Business Ecosystems (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Objective

The course provides students the essential practical knowledge about digital ecosystems. Particularly, students learn to identify digital ecosystems, their components and architectures. Practically, students are able to analyze critically business models of their case company by utilizing concepts of ecosystem. Based on this analysis, students propose business development ideas. After this course, students have an “ecosystem thinking” – understanding the digital environment in which the business activities take place, the specific position and the role of the enterprise in this environment.

Main competences on the course: proactive development, sustainable development, learning to learn

Content

- Business Ecosystems
- Elements of Ecosystems
- Ecosystem modelling Tools
- Ecosystem Strategy
- Mapping and analysis of business and service ecosystems
- Digital ecosystem strategy

Location and time

WED 12.3.2025 17.30-20.30
WED 2.4.2025 17.30-20.30
WED 23.4.2025 17.30-20.30

Materials

Aarikka-Stenroos, L. and Ritala, P. 2017. Network management in the era of ecosystems: systematic review and management framework. Industrial marketing management, 67, pp. 23-36.

Elina Annanperä, 2017. Managing technology-based service innovations in emerging wellness business ecosystems, University of Oulu, Oulu, Doctoral Thesis, A690.

Link: http://jultika.oulu.fi/Record/isbn978-952-62-1583-9

Tuomas Lappi, 2017. Formation and Governance of a healthy business ecosystems. University of Oulu, Oulu, Doctoral Thesis, C626.

Link: http://jultika.oulu.fi/Record/isbn978-952-62-1690-4

Additionally, literature consist of relevant research articles provider by the teacher during the lectures.

Teaching methods

The teaching method will be a combination of seminar-type online contact sessions with discussions, teamwork, team work presentations and peer review of a team work assignment.
The learning process will be student driven. The critical thinking skills are encouraged and nurtured as a core part of the outcome. The students are couraged to demonstrate active involvement and meaningful contributions to class discussions and the learning process. The practical orientation is accomplished through team work assignment.

Exam schedules

Information available on the course moodle environment

Student workload

Total Hours 135h
Contact sessions: 16 hours
Independent and group assignments: 114hrs
Consultation sessions: 5 hours

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

1-2: The student
- understands the subject matter concepts and is able to apply them. However, there is a room for development in the content of the assignments. Business challenges and recommendations are rather general and are not elaborated in details.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

3-4: The student
- understands very well the subject matter concepts and is able to apply them into the working life.
- understands well the role of service ecosystems and platforms in the digital transformation of businesses.
- is able to give useful development recommendations utilizing his/her knowledge and skills.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

5: The student
- understands deeply the subject matter concepts and is able to apply them into the working life.
- understands well and is able to analyze critically different factors in the construction and operation of service ecosystems in the case company.
- is able to propose ideas for platform transformation of the current business models of the case company.
- is able to give useful development recommendations with proper argumentation in different situations.