Digital Ecosystems for Public Enterprises: Prospects and Challenges

Abstract

A Digital Ecosystem is a digital platform that connects stakeholders and institutions with similar interests. Digital Ecosystems have been applied in different contexts, including health and business. This paper investigated the prospects and challenges of implementing a Digital Ecosystem to support public enterprises. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 20 participants. The findings suggest that the current infrastructure is suitable for implementing a Digital Ecosystem, however, more resources and tools such as high-speed Internet, high-end computers as well as security features are needed to facilitate the efficient functioning of a Digital Ecosystem for public enterprises. The benefits of implementing a Digital Ecosystem to support public enterprises include improved access to information and improved communication between public enterprises. The findings also revealed that a Digital Ecosystem could support teamwork, monitoring, evaluation and effective decisionmaking processes as the information required for decision making would be readily available. The potential challenges of implementing a Digital Ecosystem for public enterprises include lack of skills, lack of funds, organisational resistance to change and lack of awareness of the benefits of a Digital Ecosystem for public enterprises. In order to overcome these challenges, it is recommended that institutions of higher learning incorporate Digital Ecosystems into their curriculum, create awareness of the benefits of Digital Ecosystems to support public enterprises through social media platforms and government websites as well as provide specialised training to current employees in public enterprises. The findings of this study will inform key stakeholders in public enterprises on the prospects of implementing a Digital Ecosystem.