Exploring Design Principles and Design Features to Enhance Visual Inquiry Tools for Designing Multi-Actor Ecosystems

Christian Vorbohle ()
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Christian Vorbohle: Paderborn University

No 161, Working Papers Dissertations from Paderborn University, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics

Abstract: Digital technologies have enabled organizations to transcend their boundaries and create joint customer value with partners, which has led to the emergence of multi-actor ecosystems. However, these ecosystems are difficult to design and develop because they are characterized by cross-industry collaborations and non-contractual mechanisms. In this context, visual inquiry tools (e.g., canvases) hold great promise for jointly exploring ecosystem opportunities and improving cooperation between ecosystem partners. Nevertheless, the current tool landscape remains opaque, and research lacks prescriptive design knowledge regarding functions that could prevent collaboration failure and how these functions could be implemented. This paper presents the results of an observational design science research project that identifies and analyzes nine existing visual inquiry tools. It then develops and evaluates key design knowledge in the form of six design principles and sixteen design features to mitigate collaboration challenges among ecosystem partners. The findings complement existing design knowledge on visual inquiry tools, contextualizing this knowledge for the ecosystem context. By providing targeted and evaluated guidance for tool creators, the study contributes to the design of ecosystems and their prospects for success.

Keywords: Visual Inquiry Tools; Multi-Actor Ecosystem Design; Innovation Ecosystems; Business Model Development Tools; Design Science Research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O30 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 57
Date: 2025-10
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