Scaling digital solutions for wicked problems: Ecosystem versatility

Author

Katherine TATARINOV, Universtiy of Geneva
Tina AMBOS, Universtiy of Geneva
Feichin Ted TSCHANG, Singapore Management UniversityFollow

Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

6-2023

Abstract

Digital solutions are increasingly used to address ‘‘wicked problems’’ that are locally embedded but require global approaches. Scaling these solutions internationally is imperative for their success, but to date we know little about this process. Using a qualitative case study methodology, our paper analyzes how four digital solutions driven by the United Nations are built and how they scale internationally. These solutions address wicked problems through artificial intelligence, blockchain, and geospatial mapping, and are embedded in networks of partners which evolve during scaling to create unique ecosystem roles and configurations. We identify different ecosystem roles and find that the specific properties of digital solutions – modularity, generativity and affordances – enable either adaptation or replication during scaling. Building on these insights, we derive a typology of four different types of international scaling, which vary in their ecosystem versatility (how the ecosystem changes across locations) and the local adaptation of the application (the problems the solution addresses). This study presents a new way to examine the replication and adaptation dilemma for ecosystems and extends internationalization theory to the digital world.

Keywords

digital solutions, scaling, ecosystems, technology, wicked problems, UnitedNations, qualitative, case study

Discipline

Organizational Behavior and Theory | Strategic Management Policy | Technology and Innovation

Research Areas

Strategy and Organisation

Publication

Journal of International Business Studies

Volume

54

Issue

4

First Page

631

Last Page

656

ISSN

0047-2506

Identifier

10.1057/s41267-022-00526-6

Publisher

Palgrave Macmillan

Citation

TATARINOV, Katherine; AMBOS, Tina; and TSCHANG, Feichin Ted. Scaling digital solutions for wicked problems: Ecosystem versatility. (2023). Journal of International Business Studies. 54, (4), 631-656.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/lkcsb_research/7374

Copyright Owner and License

Authors

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-022-00526-6