How industry leaders enhance the value of ecosystems

Purpose: The article explains how industry leaders engage in ecosystems effectively to access new markets and new geographies, and through intensive collaboration within new partnering arrangements, ecosystems have become an essential resource for building their new capabilities. Design/methodology/approach: Executives of the most successful organizations surveyed embrace their existing ecosystems and expect to pursue new and different partnering arrangements. Outperforming organizations credit their ecosystems with generating value and innovation. The article looks at what they did differently than under-performers. Findings: Ecosystems can drive a broad range of strategic opportunities including new engagement and monetization models. Practical implications: Ecosystems help organizations access critical capabilities that would have otherwise been unavailable or very difficult to obtain. 10; 10; 10; Originality/value: 3BLeaders of outperforming organizations recognize the significant opportunity to improve skills by learning alongside ecosystem partners.