Analyzing an ecosystem for complex consumer services

Abstract

Complex consumer services denote an arbitrary combination of services that fulfil a particular need based on consumer-defined context and requirements. While contemporary service environments are predominately supply-oriented and focused on the provision of single services, complex consumer services require dynamic and co-evolving networked structures (i.e., business ecosystems) to support consumers requesting and transacting such complex services. This paper outlines a consumer-oriented business ecosystem by describing its actors, primary roles, and the value exchanges between them, as well as, illustrates the structural leverage points relevant for the development and growth of such an ecosystem.