Customer Reviews

Ecosystem: Living the 12 Principles of Networked Business

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book provides twelve principles for successful e-commerce. The principles are the synthesis of keen observation and deep thought, and are presented in a dispassionate, objective manner.

The principles themselves are divided among four stakeholder groups that form the ecosystem. "Ecosystem" is an appropriate analogy because each stakeholder group has a different set of needs, yet all stakeholder groups are interdependent in the value chain. The principles are each presented in a consistent format - presentation of the principle, two case studies each from the supplier's perspective giving a supplier profile, an interview with the supplier and showing the principle as it applies to the customer, and an executive summary of the principle.

Stakeholder and principle groupings are: Business-to-Shareholder (learning and planning principles), Business-to-Employee (system, network and security principles), Business-to-Business (payment, buying, supplier and inventory/logistics principles), and Business-to-Customer (selling, customer and personalization principles).

By dividing the principles and focusing on stakeholders groups the authors have provided a systematic and structured template to apply to an e-commerce strategy and associated tactics.

What I like about this book is the utter lack of hype or hyperbole, and the presentation of each principle in a consistent manner. I also like the careful selection of the case studies, each of which highlights the principle to which it is associated. Finally I applaud the authors for their straightforward writing, which makes this book highly readable (even at nearly 400 pages it can be read on a day off or on a coast-to-coast flight). What impresses me, however, is the research and deep thought that the authors put into this book and the care with which they structured and sequenced the information.

I highly recommend this book to anyone involved in strategic planning, or who wants to understand the complexities of modern supply chains within the context of e-commerce. The keys to success are between the pages of this outstanding book.

I read this as A book and not Thomas' book, to try and be objective!

Now it's THE book, presumably until their next one!

The authors' advanced thought, expertise and experience show through a beautiful synthesis of principles, real applications, predictions and analogies.

As professionals we find ourselves in an era where strategy has to be very fluid - and I find myself constantly needing to zoom in and zoom out of the various aspects of my start-ups for a perspective view as well as detailed focus...

Much deeper than the first reading, this is where I think is the REAL value of 'Ecosystem' - to visit and keep re-visiting it for defining different pieces of our business, regardless of what stage the business is in!

The framework for the principles, the examples and the insights across a broad spectrum of high profile and/or unusual businesses truly create an environment that spark creativity and enable new possibilities.