The Digital Ecosystem

Abstract

Before you read this chapter you must be aware that it adopts an original, transdisciplinary approach to the understanding of the digital ecosystem. Assumptions, theories, and reflections tackled appear quite distant from traditional topics and far away from the usual lexicon of sociology, business, organizational, and management books. If we want to innovate in depth, we have to transform a single-minded efficiency-at-any-cost approach into a lateral thinking, opening to multidimensionality and transdisciplinary. We don’t have to fear any cultural, humanistic intersections with business and technological realms and don’t have to be afraid of ‘losing time’. Linear thinking is at an end. We have to transform our mindsets into multidimensional mindsets. The challenge behind this chapter is to exercise our mind to connect dots, use analogies, be transdisciplinary, hybridize concepts, and develop abilities to analyse with a wide angle the context around an organization. In other terms, this chapter represents a ‘cultural gym’ to acquire a flexible mindset, open to innovative connections of dots. In this transdisciplinary chapter, we intersect sociology with other domains such as organization, economics, biology, and physics. We hope you enjoy this journey abroad.