Short answer
When designing products or services that operate within or create an ecosystem, consider both the universal principles of openness and diversity, and the specific goals and actors unique to that ecosystem.
- Field
- Innovation & Design
- Source
- Biomimetics (2024)
- Method
- Systematic Literature Review (Bibliometric and Content Analysis)
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
Understanding the commonalities and distinctions between business, innovation, and platform ecosystems provides a framework for designing more robust and adaptable product and service systems. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2024 study published in Biomimetics. Using Systematic literature review (bibliometric and content analysis), researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing products or services that operate within or create an ecosystem, consider both the universal principles of openness and diversity, and the specific goals and actors unique to that ecosystem.
Ecosystemic Design: Unifying Business, Innovation, and Platform Models
Understanding the commonalities and distinctions between business, innovation, and platform ecosystems provides a framework for designing more robust and adaptable product and service systems.
Biomimetics · 2024
Key Findings
- 01Refined definitions and summaries of business, innovation, and platform ecosystems.
- 02Identified shared characteristics such as openness and diversity across different ecosystem types.
- 03Highlighted significant differences in participants and objectives among these ecosystems.
- 04Explored interconnections and dynamics within these ecosystem types.
Application
Design takeaway
When designing products or services that operate within or create an ecosystem, consider both the universal principles of openness and diversity, and the specific goals and actors unique to that ecosystem.
How to apply
When conceptualizing a new product or service, map out its potential ecosystem, identifying key players, their motivations, and how your design can foster openness and diversity.
Project actions
- 01When defining your project's scope, consider if it operates within an existing ecosystem or aims to create a new one.
- 02Use the findings to justify design choices that promote collaboration or address specific stakeholder needs within your chosen ecosystem.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Comprehensive synthesis of a broad literature base.
- +Hybrid methodology combining quantitative and qualitative analysis.
Limitations
The study is a review of existing literature, so its findings are dependent on the quality and scope of the original research.
Reliability & validity
The systematic review methodology, with its defined search criteria and analytical approach, aims for high reliability and validity in synthesizing the literature. However, the interpretation of qualitative content analysis can introduce some subjectivity.
Think critically
How might the 'differences in participants and objectives' between ecosystem types lead to fundamentally different design approaches for the same core technology?
Design Principles
"Design for interconnectedness: Recognize that products and services exist within broader systems, and design to foster collaboration, adaptability, and shared value."
Designers and engineers often operate within or create new ecosystems. By recognizing the shared principles of openness and diversity, alongside specific participant roles and objectives, practitioners can better navigate complex interdependencies and foster successful innovation strategies.
What This Means for Your Design
This study looked at different types of 'ecosystems' in business and innovation to see what they have in common and how they are different. It found that they are all open and diverse but have different people involved and different aims. This helps us understand how to design things that work well in these complex systems.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this study when discussing the strategic context of your design, particularly if it involves multiple stakeholders or operates in a competitive landscape.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The systematic review by Liu et al. (2024) highlights that successful innovation and business ventures often thrive within defined ecosystems. By understanding the commonalities of openness and diversity, alongside the specific objectives and participants of business, innovation, and platform ecosystems, designers can better position their projects for success. This research suggests that a design's integration into its operational ecosystem is a critical factor for its viability and impact.
Source
Biomimetics
Comparing Business, Innovation, and Platform Ecosystems: A Systematic Review of the Literature
journal · 2024
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about ecosystemic design: unifying business, innovation, and platform models?
- When designing products or services that operate within or create an ecosystem, consider both the universal principles of openness and diversity, and the specific goals and actors unique to that ecosystem. Evidence: Biomimetics (2024).
- Why does "Ecosystemic Design: Unifying Business, Innovation, and Platform Models" matter for design?
- Designers and engineers often operate within or create new ecosystems. By recognizing the shared principles of openness and diversity, alongside specific participant roles and objectives, practitioners can better navigate complex interdependencies and foster successful innovation strategies.
- How can designers apply this research?
- When designing products or services that operate within or create an ecosystem, consider both the universal principles of openness and diversity, and the specific goals and actors unique to that ecosystem.
- What were the main findings?
- Refined definitions and summaries of business, innovation, and platform ecosystems.. Identified shared characteristics such as openness and diversity across different ecosystem types.. Highlighted significant differences in participants and objectives among these ecosystems.. Explored interconnections and dynamics within these ecosystem types.
- What research method was used?
- Systematic Literature Review (Bibliometric and Content Analysis).
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2024 journal from Biomimetics.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When conceptualizing a new product or service, map out its potential ecosystem, identifying key players, their motivations, and how your design can foster openness and diversity.
- What are the limitations?
- The review is based on existing literature and may not capture emergent or niche ecosystem models.