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Article
Modeling the Evolution of Generativity and the Emergence of Digital Ecosystems
ICIS 2014 Proceedings (2014)
  • C. Jason Woodard
  • Eric K. Clemons
Abstract

Recent literature on sociotechnical systems has employed the concept of generativity to explain the remarkable capacity for digital artifacts to support decentralized innovation and the emergence of rich business ecosystems. In this paper, we propose agent-based computational modeling as a tool for studying the evolution of generativity, and offer a set of building blocks for constructing agent-based models in which generativity evolves. We describe a series of models that we have created using these building blocks, and summarize the results of our computational experiments to date. We find in several different settings that key features of generative systems can themselves evolve endogenously, including "core" components and reusable parts. Moreover, we find that boundedly rational designers without coordination or foresight can evolve business ecosystems that satisfy a diverse range of consumer preferences and exhibit robustness to changes in these preferences over time. These findings present exciting opportunities for IS researchers.

Keywords
  • Complexity theory,
  • Digital business ecosystems,
  • Innovation,
  • Platform design,
  • Simulation and modeling IS
Publication Date
December 15, 2014
Publisher Statement
Open access version available from SMU InK.
Citation Information
C. Jason Woodard and Eric K. Clemons (2014). "Modeling the Evolution of Generativity and the Emergence of Digital Ecosystems." Proceedings of the 35th International Conference on Information Systems, Auckland, New Zealand, December 14-17.