Process framework on innovation ecosystem management for path-breaking innovations

To create and appropriate value from path-breaking new technology, technology ventures inherently belong to innovation ecosystems where their offering is a part of an overarching value proposition. In this interdependent setting, in order to increase the success chances of their own offering, ventures have to manage risks that arise from other ecosystem members. However, the literature on innovation ecosystem management has overlooked the fact that viability of the entire ecosystem is also critical for venture success. This observation implies that the broader societal environment as a context for the ecosystem poses a new challenge in terms of ecosystem management. This challenge goes beyond innovation ecosystem management as represented in literature thus far. The aim of this research is to develop and ground an integrated process framework on innovation ecosystem management for path-breaking innovations. We develop the framework by connecting and synthesizing the innovation ecosystem and strategic niche management literatures in a multi-level framework that proposes four activities and three guiding principles for innovation ecosystem management. This framework is subsequently grounded in a case study of Better Place, the failed venture that aimed to make electric cars more affordable and convenient. Key words: innovation ecosystem, technology ventures, path-breaking innovation, ecosystem management, strategic niche management, process framework