business networks , 2007 .

[70]  W. Leontief.  structure of American economy, 1919-1929 , 1941 .

[71]  R. Bechtel.  Models, Metaphors, and Analogies Review , 2009 .

[72]  E. Wilson,et al.  The Diversity of Life , 1993, Politics and the Life Sciences.

[73]  S. Winter,et al.  In search of useful theory of innovation , 1993 .

[74]  Ke Rong,et al.  Nurturing business ecosystems to deal with industry uncertainties , 2013, Ind. Manag. Data Syst..

[75]  G. Dosi,et al.  Technical Change and Economic Theory , 1989 .

[76]  M. Iansiti,et al.  The New Operational Dynamics of Business Ecosystems: Implications for Policy, Operations and Technology Strategy , 2002 .

[77]  S. Metcalfe,et al.  DYNAMICS OF INDUSTRY AND INNOVATION: ORGANIZATIONS, NETWORKS AND SYSTEMS , 2005 .

[78]  S. Rahimifard,et al.  Unlocking the Potential of the Internet of Things to Improve Resource Efficiency in Food Supply Chains , 2017, Innovative Approaches and Applications for Sustainable Rural Development.

[79]  Daniele Archibugi,et al.  Pavitt'S Taxonomy Sixteen Years On: A Review Article , 2001 .

[80]  Jan von Tongelen.  Systems Engineering Handbook 4.0 – Eine neue Ära? , 2015 .

[81]  Luis M. Camarinha-Matos,et al.  Collaborative networked organizations: Status and trends in manufacturing , 2009, Annu. Rev. Control..

[82]  Brady Decker,et al.  NASA (In)novation Ecosystem: Taking technology innovation from buzz to reality , 2012, 2012 IEEE Aerospace Conference.

[83]  S. Winter,et al.  An evolutionary theory of economic change , 1983 .

[84]  Mike Gregory,et al.  Global manufacturing virtual network (GMVN): A revisiting of the concept after three years fieldwork , 2003 .

[85]  Santos López Leyva.  Writing scientific research articles. Strategy and steps , 2010 .

[86]  F. List.  The National System of Political Economy , 1990 .

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

[88]  C. Freeman.  Continental, national and sub-national innovation systems--complementarity and economic growth , 2002 .

[89]  A. Torre,et al.  Des clusters aux écosystèmes industriels locaux , 2015 .

[90]  B. Glaser.  Theoretical Sensitivity: Advances in the Methodology of Grounded Theory , 1978 .

[91]  N. Botana,et al.  La ciencia y la tecnología en el desarrollo futuro de América Latina , 1970 .

[92]  Linda G. Ackerson.  Literature search strategies for interdisciplinary research : a sourcebook for scientists and engineers , 2007 .

[93]  R. Boyer,et al.  Les systèmes d'innovation : à l'ère de la globalisation , 1997 .

[94]  Staffan Jacobsson,et al.  Technological systems and economic policy: the diffusion of factory automation in Sweden , 1994 .

[95]  Michael M. Crow,et al.  National systems of innovation: in search of a workable concept , 1993 .

[96]  Geoffrey M. Hodgson,et al.  Economics and Evolution: Bringing Life Back into Economics. , 1995 .

[97]  A. Smart.  Operations, Strategy, and Technology: Pursuing the Competitive Edge , 2006 .

[98]  K. Green.  National innovation systems: a comparative analysis , 1996 .

[99]  M.A. Cusumano,et al.  The elements of platform leadership , 2003, IEEE Engineering Management Review.

[100]  J. Niosi.  Building innovation systems: an introduction to the special section , 2011 .

[101]  P. Cronin,et al.  Undertaking a literature review: a step-by-step approach. , 2008, British journal of nursing.

[102]  Brian S. Silverman,et al.  Collaboration and Competition in Business Ecosystems , 2013 .

[103]  James F. Moore.  The rise of a new corporate form , 1998 .

[104]  W. Leontief,et al.  The structure of American economy, 1919-1929 : an empirical application of equilibrium analysis , 1942 .

[105]  Omar A. El Sawy,et al.  Business Modelling in the Dynamic Digital Space: An Ecosystem Approach , 2012 .

[106]  Katri Valkokari,et al.  Orchestrating Innovation Ecosystems: A Qualitative Analysis of Ecosystem Positioning Strategies , 2017 .

[107]  E. Vuori,et al.  Business Ecosystem as the New Approach to Complex Adaptive Business Environments , 2008 .

[108]  Sanjiv Gossain,et al.  Reinventing value: The new business ecosystem , 1998 .

[109]  Anne Gratacap,et al.  Les écosystèmes d'affaires, par-delà la métaphore , 2012 .

[110]  Omar A. El Sawy,et al.  VISOR: A Unified Framework for Business Modeling in the Evolving Digital Space , 2013 .

[111]  L. Bertalanffy.  General system theory : foundations, development, applications , 1977 .

[112]  Margaret Cargill.  Comprar Writing Scientific Research Articles: Strategy And Steps | Margaret Cargill | 9781405186193 | Wiley , 2009 .

[113]  S. Nambisan,et al.  Entrepreneurship in Innovation Ecosystems: Entrepreneurs’ Self–Regulatory Processes and Their Implications for New Venture Success , 2013 .

[114]  Minati Gianfranco,et al.  Towards a post-Bertalanffy systemics , 2016 .