Start Date

10-12-2017 12:00 AM

Description

In this theory development paper, we develop new IS-enabled capabilities for firms to survive and thrive in complex business ecosystems facing hypercompetition and digital disruptions. Complex business ecosystems operate in either: (1) the region of emergent complexity, or (2) edge of discontinuity. Survival challenges differ across the two regions. The first region experiences hypercompetitive dynamics. Firms have to coevolve with dynamically changing product market positions. The second experiences threats of digital disruption. Firms have to redefine their roles and relationships, as the existing ecosystem will likely experience a phase transition, face catastrophic collapse, creating a new, qualitatively different ecosystem. We propose an IS-enabled complexity vigilance capability for firms to detect the existing region of complexity and invoke the appropriate strategy. We propose the IS-enabled coevolution capability and IS-enabled redefinition capability for coping with the two regions respectively and explain how our IS-enabled capabilities increase firms’ chances of surviving and thriving.

Share

COinS
 
Dec 10th, 12:00 AM

How to Survive and Thrive in Complex, Hypercompetitive, and Disruptive ecosystems? The Roles of IS-enabled Capabilities

In this theory development paper, we develop new IS-enabled capabilities for firms to survive and thrive in complex business ecosystems facing hypercompetition and digital disruptions. Complex business ecosystems operate in either: (1) the region of emergent complexity, or (2) edge of discontinuity. Survival challenges differ across the two regions. The first region experiences hypercompetitive dynamics. Firms have to coevolve with dynamically changing product market positions. The second experiences threats of digital disruption. Firms have to redefine their roles and relationships, as the existing ecosystem will likely experience a phase transition, face catastrophic collapse, creating a new, qualitatively different ecosystem. We propose an IS-enabled complexity vigilance capability for firms to detect the existing region of complexity and invoke the appropriate strategy. We propose the IS-enabled coevolution capability and IS-enabled redefinition capability for coping with the two regions respectively and explain how our IS-enabled capabilities increase firms’ chances of surviving and thriving.