ISM kindly invites to participate in the Online Research Seminar Where Ecosystem Mindsets Come From: How Tech Entrepreneurs Envision Their Target Markets led by Stephan Manning, Professor of Strategy and Innovation, University of Sussex Business School (UK).

Seminar will be organized online on the 26th of May, 15:00.

Short description

Business ecosystems – systems of value creation that transcend conventional industry boundaries – are becoming increasingly important contexts of tech entrepreneurship. Yet, we lack an understanding of how tech entrepreneurs develop an understanding of nascent ecosystems for new products. Based on a multi-case study of Boston-based tech entrepreneurs, this study finds that entrepreneurs build an ecosystem mindset incrementally by shifting from targeting alternative primary clients, based on an industry mindset, to envisioning inter-connected clients across industries exploiting complementarities between multiple product uses. Findings contribute to micro-foundations of ecosystem strategizing and a better understanding of opportunity generation and entrepreneurial learning

Short bio

Stephan is a Professor of Strategy and Innovation in the University of Sussex Business School, Department of Strategy and Marketing. Previously, he worked at the University of Massachusetts Boston, Duke University and Free University Berlin. He has been Visiting Scholar at Copenhagen Business School, Erasmus University Rotterdam School of Management, and Imperial College London.

Stephan’s current research focuses on the interplay between business strategy, social innovation and international development. He studies strategic responses to global challenges, such as sustainability; the interplay between global value chains and development; and social innovation and entrepreneurship. Related to the latter, he has also studied strategies of project entrepreneurs and the emergence of project network organizations. He has done field research in China, Germany, Guatemala, Kenya, Romania, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda and the United States.

His research has been published in top-tier academic journals, such as Strategic Management Journal, Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Management Studies, Organization Studies, Human Relations and Research Policy. He serves as Senior Editor of Management and Organization Review. He has also written blog articles for various outlets, including The Conversation. He is co-founder of the Organizations and Social Change Blog.

Stephan’s research has been funded by international funding programmes, e.g. Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI, EU funding); foundations, e.g. Meridian Institute; business associations, e.g. The Conference Board; and consulting groups, e.g. PricewaterhouseCoopers. He has further collaborated with various firms, e.g. Henkel and Continental, and government agencies, e.g. ICT Board in Kenya and BPeSA business promotion agency in South Africa.

More details .

Please register online in advance!