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The Role of Knowledge Processes in a Business Ecosystem’s Lifecycle

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Abstract

In this article, we investigate the development of a business ecosystem by focusing on the knowledge processes associated with the various phases of its lifecycle. Specifically, we ask: What knowledge processes are involved in the birth, expansion, leadership, and renewal phases of a business ecosystem, and how are these processes linked together to shape its lifecycle? To address this research question, we build on a case study of a near-field communication (NFC) platform ecosystem, which is considered to be an innovative network-centric organizational form. The findings reveal three knowledge processes: generation, application, and valorization. Together, these knowledge processes enable the performance of a variety of tasks and activities associated with the distinctive phases of a business ecosystem’s lifecycle.

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Notes

  1. CHEMIN: Chemins de l’Histoire E-guidés par Mobiles Intégrants le NFC

  2. MBDS: mobiquité, base de données et intégration de systèmes

  3. An API is an application programming interface, which is a plug-in that enables applications to exchange data.

  4. Transports Public Genevois is an iPhone application developed by GFI for Geneva public transportation that provides bus timetables and traffic information in real time.

  5. Our own translation.

  6. Reich et al. (2014, p. 597) for example, investigating project management in IT demonstrated that the process consisting in aligning knowledge within project teams had a larger impact on project value than the production of knowledge.

  7. Our translation.

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Correspondence to Amel Attour.

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Attour, A., Barbaroux, P. The Role of Knowledge Processes in a Business Ecosystem’s Lifecycle. J Knowl Econ 12, 238–255 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-016-0395-3

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