The Future of the Ecosystem (R)evolution

This chapter develops a vision of the future of ecosystems. As ecosystem orchestrators increasingly consider sustainability objectives alongside economic goals, this chapter provides a deep dive into the relationship between business ecosystems and sustainable transformation, structured around the three dimensions of ecological, social, and governance (ESG) impact. The first section examines the environmental impact of ecosystems, with a focus on circular economy ecosystems and their unique characteristics. The second section addresses the social impact of ecosystems. It explores how ecosystems can help ensure social standards for partners, complementors, and their respective workers, how to quantify the creation of social impact, and how ecosystems can improve local communities and have a positive impact on consumers and end-users. The concluding third section of this chapter discusses how ecosystems change the way we work and manage, including the new roles and responsibilities that emerge. Building on essential principles for responsible ecosystem orchestration and a discussion on what good governance of ecosystems looks like, this last section focuses on how ecosystems shape general business conduct and makes predictions on how business ecosystems align with grand challenges and megatrends in shaping management practices of the twenty-first century.