Formalizing software ecosystem modeling

Abstract

Currently there is no formal modeling standard for software ecosystems that models both the ecosystem and the environment in which software products and services operate. Major implications are (1) software vendors have trouble distinguishing the specific software ecosystems in which they are active and (2) they have trouble using these ecosystems to their strategic advantage. In this paper we present and formalize a standards-setting approach to software product and software supply network modeling. Applying this approach enables software vendors to communicate about relationships in the software supply network, theorize about weak spots/links in their business model and anticipate upcoming changes in the software ecosystem. © 2009 ACM.