Crossing the chasm with Partner Ecosystems to grow your business differently.

A relatively quick post, partly as Hannover Messe 2024 is in full flow and tuning into events like this, you realize where we are all being pushed to the future,. Although GenAI gets a lot of central billing in the talks and demonstrations, the future “buzz words” that tell much of the immediate future are wrapped up in the solutions being offered.

Hannover is seemingly emphasizing the power and need of Ecosystems, platforms, marketplaces, end-to-end processes, and sustainability to set up so as to gain value and impact from all the data and AI coming towards us. These events are always forward-looking; you get the impression there are some big, even mega ecosystems, being built, but the reluctance and convincing are still lagging from those attending, transformation is a very tough call.

I am not sure we have crossed that “tipping point” needed from the essential missing piece—customers of all sizes and shapes—being convinced that opening up to far more collaboration and co-creation is in their interest. They need to cross the chasm and start with, perhaps, extending their existing thinking on “Partner Ecosystems” and opening them up to real collaboration and co-creation sharing.

Crossing the chasm into a new way of doing business through Ecosystem thinking and design is upon us all.

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Who is best to facilitate the building out of a Business Partner Ecosystem?

Who should build a Business Partner Ecosystem?

Who orchestrates or facilitates this process of building out a Business Partner Ecosystem? Is it the lead company recognizing the value of building a more robust partner ecosystem or bringing in a specialized consultancy able to facilitate the significant amount of work this usually means?

It is not just about dedicated time but about experience, understanding, and recognition of all that can potentially change when exploiting ecosystems and being adaptive enough to respond.

There are typically two main approaches to orchestrating the process of building and managing a partner ecosystem:

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Are you thinking of Partner Ecosystems? You should. Making the opening Business Case.

There is a growing trend towards Partner Ecosystems, so what’s the opening business case?

Partner ecosystems play a crucial role in business growth and success, especially in today’s interconnected and globalized business environment. They can tackle business issues, support social problems, and overcome the complex and challenging issues we increasingly face.

A partner ecosystem refers to a network of complementary companies, organizations, and individuals collaborating to create (additional) value for customers and drive innovation.

However, it’s important to note that building and managing partner ecosystems can be challenging. You need to obtain sound advice, relate to what ecosystems can provide, and recognize that they can challenge or disrupt much of what you have in place as they are highly collaborative with other parties  However, that is not such a bad thing in today’s unpredictable world. We live in an interconnected world, and your business should reflect that in more open co-creation ways

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Good Marketplace design does drive bottom-up business ecosystem participation.

Marketplace Design can drive bottom-up Ecosystem designs.

Do Marketplace designs drive the adoption of platforms and ecosystems? Marketplaces should certainly be fast followers as they will shape future decisions by their attraction. Once a platform and its strategic design and intent are in place, Marketplace attracting becomes a critical attraction as the place you buy, sell and develop the solutions needed to achieve the value derived from building and investing in platforms and collaborations built around Ecosystem thinking and design.

Does this more “bottom-up” approach of accelerating the attraction of having Marketplaces more open and ready for the “trading” business make sense, and is the better way to achieve an Ecosystem adoption?

Marketplace designs can indeed drive the adoption of platforms and ecosystems. A marketplace approach can facilitate a “bottom-up” adoption strategy, where individual participants are attracted to the ecosystem through the value they can gain as buyers, sellers, or users of services.

It is always vitally important that any contributor to marketplace solutions receives recognition for their work, efforts, or willingness to participate in enabling and strengthening the Marketplace. The success of any Marketplace is engagement- making it attractive to participate and contribute.

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Why Are We Navigating to the New: A Summary of the Hierarchy of Business Ecosystem Needs

The Importance of Hierarchy of Business Ecosystems

Why Are We Recommending Navigating into this World of Interconnected Ecosystems?

In the ever-changing and fast-paced world of business and innovation, the paradigm is shifting towards collaborative ecosystems. Traditional models are making way for a new approach emphasising openness, adaptability, and shared vision.

This transformative journey is encapsulated in the Hierarchy of Business Ecosystem Needs, a cascading framework comprising four interconnected layers: Innovation Ecosystems, Business Ecosystems, Dynamic Ecosystems, and the Ecosystems of Enterprises.

Introduction to the Hierarchy:

The Hierarchy of Business Ecosystem Needs is a construct of collaborative ecosystems, navigating complexity with agility, openness, and shared vision. Each layer contributes to the orchestration of innovation, business synergy, dynamic resilience, and collaborative prosperity.

The interconnected dynamics and strategic integration across layers create a self-reinforcing cycle of success. As organizations embark on this transformative journey, they move beyond boundaries, adapting to change, fostering resilience, and achieving collective prosperity through collaborative power, providing the catalyst to a different, highly collaborative management paradigm.

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Moving Beyond Boundaries in the Ecosystem of Enterprises

SubTitle: “Prosperity Unleashed Through Collaborative Power”

The Ecosystem of Enterprises- the Apex in the Hierarchy of Business Ecosystems

The Ecosystem of Enterprises Layer- the pinnacle or apex

Ascend to the pinnacle within the Hierarchy of Business Ecosystem Needs where entities dynamically achieve prosperity through collaborative efforts across Enterprises—the Collaborative and Sustaining Prosperity point. The need here is to explore the mechanisms where organizations collaboratively drive value, share prosperity, and unlock opportunities that transcend individual capabilities. This is the final layer of the interconnected Ecosystem thinking and design.

I am introducing the Hierarchy of Business Ecosystem Needs in several posts within this framework. I am outlining the top layer here, the final layer- the Ecosystem of Enterprises. This drives the interconnected Ecosystems in all of what they do.

As I have previously mentioned, the design of this Hierarchy of Business Ecosystems is modular; each Ecosystem can stand alone and offer significant value, but it is part of a more extensive cohesive system where each layer contributes to the overall success of collaborative ecosystems.

The importance of this top tier- the Ecosystem of Enterprises

Leadership needs to drive the profound shift to highly collaborative and co-created Ecosystems, designed and thought through to achieve a collective vision, sets of objectives and ultimate success of (multiple) missions; it does that through this Ecosystem of Enterprises.

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Thriving in the Dynamic Ecosystem of the Hierarchy of Business Ecosystem Needs.

Sub-Title: “Dynamically thriving and evolving Business Ecosystems; Adapting Together.”

Understanding the Dynamic Ecosystem within the Hierarchy of Business Ecosystems

I am introducing the Hierarchy of Business Ecosystem Needs in several posts. This is the sixth post within the series introducing the fourth and most novel layer- the Dynamic Ecosystem. I find this the most exciting ecosystem, with the potential to transform and challenge all of what we do.

The Dynamic Ecosystem is a unique and critical layer within the Hierarchy of Business Ecosystem Needs. It plays a pivotal role in shaping the overall ecosystem; I would argue it is the unique essence of this design.

As I have previously mentioned, the design of this Hierarchy of Business Ecosystems is modular; each Ecosystem can stand alone and offer significant value, but it is part of a more extensive cohesive system where each layer contributes to the overall success of collaborative ecosystems.

Achieving any dynamics within the system generates the potential for change. Providing the Ecosystem environment to build out dynamism enables the capabilities to challenge and have the abilities to disrupt.

The Dynamic Ecosystem is a transformational part of future-proofing the business.

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Achieving Synergy and Orchestration in the Business Ecosystem of the Hierarchy of Ecosystem Needs

Sub-Title: “Strategic Synergy: The Business Ecosystem”

Achieving the Synergy in Business Ecosystems

I am introducing the Hierarchy of Ecosystem Needs in a series of posts. This is the fourth post within the series introducing the second layer- the Business Ecosystem.

As I have previously mentioned, the design of this Hierarchy of Ecosystems is modular; each Ecosystem can stand alone and offer significant value, but it is part of a more extensive cohesive system where each layer contributes to the overall success of collaborative ecosystems.

The holistic perspective is covered in the opening and closing posts within the series.

This interconnected story attempts to convey the power of transformation; each layer’s structure and unique propositions give a dynamic and resilient ecosystem set that aims to drive collective prosperity and sustain excellence.

Introducing the essential components of the Business Ecosystem

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The Innovation Ecosystem where Creativity is the foundation in the Hierarchy of Business Ecosystems.

Sub-Title: Building Innovation Foundations by Fostering Creativity: The Innovation Ecosystem

How can you drive growth? What will give you a different impact on your business? How do you build out your innovation differently? Where do you seek out your creativity?

I am introducing the Hierarchy of Ecosystem Needs in a series of posts. This is the third post after the initial introduction, of navigating the new and then outlining and building the business case. This post introduces the foundation layer- the Innovation Ecosystem.

Ecosystems are becoming the way to design a business to achieve in a complex and challenging business landscape. They are a new way of working in collaborative, purposefully designed ecosystems that give radically different ways to innovate.

In the constantly changing and fast-paced landscape of modern business, fostering creativity is not just a goal; it’s a necessity. In this post, we delve into the foundational layer of the Innovation Ecosystem, where shared challenges and dynamic creativity converge to create an environment ripe for innovation.

The holistic perspective is covered in the opening and closing posts within the series. This interconnected story attempts to convey the power of transformation; each layer’s structure and unique propositions give a dynamic and resilient ecosystem set that aims to drive collective prosperity and sustain excellence.

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The Case for the Hierarchy of Business Ecosystem Needs

Why should we consider establishing the Hierarchy of Business Ecosystem Needs within a single organization and collaboratively between Enterprises? It is recognized today that Ecosystem design and thinking provide demonstrable value and gain.

Building the Case for the Hierarchy of Business Ecosystem Needs:

In the rapidly evolving business landscape, we face constant change and recognise complexity is rapidly becoming the norm. The hierarchy of ecosystem needs emerged from my work and studies of ecosystems as a compelling and viable alternative for organizations to consider, manage their business, and look to extend their growth and potential through the ability to open up and create in different, highly collaborative ways.

This strategic paradigm dramatically shifts individual organizations towards sustained prosperity and fosters collaborative ecosystems that amplify collective impact, knowledge exchange, value and growth potential.

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