Masaharu Tsujimoto

Designing the coherent ecosystem: Review of the ecosystem concept in strategic management

In the strategic management field, the ecosystem concept is increasing significance. This paper provides an overview of 90 previous studies on the ecosystem concept published in leading academic journals in strategic management field and clarifies the four major research streams. The first perspective is the industrial ecosystem perspective, which is based on the concept of industrial ecology. The second perspective is the business ecosystem perspective. This perspective is based on the theory of organizational boundaries. In the business ecosystem perspective, some influential scholars emphasize platform management, which represents the third perspective, the platform management perspective. The fourth perspective is the multi-actor network perspective, which contributes to the dynamic behavioral relationship analysis based on social network theory. This perspective expands the range of analysis to include various actors in addition to private companies. As a result of the review, this study presented the integrated map of the previous works. Furthermore, this paper proposed original ecosystem concept, definition, and scheme for designing or re-designing coherent ecosystem. The coherency is the core concept for the evolution and expansion of the ecosystem.

Finding the ‘boundary mediators’: network analysis of the joint R&D project between Toyota and Panasonic

In recent years, a large and growing number of companies have attempted to develop core technologies for their products by conducting joint research with a company in a different industry. However, the mechanisms by which technologies are acquired and assimilated through cross-industry research remains unclear. In response to this ambiguity, we developed a theoretical framework for this mechanism, proposed hypotheses, and empirically examined data from a joint research project conducted by Toyota Motor Corporation and Panasonic Corporation to develop the nickel-hydrogen storage cell. Specifically, we analysed networks of inventors who filed patent applications through the joint research. The results indicate that there are ‘boundary mediators’ who facilitated the exchange of technologies between the two companies. On the basis of their wide range of technical knowledge, we found there to be two types of boundary mediators.

GENRES OF COMPLEMENTARY PRODUCTS IN PLATFORM-BASED MARKETS: CHANGES IN EVOLUTIONARY MECHANISMS BY PLATFORM DIFFUSION STRATEGIES

Platform and complementary products configure platform-based markets. This study focuses on the genres of complementary products in a platform-based market. We examine differences in the influences of mediating factors on the evolutionary mechanisms of genres, based on different diffusion strategies in the Japanese video game sector: Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable. This study shows that a rapid platform diffusion strategy generates bandwagon effects in the evolution of genres, and, in turn, the excessive evolution of various genres negatively influences the sales distribution of software in the platform-based market, leading to a rapid decline of the platform. Additionally, this rapid decline results in an evolutionary failure of genres at a later stage in the platform’s lifecycle. Thus, we imply that a rapid platform expansion strategy may cause a rapid decline of the platform-based market and may exclude innovations based on undeveloped genres of complementary products.