Ecosystem

Definition & Concepts

Set of economic agents that interact in harmony to achieve a set of "transformations" useful to one or more "stakeholders".

The ecosystem, seen in its global form, apart from its internal operators, relates to external agents, who are interested in its existence and its aims.

The ecosystem is a set of transformation (processing) functions, which deploys its mechanics, its operations, in the quest for satisfaction and performance.

The ecosystem takes into account, in addition to stakeholders, physical objects or not (dematerialized) and concepts that are the origins and outcomes of transformations: offers of products, hardware, etc ... These are "business objects": finance = securities, deals, loans, accounts, insurance = claim, cash, etc ...

Ecosystems evolve, and show great flexibility. As well as the homeostasis allows an alive body to maintain its balance in spite of the changes of its environment, an ecosystem has a natural autoregulation.

Graphic representation

The boundaries of the ecosystem can be assembled in a symbolic diagram, Mandel's polygon. Mandel's polygon is a powerful synthesis of the fundamental components of an ecosystem.

Ex : Les grands cycles

Elements of syntax

• There is no limit as for the number of characteristic cycles of an ecosystem.

Check List

Key questions to identify the invariants

• Have we identified all the cycles?
• What are the core business cycles?
• Is there a dissociation between cycles of purchase and consumption: subscription, insurance, ... Are these differences clearly taken into account? What are the flows of information and services arising?
• Do the cycles and pathways identified change over time? Depending on which period (eg annual campaign for fashion, distribution, education, ...).
• These "cycles of cycles" also subject to a typical dynamic events (preparation of the new collection, the budget period, a multi-year plan, a concession contract, a new range of vehicles). They may affect the changes made during operational cycles.
• The Mandel's Polygon outlines the main boundaries identified. At this level we group cycles that are variants of a generic cycle (of the same objects, with transformations of the same type: for example different methods of recruitment by a school of engineering ...).