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Building on ecological economics and the firm growth literature, I propose a model of real growth through entrepreneurial resourcefulness to determine whether an isolated firm can grow if it can capture only the value it creates. I then use Andy Weir's bestseller The Martian to illustrate my arguments. The model contributes to the entrepreneurial resourcefulness literature by explaining how, and under which conditions, resourceful behavior can lead to real firm growth, positing that entrepreneurs can create ecosystems that enhance the marginal productivity of resources by leveraging the productive capacity and entropy-mitigating properties of human capital and natural capital. The model also contributes to the sustainable and innovative entrepreneurship literatures by recognizing limitations on the substitutability of resources, noting that even highly efficient allocation of resources cannot immunize actors from scarcity if production consumes critical capital or exceeds the rate of resource renewal. Finally, the model contributes to the entrepreneurial action literature by shedding light on our understanding of profit opportunities, noting that entrepreneurs are neither exclusively "world makers" nor "world takers," but akin to chefs using new production recipes to maximize the ingredients available. Such experimentation emphasizes that entrepreneurship is a process of resource transformation, not just customer discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital platforms are often characterized as enablers of new ecosystems. However, platforms are sometimes introduced into pre-existing ecosystems, where a platform’s ability to harmonize with the ecosystem is critical for its success. This article draws on the case of digital healthcare platforms and introduces the concept of platform grafting, which denotes the process of integrating a new platform into a pre-existing ecosystem, leading to a coevolutionary process of adapting both the platform and the surrounding ecosystem. Dynamic capabilities are critical for successfully integrating the platform into the ecosystem, and this article provides a capabilities framework for understanding platform grafting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through empirical investigations into university spin-offs (USOs), we discovered innovativeness benefits derived from maintaining both academia and business partners at a distance. Distance should not be misconstrued as isolation; rather, it emphasises specific attributes where partners are maintained at arm's length, affecting co-creation. Consequently, this paper explores how distance impacts the co-creation and innovativeness of USOs. It presents a longitudinal case study of a Swedish USO and conceptualises various types of distances, including actor-type, industry, supply-chain, geographical and knowledge-related distances. We explore the interplay between these different distance types as antecedents to USOs' innovativeness and co-creation activities. The paper contributes to the existing literature by introducing the concept of distance as a critical characteristic affecting innovativeness and co-creation. By delineating various types of distances, it refines previous research on the characteristics of firm connections within university and business ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional asset management strategy has emphasized building barriers to entry or closely guarding unique assets to maintain a firm's comparative advantage. A new "inverted firm" paradigm, however, has emerged. Under this strategy, firms share data seeking to become platforms by opening digital services to third parties and capturing part of their external surplus. This contrasts with a "pipeline" strategy where the firm itself creates value. This paper quantitatively estimates the effect of adopting an inverted firm strategy through the lens of application programming interfaces (APIs), a key enabling technology. Using both public data and those of a private API development firm, we document rapid growth of the API network and connecting apps since 2005. We then perform difference-in-difference and synthetic control analyses and find that public firms adopting public APIs grew an additional 38.7% over 16 years relative to similar nonadopters. We find no significant effect from the use of APIs purely for internal productivity: the pipeline strategy. Within the subset of firms that adopt public APIs, those that attract more third-party complementors and those that become more central to the network see faster growth. Using variation in network centrality caused by API degradation, an instrumental variables analysis confirms a causal role for APIs in firm market value. Finally, we document an important downside of public APIs: increased risk of data breach. Overall, these facts lead us to conclude that APIs have a large and positive impact on economic growth and do so primarily by enabling an inverted firm strategy. This paper was accepted by D. J. Wu, information systems. Funding: This work was partially supported by Mulesoft and Apigee Corporation. Supplemental Material: The data files and online appendix are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4968. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the interaction between the business ecosystem and strategic management. This research is driven by the necessity of understanding how the principles of the business ecosystem influence organizational strategic management. A Systematic Literature Review was carried out, focusing on a detailed analysis of articles indexed in the Scopus academic database. The research procedure aimed to uncover emerging perspectives on strategic management and the development of business ecosystems. The findings reveal a substantial gap in research regarding business ecosystems and sustainable strategic management. The paper suggests a new research agenda and proposes novel pathways for future investigations in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study conducts a systematic review of Digital Entrepreneurship Ecosystems (DEEs), focusing on their organization, development, and impact within the Greek Chamber of Commerce. Utilizing the Webster and Watson (2002) methodology, the review examines a broad range of literature to design and analyze a DEE framework. The study emphasizes the significance of innovation and digital collaboration in fostering entrepreneurship. The review identifies key themes including technological platforms, e-governance, and user satisfaction. Findings indicate that DEEs play a crucial role in enhancing business development through digital means. The study aims to bridge the knowledge gap in DEE literature and provide a practical foundation for similar initiatives. The research underscores the need for digital transformation in business ecosystems to support extroversion, innovation, and targeted entrepreneurial actions, advocating for cultural, structural, and systemic changes within chambers of commerce to better serve businesses and foster long-term relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A digital servitization ecosystem (DSE) is a cooperation model based on the concept of value cocreation. However, capability asymmetry among enterprises can lead to unfair benefit distribution and hinder value cocreation and digital service transformation. This paper aims to investigate the impact of the varying capabilities of enterprises (manufacturers, service providers and digital technology providers) on revenue distribution when these enterprises collaborate on digital servitization transformation. This analysis is performed from an ecosystem perspective to facilitate the stable development of DSEs. Design/methodology/approach: The rise of DSEs has engendered extensive literature, and the distribution of benefits within DSEs is in dire need of new mechanisms to adapt to the new competitive environment. The importance of investment contribution, digital servitization level, digitalization level, risk-taking ability, digital servitization effort level and brand awareness is determined by combining the expert scoring method and the entropy value method to determine different weights for manufacturers, service providers and digital technology providers. The Shapley value is used to design the benefit distribution mechanism for stable cooperation among DSE enterprises, thus providing a more scientific basis for the development of cooperative relationships. Findings: Digital servitization is a collaborative process that involves multienterprise activities, and it is significantly affected by digital servitization level and digitalization level. Moreover, constructing the modified Shapley value benefit distribution mechanism according to the relevant capabilities of digital servitization can promote the stable development of DSEs and value cocreation among members. Originality/value: The main contributions of this study are as follows: First, it summarizes the stability-influencing factors of DSEs on the basis of empirical and literature research on the demand for enterprise digital servitization capabilities and transformation difficulties, delves deeper into the capability composition and cooperative relationship of DSE members and combines the expert scoring method and the entropy value method to determine the weighting to design the benefit distribution mechanism. Second, it reflects system stability and development by studying the revenue distribution of DSE members, thereby expanding the ecosystem construction and business model transformation of digital servitization in the existing research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of digital platforms and business ecosystems has led to the emergence of new business models and has transformed the competitive landscape. The exponential growth of digital technologies has created new challenges for managers and academics. A multidisciplinary approach is required to understand and manage digital platforms and business ecosystems, which involve complex and interrelated phenomena. A comprehensive and nuanced understanding of these platforms and ecosystems can lead to more effective and sustainable business models that create value for customers and stakeholders, as well as identify and address potential risks and challenges. This special issue aims to promote a multi- and interdisciplinary approach to the study of these topics, which are a multi-faceted and evolving field of research. This approach provides a holistic understanding of the complex interrelationships between digital platforms, business ecosystems and new and sustainable business models. The findings contribute to both academic research and management practice, providing valuable insights and recommendations for organizations seeking to navigate and thrive in the digital economy. Overall, this special issue aims to provide novel research that can contribute to a more informed debate in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While various combinations of business eco-systems (desktop, laptop, tablet, mobile, smartwatch, and TV) and platforms (apps, websites, and social media pages) can be used to shop online, little is known about consumers' preferences to choose one over another. The user experience on each eco-touchpoint and eco-channel is not the same. By comparing four groups of respondents (595 observations) using two different systems (Brand Website vs. Brand Facebook page) and two different channels (PC vs. Smartphone), this research examines how utilitarian values, hedonic values, satisfaction, and flow experience, might differ across these various business ecosystems for those booking a vacation. Participants were randomly guided to one of the four experimental groups based on their device. The results show that flow experience, utilitarian values, and hedonic values influence booking intentions. These effects differ from digital platform to digital platform and from one e-channel to another. This research deepens our theoretical understanding of the online user experience across business ecosystems and gives practical insights into how e-retailers could enhance consumers' shopping experiences through the different e-channel and digital platforms that contribute, in a different way, to the online experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the factors that affect the emergence of water data ecosystems using a case study as a research method. The study is based on interviews conducted with partners in a comprehensive business ecosystem focused on the development of smart water network management. Eleven representatives from six private companies, the waterworks of a city, and three organizations that provide water supply management services for municipalities were interviewed. The paper presents analysis of the interview results focusing on the interviewees' thoughts on the state of water data systems in Finland and on the factors that affect the emergence of water data ecosystems in Finland. The interview results indicate a clear need for water data ecosystems but also obstacles preventing their emergence. Inadequate understanding on the part of customer, a lack of water data, regulations, and underdeveloped agreements were seen to hinder the development of water data solutions. In addition to ecosystem development, the emergence of water data ecosystems requires investment and the development of water data solutions, solution concepts, and demonstrations to show the value of the ecosystem. The results show that ecosystems need a clear rationale and vision, effective management of water data sharing, and mechanisms to ensure the scalability of water data ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a distinctive strategic model (Strategic Confrontational and Collaborative Interaction Model [SCCIM]) for nonprofit organizations acting within the business ecosystem. The SCCIM maps both confrontational and collaborative strategies and tactics, thus accommodating the extensive range of nonprofit interaction alternatives toward business. Whereas confrontational and collaborative methods are well researched in the nonprofit-political realm, a comprehensive overview of these nonprofit strategies in the economic sphere is currently lacking. This research builds on both the business management and social movement literature, extending existing approaches via case analysis with a nonprofit-centric perspective, leveraging stakeholder theory. The resulting encompassing model provides a theoretical framework that may generate alternative insights for further academic research in nonprofit–business interaction. In addition, the SCCIM may be leveraged as a tool for practitioners: first, to enhance nonprofits' strategies and tactics toward business, and second, to optimize the impact of the chosen interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Firms utilising emerging media technologies need explorative innovation activities to keep up with market- and technology-driven dynamics. We develop and empirically test a PLS-SEM structural equation model that explains explorative innovation orientation (EIO) and its networking-based antecedents, based on a survey of 132 German XR firms. Absorptive capacity, organisational learning and the extent of networking ties to a) suppliers and buyers and b) competitors and marketing firms have a significant, positive influence on EIO. Networking with c) firms in the same digital business ecosystem (DBE) has a negative influence on EIO, which may limit EIO in highly fragmented technology markets. We also examine interaction effects of local and cross-cluster networking, thus developing our understanding of antecedent networking and the effects of its spatial nature on EIO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indonesia has the largest Muslim population globally with a significant potential for halal tourism, especially when integrated with local wisdom. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the development of halal ecosystem, the necessity of halal tourism village, and the creation of a sustainable model based on local wisdom. It also emphasized on increasing public awareness regarding the criteria for halal ecotourism, including infrastructure and facilities. This qualitative case study was conducted in Indragiri Village, Bandung Regency, West Java. The results showed that the establishment of Indragiri Halal Ecotourism Village had a significant impact. This included the development of local culture, improved public awareness, increase in community income, and the fulfillment of the six requirements for Muslim-friendly facilities recommended by the Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC). The requirements included halal food, worship places, waterfilled restrooms, private recreational services, and absence of non-halal activities. However, there were challenges related to the development of halal ecotourism sector, such as limited collaboration with Islamic financial institutions and restricted accessibility to Indragiri Ecotourism Village. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the digital era, organizations belonging to the same or different market segments come together in digital platforms that allow them to exchange. These organizations are unified within a Digital Business Ecosystem. However, the rapid growth of the number of these organizations accentuates the complexity of finding economic partners, customers, suppliers, or other organizations that can share economic interests. In our research, we propose a recommendation system that is implemented on such a digital platform, and which is based on matchmaking and hybrid supervised machine learning algorithms. In this paper, we provide a detailed analysis of the functioning of this system, the challenge encountered when processing the data which made it possible to highlight the similarities between the organizations that can be associated. Thus, we seek to improve the understanding and analysis of the data for the identification of partners in an optimal way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeMethodology/ApproachFindingsResearch ImplicationsPractical ImplicationsOriginality/Value/ContributionTransformative marketing (TM) has reached considerable attention of both academic and practitioner communities. Being defined as the “confluence of a firm’s marketing activities, concepts, metrics, strategies, and programs that are in response to marketplace changes and future trends” (Kumar 2018, 2), TM aims at fostering beneficial customer-solutions and providing competitive advantages for firms and their stakeholders. However, five notable research gaps persist within TM to date: First, inadequate consideration of B2B contexts despite being a uniquely disruptive market constellation. Second, a lack of empirical TM studies hindering substantial insights on generalization. Third, scarcity of contextual foundations such as the prototypical, yet highly transformative application context of mobility ecosystems. Fourth, absence of a holistic view capturing TM instruments, strategies, and success metrics. Fifth, unexamined aspects of the Resource-Based View (RBV) in TM enabling further insights into firm’s transformation readiness. A distinctive feature of this research is its deliberate focus on B2B mobility firms, a domain characterized by high levels of disruption yet surprisingly neglected in TM literature. By delving into this overlooked sector, we aim to address critical knowledge gaps and unravel the intricate dynamics of disruptive B2B mobility ecosystems. For this purpose, we firstly delineate the morphology of disruptive B2B mobility ecosystems, shedding light on their structure and components. Secondly, we aim to develop a robust frame for assessing the “transformation readiness” of B2B mobility companies, crucial for navigating disruptive landscapes effectively. Thirdly, we endeavor to identify and scrutinize the TM instruments deployed within B2B mobility, with a view to constructing a comprehensive typology of TM strategies tailored to this context. Finally, we aspire to establish metrics for measuring the success of TM initiatives within B2B mobility companies, providing valuable insights for practitioners and scholars alike.This work presents a comprehensive qualitative study involving 30 in-depth expert interviews conducted between July-September 2023 in Europe and the U.S. Capturing the perspectives of multiple firm types active in B2B mobility, as suppliers, technology firms or mobility service providers (MSPs), the study takes a deep look into the TM phenomena of this turbulent environment. In addition to 14 managers with leadership experience in marketing, strategy and sales, our study incorporates 11 distinguished professionals from management boards encompassing CEOs, CFOs or CDOs. Further, we engage 5 leaders specialized in innovation and digitalization. The findings are derived through a thematic analysis employing both structural and open coding techniques (Saldana, 2013, Strauss & Corbin, 1998).Our study involves six major findings related to the questions defined. First, suppliers in B2B mobility have not yet transformed from a value-based toward an ecosystem-based acting and lack a customer-centric perspective (RQ1). Second, a company’s readiness for transformation is notably influenced by its commitment to design a market-oriented and integrated organization, its adoption of a transformative culture and its success to acquire software-oriented human capital (RQ2). Third, the transformative marketing (TM) instruments applied in B2B mobility markets relate to six thematic categories and are dominantly characterized by strategic levers – a facet, which has so far received limited theoretical and conceptual attention (RQ3). Fourth, there are four foundational TM strategies evident, namely dependent, progressive, reactive, and evasive approaches, distinguishable through their intensity and proactivity (RQ3). Fifth, the selection of TM success indicators remains largely independent from organizational types and management levels, with a primary focus on financial and profitability metrics (RQ4). And sixth, explaining the success measurement of TM in B2B mobility companies requires the consideration of a firm’s foundational TM strategy (RQ4).Our research advances the theoretical understanding of B2B TM, lays the foundation for further generalizing research and theory-building and enhances the current B2B TM perception toward a more strategic perspective. Additionally, we seek to contribute to a greater consideration of B2B marketing in contexts of turbulent environments. We emphasize that the integration of TM with the Business Ecosystem (BES) and the Resource-Based View (RBV) increases further explanatory power of transformational phenomena. In terms of the BES, we show that the perception of a turbulent environment varies depending on company type and has a major influence on a firm’s transformation. In relation to the RBV, our results demonstrate that within the B2B TM context, a stronger focus should be placed on identifying supportive and hindering transformation resources. Thus we propose describing the gap between existing (positive and hindering) and required resources as the “transformative resource gap (TRG)” and suggest, that this construct has the potential to enhance the RBV perspective on TM.The study presented offers the practitioner community to more thoroughly examine B2B firms’ TM phenomena. Connecting TM with concepts of the BES and the Resource-Based View (RBV) enables a deeper understanding of strengths and risks related to organization’s market-related activities. Further, we underline threats resulting from a missing market- and customer-centric perspective and recommend validating market assumptions near customers to reduce misjudgments. Additionally, our findings assist in managing the proactivity and intensity of TM, suggesting ways for reaching a progressive TM strategy. Ultimately, we encourage companies to select success metrics in line with their chosen strategy.Our research stands at the forefront of advancing the theoretical landscape of B2B TM by integrating two pivotal frameworks: the Business Ecosystem (BES) and the Resource-Based View (RBV). This integration is not merely incidental but strategically chosen to amplify our understanding of transformational phenomena within B2B contexts. By leveraging the RBV, we delve deep into the internal resources, capabilities, and competencies of B2B mobility BES, unraveling their unique strategic characteristics and sources of competitive advantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe history of Malaysia’s efforts to develop an internationally competitive information and communication technology (ICT) sector demonstrates how state interventionism has shaped its development trajectory. Early ambitions to ‘leapfrog’ Malaysia’s development by launching a cutting-edge innovation-based ICT sector failed, yet recent dynamism has established an internationally competitive shared services/global business process outsourcing sub-sector, as well as created a thriving eco-system for ICT-based start-up entrepreneurship in industries such as digital platform services and creative content. The renovation of the state’s role exemplifies key features of O’Riain’s model of the developmental network state (DNS) including the decentralization and networking of public agencies implementing industrial policy across the enterprise development life cycle, as well as a fast-follower approach to targeting. Unlike the DNS model, however, in Malaysia an enterprise ecosystem policy approach has not eroded the state’s overall economic leadership by embedding public authority in networks with private business interest group constituencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the determinants that contribute to the successful adoption of social commerce businesses among women, including entrepreneurial mindset, perceived value, social commerce literacy, and collaborative ecosystems. It also explores the potential impact of collaborative ecosystems and the successful adoption of social commerce businesses on women's entrepreneurship. Targeting 223 women who are actively involved in social commerce businesses, data was analyzed using Smart PLS software. The results indicate that entrepreneurial mindset, perceived value, social commerce literacy, and collaborative ecosystems significantly impact the successful adoption of social commerce business among women. Furthermore, the study also found that the successful adoption of social commerce businesses and collaborative ecosystems has a significant impact on women's entrepreneurship. This study contributes to the literature and theory of social commerce adoption, women entrepreneurship, and collaborative ecosystems in several ways. It makes a valuable contribution to social commerce theory by spotlighting the intricate interplay among diverse factors that collectively shape the successful adoption of social commerce ventures among women. The study's findings also hold significant implications for a range of stakeholders, encompassing practical insights that can instigate positive transformations and enrich the realm of social commerce business and women's entrepreneurship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the era of globalization, the halal product market has grown to become a significant contributor to the global economy. Pesantren is the ideal place for the implementation of the halal system. This is also supported by the territory of Indonesia, which is a majority Muslim community, so that Halal is not only an important aspect of Islamic teachings but also a necessity. One of the most important halal needs is to pay attention to food and beverages. The halal sector promotes the idea of goodness for consumption as a guarantee of the highest quality of goods and services. The purpose of industrial economics is to explain the ways of development in the economic sector, for the halal industry in Pesantren to have an economic impact on Pesantren and the surrounding community. The research method uses qualitative with a descriptive inductive approach. The study results show that business units in Islamic boarding schools, such as Roya always maintain the quantity and quality of halal both from products, systems, services, and human resources so as to optimize halal value impacting sustainable economy. The sustainable impact can be felt directly by the big family of the Pesantren, and also the Pesantren workers taken from the community around the cottage in order to feel the blessing of halal cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implementing solar photovoltaic systems in the built environment (BEPV) is critical for the construction sector's contribution to mitigating climate change. While previous studies give various insights into innovation implementation, the challenges to value co-creation by construction actors remain underexplored. By studying the alignment of business ecosystems implementing BEPV in the Swedish built environment, we address this need. Drawing on the cumulative experience of construction actors, this study demonstrates how knowledge mislocation, knowledge deficits, cultural discrepancies, insufficient building codes, frequently changing regulations, and implementing a highly embedded innovation can disturb ecosystem alignment. The study contributes to the ecosystem literature, scholarly discussions of innovation implementation in complex construction projects, and the PV diffusion literature by offering insights into the realignment of ecosystems involving value co-creation by actors from previously unconnected industries. The study links PV diffusion research to the construction management literature by exploring the cumulative experience of implementation at the micro level. We highlight the significant industry reconfigurations required to accommodate a deeply embedded technological innovation, reconfigurations going beyond the challenges of implementing systemic innovations encumbered by fewer material dependencies. We also emphasize the critical importance of industrial interaction, coordination, and learning to accelerate the sustainability transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focusing on 50 representative Chinese cities and applying the ecosystem theory of the business environment, this study employs the fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method to detect the synergistic mechanisms through which the business environment ecosystem of cities affects the manufacturing upgrading. The findings show: First, none of elements in the business environment ecosystem alone could constitute the necessary condition for high manufacturing upgrading. Second, there are three paths for the configuration of high-level manufacturing upgrading, which can be summarized into two modes: "public & innovation" driven mode, and "public & market" driven mode. Third, there are six paths in the configuration of low-level manufacturing upgrading, which can be summarized into three modes: "government & innovation" restricted mode, "human & market" restricted mode, and "government & high rule of law" restricted mode. Furthermore, there is an asymmetrical relationship with the configurations of high manufacturing upgrading performance. Finally, under certain conditions, there are substitutive relationships between elements in the business environment. Overall, this work contributes to the literature on the synergistic mechanisms of business environment ecosystems, and provides practical information for manufacturing firms pursuing upgrading from multiple paths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Buddhism in Tainan was first introduced to Baihe from Chiayi. Due to geographical barriers and a lack of transportation, Baihe had limited contact with other administrative districts in Tainan City, except for some interactions with neighboring Dongshan and Houbi. Instead, more frequent contacts took place with inland mountain areas in Chiayi County, which profoundly influenced Baihe's customs and culture. This area has been home to many Buddhist altars and masters, making it a significant center of Buddhism in Taiwan and giving rise to one form of Buddhist culture known as the Chiayi School. The introduction of Buddhism from Chiayi to Baihe could be seen as a natural phenomenon of a strong culture spreading outward. Buddhist masters and Taoist Lingbao priests built a business ecosystem for staging salvation rituals on behalf of Tainan residents. However, the Taoist Lingbao School is dominant, while Buddhism is a relatively small traditional culture scattered in border areas that is now gradually waning. Furthermore, as the elder generation fades away, there is a risk that the local history of Buddhism will barely be remembered. This article combines fieldwork, in-person visits to Buddhist altars in Tainan City, and in-depth interviews with altar owners and the Buddhist masters who cooperate with them to better understand the historical evolution, development, regional distribution, and transmission of Buddhist altar traditions in Tainan City. Its goal is to preserve local cultural heritage as well as provide insight into the significance of Tainan City's Buddhist altars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implementing reverse logistics in the construction industry is considered a crucial method to achieve a circular economy. Despite a wealth of research focusing on improving reverse logistics systems, businesses still encounter challenges during the implementation process. Therefore, this study conducted a systematic literature review utilizing bibliometric methods to analyze 623 articles on reverse logistics in the construction industry published on Web of Science from 1995 to 2023. Additionally, a comprehensive review of 56 high-quality literature on obstacles to implementing reverse logistics in the construction industry and optimizing reverse supply chains was conducted. This review uncovered the current status and challenges of implementing reverse logistics in the construction industry and proposed potential solutions to address these issues. The main findings of this study include: (1) increasing academic interest in construction waste reverse logistics, with Chinese scholars leading the way and publications predominantly in environmental and construction journals, with limited coverage in logistics journals; (2) the primary obstacles to implementing reverse logistics in the construction industry lie in supply chain management, such as lacking deconstruction designs, incomplete recycling markets, difficulties in evaluating the quality of secondary materials, and insufficient supply chain integration; (3) proposing a framework for a construction industry reverse logistics supply chain ecosystem, aiming to establish a platform to facilitate online collection of construction waste, online transactions of secondary materials, end-to-end monitoring, and data analytics for consultation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rebounding off the denaturized concept of business ecosystem, we develop an initial conceptualization of the marketing ecoverse. The marketing ecoverse refers to the confluence of three equally important types of ecosystems: business, sociocultural, and [natural] biogeophysical. We argue that the marketing ecoverse is based on shared natural phenomena, ecosystem functions, and native/inter-ecosystem service and disservice flows. The marketing ecoverse's self-regulative processes include material-to-moral signaling, resilience moderation, source-sink constraints, and artifact dispersal. A case of the growth and partial collapse of fourth-generation bike-sharing systems and their impact on African rural communities is presented to further illustrate the marketing ecoverse processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orchestrating an ecosystem requires coordination to create value, but prior research has tended to emphasize centralized ecosystem control over solutions involving distributed governance. By studying multilateral public-private collaborations to develop scientific knowledge to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease, we identify a new model of ecosystem control—indirect and distributed governance using R&D consortia. We report archival and interview data on 46 consortia with overlapping corporate, nonprofit, and governmental membership. We find three models of consortia that allow member organizations to jointly orchestrate an ecosystem without centralized control. We discuss the broader implications of this model for orchestrating ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open innovation rests on the idea that not all the smart people work only for you, and managing human interaction across organizational boundaries is therefore central to open innovation. This article starts with outlining and reviewing research on this human dimension of open innovation. The article develops seven principles of innovation-producing encounters that can guide managers in enabling value creation through open innovation. We continue by introducing the rest of the special section, which expands beyond the human dimension to also include firms, platforms, and ecosystems, with important implications for the creation and capture of value from open innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although corporate venture capital (CVC) has been studied as part of open innovation (OI), assumptions about knowledge flows crossing organizational boundaries between "the inside" and "the outside" have limited those explorations. Drawing on an abductive approach to grounded theorizing, this article introduces an intuitive yet novel framework that traces the sources and applications of knowledge obtained from CVC to derive new conditions for how those investments allow companies to orchestrate knowledge flows to overcome barriers and increase their innovation effectiveness. Besides exploring traditional OI knowledge flows within the CVC context, this article further identifies and examines both outside-out knowledge flows (which help to shape an ecosystem for a corporate innovator) and inside-in knowledge flows (which overcome internal silos to achieve real innovation impact). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a formal model, we develop a theory of how value capture by a firm with market or bargaining power dampens the incentives of other agents in its ecosystem, showing that the implications for value creation depend critically on the nature of the complementarities these agents generate. If complementarities are net positive, then dampening agents' incentives can dramatically reduce the value created in the ecosystem, even to zero—that is, the prospect of a firm's value capture may even prevent the firm itself from operating. Conversely, if complementarities are net negative, dampening agents' incentives can increase value creation by discouraging agents from imposing these negative complementarities on each other. The disincentivizing effects of a firm's value capture can be mitigated by enforceable contracts, cooperative governance, and self-organization by agents, but what is optimal for the agents or the firm may not be optimal for value creation in the ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Business models of industries and ventures enabled by new and emerging technologies are under-developed and fragmented. The blockchain technology promises to disrupt the business models. However, the scholarly literature in blockchain research is only beginning to emerge, and the majority are focused on the technical aspect leaving aside the business model complexities for blockchain applications. This paper fills this gap and proposes a blockchain business model framework. The research utilizes a sequential exploratory research design (SERD), encompassing two key phases: an initial phase involving a literature review and interviews to delineate blockchain business model building blocks and types, followed by a subsequent survey to identify the most pertinent building blocks and types. The findings helped to formulate the framework, necessary building blocks, and block types specifically for the blockchain applications. Organizations can tailor their business model through various configuration options and mechanisms, considering the arrangement of block types within each block according to their significant score levels. By giving priority to those with scores above the block's average, organizations can evaluate the performance of their models and pinpoint areas for enhancement. The proposed framework can be considered as a reference point for developing business models for blockchain applications.

Purpose: This study aims to conduct a pertinent assessment of the concept of business competitiveness and how Portugal can progress in that field, for the sake of becoming a more sustainable and wealth-creator economy. Design/methodology/approach: The research was elaborated with 65 in-depth interviews with expert persons from the Portuguese business ecosystem, who were asked to reflect on the state of the economy and competitiveness of the country. Findings: There is much room for improvement in almost all areas of activity, in particular by promoting an innovative, value-adding and exporting private sector and a lighter and more efficient public sector. The conclusions point to modernisation of the Portuguese economy as a way of making it more competitive in a highly competitive and demanding global scenario. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, it is the first time that a reflection with experts of the local Portuguese economy has been carried out, especially after a difficult period of COVID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frame of the research: Oleotourism, an emerging opportunity for rural diversification, is thriving in Mediterranean regions. This niche caters to the rising demand for authentic tourism products and creative experiences that enhance agricultural livelihoods. Purpose of the paper: The paper explores characteristics and activities of facilitator-orchestrator organizations that further the growth and development of niche-tourism ecosystems. Methodology: Primary and secondary data were collected from the case study of the oleotourism niche in Italy. In particular, the Italian National Association of Oil Cities has been selected as the case study due to its preeminent work in supporting the birth and development of oleotourism in Italy. Findings: The analysis reveals the facilitator-orchestrator role played in developing the oleotourism ecosystem. Findings unveil three orchestrator characteristics (embeddedness, agility, and capability) and six activities (lobbying, participant recruitment and engagement, regulation, research and development, capacity building, and promotion). Findings support the growth of oleotourism stakeholders and develop the oleotourism business ecosystem. Research limits: The paper analyses only a single case study and examines only the orchestrator's perspective. Practical implications: This study supports practitioners as well as policymakers in several ways. It offers implementation mechanisms to support a fragile and fragmented niche-tourism ecosystem. It also highlights possible obstacles to overcome. Originality of the paper: Oleotourism is a topic of particular interest to advance cultural and creative industries as drivers for local tourism development and innovation. However, it reveals a fragile ecosystem composed of a plethora of stakeholders and proposals that are still in an infant stage. Unveiling the main orchestration mechanisms that support the development of such an ecosystem is of great importance in boosting the sustainable growth of the oleotourism business ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this publication is to present the applications of usage of business analytics in customer behaviour analysis. Design/methodology/approach: Critical literature analysis. Analysis of international literature from main databases and polish literature and legal acts connecting with researched topic. Findings: The integration of business analytics with customer behavior analysis in Industry 4.0 environments offers businesses a transformative opportunity to gain profound insights into customer preferences, trends, and behaviors. Through the utilization of state-of-the-art technologies and data-driven methodologies, organizations can attain unprecedented levels of precision and detail in understanding customer behavior. Real-time data collection and analysis facilitate agile responses to evolving market dynamics, enabling personalized customer experiences across various channels. Additionally, advanced analytics tools such as predictive modeling and sentiment analysis empower businesses to forecast future trends, address churn, and enhance customer satisfaction. However, businesses may encounter challenges like data quality issues, privacy concerns, and resource limitations. Overcoming these obstacles necessitates a comprehensive approach, involving investments in data governance, talent acquisition, and technology infrastructure. By surmounting these challenges, businesses can harness the full potential of business analytics to drive strategic decisions, refine marketing strategies, and elevate overall business performance within Industry 4.0 environments. Originality/Value: Detailed analysis of all subjects related to the problems connected with the usage of business analytics in the case of smart manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystems are nowadays a dominant organizational form in the digital age. But this construct lacks consensus on its empirical scope, its key theoretical features and its theoretical roots. The paper proposes an integrative framework as well as a method and a tool for calculating an ecosystem based on simplicial complexes and the HYPE platform. It concludes that a data-driven and visualization approach is needed to the study of the dynamic, emergent and adaptive dimensions of today's platform-based ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The COVID pandemic has prompted B2B and industrial marketing scholars to understand more about how external disruptions impact parties involved in B2B transactions. This paper aims to adopt an ecosystem perspective to conceptually classify the interactions between actors involved in B2B ecosystems. Design/methodology/approach: This conceptual paper presents a framework across multiple levels of ecosystem interactions (at micro, meso and macrolevels) to illustrate how value cocreation and knowledge flows (as mechanisms underlying B2B relationships) are related to firm performance. Findings: Based on this framework, this paper offers propositions and several research questions about the effects of disruptions and how they propagate among these essential business ecosystem elements. Originality/value: This conceptual framework underscores the vital role of relationships and interactions in shaping B2B ecosystems, especially during disruptive periods. With a greater understanding of how these interactions operate across levels (micro, meso and macro), scholars and practitioners may be better able to navigate disruptive periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: Regarding the growth of public policies fostering rural entrepreneurship, the primary objectives of this work involve examining the concept of rural entrepreneurship, identifying key aspects that differentiate it from non-rural entrepreneurship, and assessing the role of the local entrepreneurial ecosystem in supporting the initiation and growth of rural ventures. To achieve these goals, the study adopts a novel approach by integrating an analysis of rural entrepreneurship features with an exploration of the entrepreneurial ecosystem's impact. METHODOLOGY: After a review of the previous academic literature, the characteristics of rural entrepreneurship have been delimited, distinguishing it from non-rural. The research results have been obtained using a questionnaire, after a descriptive analysis of the sample, and an analysis of the difference in means by contrasting hypotheses using IBM SPSS Statistics 26. FINDINGS: This article explores the factors that contribute to rural entrepreneurship, challenging the notion that geographic location is the sole defining characteristic. Through the conducted investigation, it has been determined that a company's classification as rural is not solely based on its geographical location in rural areas or involvement in primary sector activities. Other aspects, such as a strong connection with the local community or the ability to create value, are also essential in defining a rural enterprise. Additionally, it examines how business ecosystems can foster the growth and success of rural entrepreneurship. IMPLICATIONS: This study provides an analysis of how rural entrepreneurship can drive endogenous development in rural areas. It also offers insights for government entities and policymakers to implement effective support measures and strategies in business ecosystems within rural environments. This study highlights that the resources found in rural entrepreneurial ecosystems may not be sufficient to support rural entrepreneurship. It's important to acknowledge that rural entrepreneurship requires specific resources that may not currently be available in business ecosystems. To increase the number of viable rural businesses, new resources tailored to rural entrepreneurship must be created, leveraging the area's endogenous resources and growth models. ORIGINALITY AND VALUE: This study examines the distinctive attributes of rural entrepreneurship, with a deliberate departure from exclusive emphasis on geographical location or primary economic sector. Drawing upon empirical research conducted among a cohort of rural enterprises, the analysis reveals that neither physical location nor primary sector affiliation substantially contribute to the establishment of these rural businesses. Instead, a profound connection to, and a heightened sense of belonging within the rural milieu emerge as pivotal determinants. Furthermore, rural entrepreneurship emerges as a promising avenue for the development of the region, offering substantial growth prospects. The investigation encompasses a scrutiny of the resources within the rural business ecosystem and their capacity to stimulate rural entrepreneurial activity. This emerging focal point represents a novel field of concern for governmental bodies and political institutions operating in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What drives the entrepreneurial imagination of unknown client markets? Based on a multi-case study of tech entrepreneurs operating out of Boston, this study examines this under-researched question. Findings suggest that tech entrepreneurs imagine unknown client markets in increasingly sophisticated ways, starting from envisioning primary users of the product, to considering multiple parallel client populations, to imagining interdependent client groups using the product in complementary ways. This evolution in thinking seems to be driven by product utility gaps - perceived gaps between the range of product uses and client constellations in which the product can create value. Importantly, at an early stage of the entrepreneurial process, these product utility gaps do not result from market feedback, but from ongoing reciprocal imagination of client markets and underutilized product value. Findings inform research on entrepreneurial imagination and opportunity idea formation, and the strategizing of business ecosystem relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research primarily explores sales phenomena during normal periods. However, triggering events (e.g., natural disasters, security catastrophes, pandemics) can create sales system shocks that profoundly impact salespeople. We utilize a grounded theory and theories-in-use approach to develop a theory of sales system shocks. The framework conceptualizes a sales system shock as a swift change to the business ecosystem that requires a scope of actors and firms involved in selling or buying to substantially revise their established exchange practices. We propose that a sales system shock's impact on salesperson acceptance of and adaptation to the change is shaped by the emotional and functional support received from business relationships, which ultimately determines the salesperson's psychological and financial well-being. Initial quantitative testing using random- and fixed-effects models reveals the importance of business relationships after a sales system shock. The findings provide research avenues and guidance on how to manage salespeople through sales system shocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between Industry and the University is one of the topics that has been given a lot of attention in Iranian society in the last few decades and many researches have been done in this regard. This paper uses a systematic literature review (SLR) with the aim of categorizing and summarizing the literature in the field of cooperation between industry and university. This research as a qualitative study, uses PRISMA method and theme analysis technique and Atlas TI software. It investigated a systematic review of the papers published in journals in the field of cooperation between industry and university in Iran business and knowledge ecosystems from 2011 to 2020. After going through the four steps proposed in the systematic review method, 97 papers from different journals remained, which were coded and analyzed. A thematic network of factors raised in the field of communication between business and knowledge ecosystems (industry and university) was presented. Based on the results, all the different factors mentioned in the studies carried out in a decade in Iran can be categorized into five general factors, which are "goals of cooperation", "obstacles to cooperation", "models of cooperation", "cooperation channels" and "cooperation enhancers". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain technology is a core technology expected to play a highly instrumental role in competing with socioenvironmental challenges. The literature hypothesizes various blockchain functions for building a sustainable business ecosystem. This study unifies these diverse perspectives into an interpretive strategy roadmap that provides a holistic overview of how blockchain should be leveraged to deliver sustainability functions optimally. The study first identified the sustainability functions of blockchain through a content‐centric literature review. The study applied interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and drew on experts' opinions to model how and in which order blockchain delivers these sustainability functions. The study further drew on the ISM output and interpretive logic‐knowledge base to develop the promised roadmap. Results revealed that blockchain promotes a decentralized decision system that facilitates automation and real‐time information sharing (RIS) across supply chains. Blockchain introduces traceability and transparency into supply chain operations. These conditions offer monitoring of business operations and the development of trust across value‐chain stakeholders. These driver functions lead to value chain optimization and circularity integration into business and supply chain operations. When these necessary functional conditions are met, businesses can further draw on blockchain to promote economic and environmental aspects of sustainability through more complex functions enabling resource efficiency, cost reduction, pollution prevention, and higher profit margins. The order in which businesses can leverage these functions would define blockchain sustainability performance. Each function is uniquely valuable to sustainability, and none of them can be overlooked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stimulating 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research to identify influence of the business ecosystem and customer base on increasing third-party funds in the region III office. Judging at the existing problem, the researcher applies a quantitative approach. The quantitative approach to business is research in the field of business with the aim of research through empirical assessment involving measurement and analysis of numbers. Quantitative research stands alone in the sense that it does not meet the needs of analytical interpretation. This research was conducted with the aim to see the influence of business ecosystem and customer base on Bank BTN's deposits. In addition, this study also aims to encourage an increase in deposits as well as to become the main target of Bank BTN. This study used multiple regression analysis method which was analyzed using the Eviews 10 application platform. As described in chapter IV, the conclusions of this study can be drawn as follows: Partially, the business ecosystem has a positive but significant effect on increasing Bank BTN's deposits. This means that when the business ecosystem rises, deposits will increase and vice versa. Meanwhile, the customer base has a positive and significant influence on the increase in deposits of Bank BTN. That is, when the customer base rises, DPK will also increase, and vice versa. Simultaneously, the business ecosystem and customer base together have a significant influence on Bank BTN's deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extant literature on research collaboration between firms and government-sponsored institutions (GSIs) focuses predominantly on the formation of strategic alliances and its resulting economic performance. We take a new perspective and conceptualize the collaboration between small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and GSIs as social and economic pillars in emerging economies. We theorize how the collaborations with GSIs help SMEs increase their social and economic outputs and develop a sustainable ecosystem for business development through ongoing outward knowledge sharing. Our tests with data on Mexico's industrial sectors evidence a greater positive effect of SME-GSI collaboration on social than economic output. R&D intensity mitigates more on SME-GSI collaboration's impact on economic than that on social output. A decentralized management structure strengthens the effect of SME-GSI collaboration on only social output. Finally, a sustainable ecosystem is formed when SMEs engage in outward knowledge sharing as retribution to society. Social output exerts a stronger mediation for SME-GSI collaboration's influence on outward knowledge sharing than economic output. Overall, our findings offer important insights into the theoretical, managerial, and policy implications of SME-GSI collaboration and business development ecosystems in emerging economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]