Business Ecosystem : More Than a New Name for Supply Chain?

In the early 1980s, the term “supply chain management” (SCM) rose to prominence, starting its triumphal procession. Almost 10 years later, the first article focusing on the business ecosystem (BE) concept was published. Authors who were actively involved in SCM research participated in subsequent publications. Already at this point, Bechtel and Jayaram stated that the concept of the BE overlaps with that of SCM. Despite the initial doubts about the novelty of the BE concept, the publication rate has steadily increased, without making a clear distinction between the two concepts. Similar to the discussion on the distinction between logistics and SCM, the question arises: Is the BE more than a new name for the supply chain? First, this article analyzes the available literature to identify elements for distinguishing the concepts. Second, the literature-based findings were validated and further completed using expert interviews. As a result, we present a list of 20 elements grouped into five dimensions: (1) actors, (2) the relations between actors, (3) the structure of the network, (4) the product, and (5) the platform. Third, we empirically investigate whether these elements are actually perceived by national and international researchers in the field of BEs and/or SCM. The results suggest that some differences between these concepts, e.g., the mutual dependency among actors, are not necessarily recognized. A differentiation based on the relationship type, the variety of actors within the network, and the product can be considered. Based on the insights gained, implications for business ecosystem management can be derived.