Managing Tensions in Digital Ecosystem Governance Through Systems Balancing

Liebert, Pauline und Engert, Simon (2025): Managing Tensions in Digital Ecosystem Governance Through Systems Balancing. ICIS 2025: International Conference on Information Systems, Nashville, USA, 14. - 17. Dezember 2025. ICIS2025-1901 Atlanta: AIS.

Abstract

Due to their multi-actor nature and sociotechnical dynamics, governing digital ecosystems poses challenges for practitioners and scholars alike. In this conceptual paper, we synthesize literature on digital ecosystem governance from multiple disciplines into four dimensions—structure, decision-making, interactions, and behavior—and identify tensions between various design options within each. Using a paradox lens, we argue that current governance configurations often rely on either/or strategies that inadequately manage these tensions and lead to quasi-monopolistic situations. To address this, we introduce systems balancing as an alternative response. Systems balancing refers to decoupling governance choices in the social and technical systems of digital ecosystems to enable a novel interplay between the two systems. To illustrate the implications of this approach, we show how data space-based ecosystems, an emerging type of digital ecosystem, apply systems balancing in their governance. With this work, we contribute to ongoing debates on effective digital ecosystem governance.

• Dokumententyp: Konferenzbeitrag (Paper)
• Keywords: Digital ecosystem governance ; tensions ; sociotechnical systems ; systems balancing
• Fakultät: Betriebswirtschaft > Institut für Digitales Management und Neue Medien > Daten-basierte Geschäftskonzepte
• Themengebiete: 300 Sozialwissenschaften > 330 Wirtschaft
• Ort: Atlanta
• Sprache: Englisch