Innovation Ecosystems | Innovating in the Age of Ecosystems

Moving from Open Innovation to Innovation Ecosystems

Building Innovation Ecosystems can tackle unique challenges

How do we differentiate (traditional) approaches of Innovation to (evolving) Innovation Ecosystems?

Is your innovation process closed only to you? Or have you gone to being more open in innovation with outside selected partners? Well we do need to move beyond both of these and start thinking and designing with Innovation Ecosystems.

I would argue we need to adapt to thinking and designing in Innovation Ecosystems. True differentiation comes from solving unique challenges in ways others will find difficult and expensive to attempt to replicate as it is the combined value, experience, diversity and knowledge within a network of partners that can be unique.

For me, innovation ecosystems in their ability to provide added value are important to recognize.

In recent years we have been moving away from open innovation but not at the accelerated rate I would have expected, taking this into Innovation Ecosystem design and thinking.

Buttons and Threads: A Modern Ecosystem Perspective

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the “buttons and threads” concept perhaps is a powerful metaphor for understanding and designing interconnected business ecosystems.

This updated perspective integrates technological advancements and business practices to illustrate how organizations can thrive in a network-centric world.

I was first introduced to the “Buttons & Threads” concept while working within one alliance I had in consulting while living in Singapore back in 2003. This concept was envisaged, in my view, before its time and ability to deliver due to the constraints of not having technology sufficiently capable and developed to be scaled and connected up, to fully gain the value that this concept offered from an Ecosystem perspective.

The Dynamic Ecosystem lies at the core of the Interconnected Business Ecosystem Model

The Concept for a Dynamic Ecosystem as the Core to the Interconnected Business Ecosystem framework has been a slower realization than I had initially recognized.

In some ways this is the most important post, to date, on the extending out of the Interconnected Business Ecosystem framework. I wrote a post explaining out the shifts that have been taking place in this evolutionary process but I fell into the trap of keeping this as a linear sequence process and it simply is not.

It is the dynamics within the system that brings Dynamic Ecosystems into the core, representing its “nerve center” in an environment that is constantly pulsating, ever-changing, that feeds and reacts to the surrounding Ecosystem layers of Innovation, Entrepreneurial/Start-up, Business and Enterprise Ecosystems.

Lets build this explanation further on why Dynamic Ecosystems are so important and central to this Ecosystem approach.

Entrepreneurial or Start Up Ecosystems need to be added into the Integrated Business Ecosystem Frame

Shaping Innovation through Entrepreneurial and Start-up Ecosystems

By including Start-up and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems into the Interconnected Business Framework, it becomes more comprehensive and reflective of the full spectrum of business activities. It can enable how ideas flow from innovation through entrepreneurship and into established business practices, and how larger businesses can engage with and benefit from entrepreneurial energy.

This inclusive approach would make the framework more robust and applicable across a wider range of organizations and scenarios, from nascent start-ups to multinational corporations, while still allowing for specific focus on entrepreneurial challenges when needed.

Entrepreneurial or Start-up Ecosystems: Let me explain the role is in supporting startups and new ventures, driving economic growth and innovation. it has its own unique characteristics and focus.

Breaking Down Complexity to allow Dynamic Ecosystems for Innovation.

Navigating Complexity though Dynamic Ecosystems

Navigating complexity within the realm of Dynamic Ecosystems.

We all recognize that markets are changing, complexity is growing, and challenges are more formidable to manage without extended help. This requires all businesses to face rapidly changing business environments to design their response rates and abilities to react differently. How radical will this be?

Recognizing critical aspects provides organizations with a strategic framework that not only recognizes the challenges of complexity but actively leverages the dynamic nature of the ecosystem we need to build, to thrive in the future. To achieve this we need to break down existing complexity.

Complexity matters in recognizing what it inhibits and what needs unbundling so any future design of an organization or process is (attempting) to put into place the right processes, skills, and culture to make them more responsive, or dynamic. In any future design we can’t continue to behave in linear ways.

Let’s be clear about Innovation Ecosystems

Embracing Innovation Ecosystems for Evolution and Revolution

My definition of innovation ecosystems is that they are dynamic, interconnected networks of diverse actors and resources that come together to collaborate to drive innovation opportunity and create a more compelling value.

They are progressively replacing “just” innovation as this tends to be housed in one organization, to be developed and delivered on the resources and insights they have.

Innovation Ecosystems are richer due to this diversity, different knowledge and market intelligence that a broader group can bring into the creative thinking and market realization.

This interconnected community find ways to bring new ideas to market, built on their shared vision, having a collaborative and supportive environment to use, such as a shared platform, and able to reach out to a variety of resources that become accessible to all participants.

Recommending we change to the Composable Innovation Framework

Designing a Composable Innovation Framework

During May and June 2023, I worked through and concluded my thinking on why we needed to change our Innovation approach. A radical change from far to often a linear one, into a new, more up-to-date, and dynamic solution for managing innovation.

This solution recognises that innovation discovery all the way through to implementation is now so often non-linear and that is causing plenty of problems connecting all the understandings fully up in one manageable place

I have called this the Composable Innovation Framework– here is why and what went into this proposal that I feel should be adopted for managing innovation in the future.

As the investigation, validation, and viewpoints were built up over numerous posts I am summarising the series here

We need to shift our innovative thinking from static to dynamic.

Where does open collaboration figure at the top of the CEO’s thinking today?

Open up your CEO’s innovating thinking to make the jump

Innovation must rely increasingly on interconnected organizations organized around a central focal point of value and impact. An ecosystem design should be in thought and design so that organizations can act differently on strategies, business models, leadership, and customer engagement to build new value and worth.

If we fail to recognize that innovation is vital to our business, to sustain it, and to enable it to grow, we eventually die. Today, more than ever, it is becoming an evolving collective endeavour. Increasingly, we are faced with growing complexities and challenges to resolve.

We need to foster collaboration between individuals, organizations, and institutions, creating a symphony of ideas that resonate far beyond the boundaries of any single actor.

Are You Embracing Innovation Ecosystems for Enhanced Competitiveness

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, innovation is paramount for organizations to thrive and achieve sustainable success.

Traditional approaches to innovation, often isolated and siloed within a single organization, may not be sufficient in addressing the complex challenges and opportunities presented by the modern business environment.

Organizations must embrace innovation ecosystems to harness the power of innovation and drive transformative change effectively.

What are Innovation Ecosystems?

Why are innovation ecosystems important?

Recently, I presented my framework to the GIMI think tank GIMI was initiated by a worldwide group of chief innovation officers, innovation executives, academics and consultants in 2009.

The framework I offered is built upon interconnected ecosystems. Connecting innovation, business, dynamics, and enterprise is crucial for creativity, growth, adaptability and growth.

In the event, I was asked what the difference is and why we should shift from today’s traditional innovation models to this interconnected one where innovation ecosystems are the foundation.

So, I want to explain the importance of shifting our thinking towards designing innovation ecosystems. Organizations must rethink their innovation strategies and approaches and focus on opening up to building these interconnected ecosystems.