Short answer

Embrace a networked, collaborative approach to innovation that extends beyond immediate project teams to include a wider array of stakeholders, enabling richer value co-creation.

Field: Innovation & Design
Source: Proceedings of the ... Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences/Proceedings of the Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (2017)
Method: Literature review and conceptual analysis
Evidence: Moderate effect

Viewing innovation as an 'ecosystem' highlights dynamic, multi-stakeholder collaborations that enable richer co-creation of value compared to more structured 'innovation systems'. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2017 study published in Proceedings of the ... Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences/Proceedings of the Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences. Using Literature review and conceptual analysis, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Embrace a networked, collaborative approach to innovation that extends beyond immediate project teams to include a wider array of stakeholders, enabling richer value co-creation.

Study

Innovation & DesignHigh ImpactModerate effect

Innovation Ecosystems Foster Broader Value Co-creation than Traditional Innovation Systems

Viewing innovation as an 'ecosystem' highlights dynamic, multi-stakeholder collaborations that enable richer co-creation of value compared to more structured 'innovation systems'.

Proceedings of the ... Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences/Proceedings of the Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences · 2017

Key Findings

01Innovation ecosystems are characterized by dynamic, often emergent, networks of diverse actors.
02Ecosystems facilitate broader and more complex co-creation of value through interdependencies and shared goals.
03Innovation systems tend to be more structured and centrally managed, with a narrower scope of collaboration.

Application

Design takeaway

Embrace a networked, collaborative approach to innovation that extends beyond immediate project teams to include a wider array of stakeholders, enabling richer value co-creation.

How to apply

When initiating a design project, map out not just direct users and suppliers, but also potential indirect collaborators, knowledge sources, and complementary service providers to identify opportunities for ecosystem-level innovation.

Project actions

01When defining your project scope, consider who else could be involved or benefit from your innovation.
02Look for opportunities to collaborate with unexpected partners to enhance value creation.

Method & Evidence

AimTo differentiate between innovation ecosystems and innovation systems regarding collaboration and value co-creation.

MethodLiterature review and conceptual analysis

ProcedureThe study surveyed existing literature on ecosystems to define their typical features and interpretations, then compared these with innovation systems, focusing on collaboration and value co-creation dynamics.

ContextInnovation management and strategy

Variables

IVType of innovation network (system vs. ecosystem)

DVScope and nature of collaboration and value co-creation

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Provides a useful conceptual framework for understanding different approaches to innovation collaboration.
+Highlights the importance of diverse stakeholder engagement in value creation.

Limitations

It can be challenging to empirically measure and compare the 'value co-creation' across different types of innovation networks.

Reliability & validity

The conceptual nature of the study means reliability and validity are based on the consistency of definitions and logical coherence of arguments, rather than empirical measurement.

Think critically

To what extent can a deliberately designed innovation system evolve into a true innovation ecosystem, and what design interventions would be most effective in facilitating this transition?

Design Principles

"Design for emergent collaboration and value co-creation by fostering open networks and diverse stakeholder engagement."

Understanding the distinction between innovation systems and ecosystems is crucial for designers and strategists aiming to foster truly innovative environments. An ecosystem perspective encourages embracing emergent collaborations and diverse contributions, leading to more robust and valuable outcomes.

What This Means for Your Design

Think of innovation like a natural ecosystem with many different plants and animals interacting, rather than a carefully planned garden. This 'ecosystem' approach helps create more value because everyone contributes in different ways.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing the broader context of your design project and how it fits into a larger network of innovation.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research highlights the distinction between structured innovation systems and dynamic innovation ecosystems. By adopting an ecosystem perspective, design projects can leverage broader collaborations and diverse stakeholder contributions to achieve more comprehensive value co-creation, moving beyond traditional, internally focused innovation models.

Source

Proceedings of the ... Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences/Proceedings of the Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences

Innovation Ecosystems vs. Innovation Systems in Terms of Collaboration and Co-creation of Value

journal · 2017

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about innovation ecosystems foster broader value co-creation than traditional innovation systems?: Embrace a networked, collaborative approach to innovation that extends beyond immediate project teams to include a wider array of stakeholders, enabling richer value co-creation. Evidence: Proceedings of the ... Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences/Proceedings of the Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (2017).
Why does "Innovation Ecosystems Foster Broader Value Co-creation than Traditional Innovation Systems" matter for design?: Understanding the distinction between innovation systems and ecosystems is crucial for designers and strategists aiming to foster truly innovative environments. An ecosystem perspective encourages embracing emergent collaborations and diverse contributions, leading to more robust and valuable outcomes.
How can designers apply this research?: Embrace a networked, collaborative approach to innovation that extends beyond immediate project teams to include a wider array of stakeholders, enabling richer value co-creation.
What were the main findings?: Innovation ecosystems are characterized by dynamic, often emergent, networks of diverse actors.. Ecosystems facilitate broader and more complex co-creation of value through interdependencies and shared goals.. Innovation systems tend to be more structured and centrally managed, with a narrower scope of collaboration.
What research method was used?: Literature review and conceptual analysis.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2017 journal from Proceedings of the ... Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences/Proceedings of the Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When initiating a design project, map out not just direct users and suppliers, but also potential indirect collaborators, knowledge sources, and complementary service providers to identify opportunities for ecosystem-level innovation.
What are the limitations?: The study is primarily conceptual and relies on existing literature, lacking empirical testing of the proposed distinctions.