Methodology of business ecosystems network analysis: A case study in Telecom Italia Future Centre

The paper proposes a method for analysing, modelling and foresighting the business ecosystems as network structures interacting one with each other. The methodology's name is "methodology of business ecosystem network analysis" (MOBENA). The paper shows how it is possible to systematically study the structure and fluxes of a business ecosystem. The main problems of other modelling languages for firm interactions that MOBENA tries to overcome are that (1) the methodologies tailored for BEs are very few, the others neglect interdependences or focus only on tangible or intangible aspects, and (2) they limit potential for strategic analysis and they do not take in a future-perspective. The paper includes an analysis of literature on Strategic Management (in particular, strategic models on relationships), Network Analysis and Foresight, from whence the theoretical proposal of the MOBENA is born. Then, the authors illustrate its application via a case study conducted inside the Telecom Italia Future Centre, and in particular taking as example the digital imaging ecosystem. The original aspects are the mapping of tangible and intangible relationships, the dynamic and foresight analysis, the possibility to set strategic guidance thanks to specific indicators. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.