Investigating the strategic choices of business ecosystem orchestrators: evidence from sports aggregation ecosystems

Maximilian Julius Krome (), Ulrich Pidun () and Dodo Knyphausen-Aufseß ()
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Maximilian Julius Krome: Technische Universität Berlin, Fakultät VII Wirtschaft und Management
Ulrich Pidun: Technische Universität Berlin, Fakultät VII Wirtschaft und Management
Dodo Knyphausen-Aufseß: Technische Universität Berlin, Fakultät VII Wirtschaft und Management

Review of Managerial Science, 2025, vol. 19, issue 11, No 6, 3457-3493

Abstract: Abstract The business ecosystem literature offers valuable insights into various strategic variables such as pricing, governance, and network effects. However, few studies holistically analyze how orchestrators—the core firms that motivate and coordinate the activities of ecosystem partners—combine strategic choices to develop an ecosystem value proposition and compete against other ecosystems in the same domain. Therefore, we conduct an inductive multiple case study of German sport aggregation platforms and their ecosystems. We explore competing platform strategies by identifying relevant strategic variables, documenting ecosystem-specific dynamics and challenges, identifying patterns in the combinations of strategic choices, and tracking the development of strategic variables over time. Our findings contribute to the understanding of ecosystem strategies and support research on the intersection of strategic management and business ecosystems.

Keywords: Business ecosystem strategy; Platform strategy; Ecosystem competition; Competitive dynamics; Competitive strategy; Strategic positioning; Strategic differentiation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L10 L11 M10 M11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s11846-025-00857-2

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