Conceptualization of research themes and directions in business ecosystem strategies: a systematic literature review

Abstract

Motivated by the rapid advancements in the field of business ecosystems (BEs), this paper presents a holistic overview of existing research in the field of business ecosystem strategy. As scholars have noted, BE strategy poses new challenges and diverges from traditional thinking in multiple ways. Researchers have investigated parts of strategy in that regard; however, a holistic approach to BE strategy does not exist. To this end, this study relies on a systematic literature review approach and analyzes contributions from across disciplines in an attempt to derive a holistic ecosystem strategy framework. The study identifies six main elements that reflect strategic considerations along subsequent stages of decision-making. It then discusses the fifteen sub-streams identified in the literature, placing them in their strategic context. Based on this analysis, gaps in the literature and future research opportunities are identified. This study is motivated by the aspiration to make the topic of ecosystem strategies more accessible for scholars and practitioners, while enabling a broader discussion based on the current state of research.