Managing multi-tiered innovation ecosystems

We study how orchestrators of innovation ecosystems govern their relationships with multiple heterogeneous complementors that differ in their positions and activities that contribute to an integrated value proposition. Prior research has focused on ecosystem-wide and complementor-specific governance, each not suited to adequately address the challenges of this context. Building on a multiple-case study in the financial services sector, our findings demonstrate that orchestrators create distinctly governed tiers of complementors based on the domains of uncertainty underlying their ecosystem blueprint. The organizational form and coordination mechanisms of these tiers reflect the convergent or explorative role of complementors in the core or the periphery of the blueprint. We contribute to ecosystem governance by introducing complementor tiers as a governance approach that blends elements of ecosystem-wide and complementor-specific governance and by linking governance choices to uncertainty and complementor roles. Furthermore, we discuss the potential for future research at the intersection of ecosystem and open innovation governance. •We study the governance of innovation ecosystems offering complex value propositions.•We find orchestrators form distinctly governed tiers of complementors.•Uncertainty regarding the ecosystem blueprint determines governance of these tiers.•Orchestrators combine elements of innovation and platform ecosystem governance.•Research opportunities at the intersection of ecosystem and open innovation governance.