Game-Changers: Dynamic Capabilities’ Influence on Service Ecosystems

Nenonen, Suvi; Gummerus, Johanna; Sklyar, Alexey

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Game-Changers: Dynamic Capabilities’ Influence on Service Ecosystems

Journal of Service Management, Vol. 29 Issue: 4, pp.569-592, Doi.org/10.1108/JOSM-02-2017-0025

44 Pages Posted: 9 May 2019 Last revised: 13 Apr 2020

See all articles by Suvi Nenonen

Alexey Sklyar

Linkoping University - Department of Management and Engineering Division

Date Written: 2018

Abstract

Purpose

Service-dominant logic acknowledges that actors can influence how service ecosystems evolve through institutional work, but empirical research is only nascent. This paper advances understanding of ecosystem change by proposing that dynamic capabilities are a special type of operant resources enabling actors to conduct institutional work. Consequently, the purpose of this paper is to explore which dynamic capabilities are associated with proactively influencing service ecosystems.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on service-dominant logic, institutional work and dynamic capabilities, this exploratory study assumes an actor-centric perspective and proposes a conceptual model with a hierarchy of dynamic capabilities as the antecedents for successfully influencing service ecosystems. The research model was tested with survey data using partial least squares structural equation modeling.

Findings

Among the dynamic capabilities studied, “visioning” and “influencing explicit institutions” directly affect “success in influencing service ecosystems,” whereas “timing” does so indirectly through “influencing explicit institutions.” The other dynamic capabilities studied have no significant effect on “success in influencing service ecosystems.” “Success in influencing service ecosystems” positively affects the “increased service ecosystem size and efficiency.”

Practical implications

In addition to reactively positioning and competing at the marketplace, firms can choose to proactively influence their service ecosystems’ size and efficiency. Firms aiming to influence service ecosystems should particularly develop dynamic capabilities related to visioning, timing and influencing explicit institutions.

Originality/value

This research is the first service-dominant logic investigation of the linkage between the actors’ dynamic capabilities and their ability to influence service ecosystems.

Keywords: PLS-SEM, Service ecosystem, Dynamic capabilities, Service-dominant logic, Institutional work

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Nenonen, Suvi and Gummerus, Johanna and Sklyar, Alexey, Game-Changers: Dynamic Capabilities’ Influence on Service Ecosystems (2018). Journal of Service Management, Vol. 29 Issue: 4, pp.569-592, Doi.org/10.1108/JOSM-02-2017-0025, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3375475