Table 3 Avenues for future research... | Emerald Publishing

Table 3

Avenues for future research

Research themes	Research questions
Dual effects of digitalization strategy on service ecosystem orchestration	⁃ How do firms reconcile the dual role (empowerment vs tensions) of digitalization strategies? Which governance mechanisms are most effective in minimizing/managing these tensions? ⁃ How can the development of new information architectures help alleviate tensions in digitalized service ecosystems? ⁃ How do fully autonomous technologies (e.g. Agentic AI) reshape collaboration dynamics within ecosystems? ⁃ How does the shift from firm-centric control to ecosystem-level governance in digitalized service ecosystems influence power dynamics and collaboration among different actors? ⁃ How can digital platforms be designed to balance openness with control to prevent free-rider effects and data governance conflicts in ecosystems?
Customer perceptions in the digitalized service ecosystems	⁃ What strategies should firms adopt to ensure the customer-centricity of new digitalization initiatives? ⁃ What governance mechanisms enable effective collaboration between the hub firm and customers in co-developing digitalization strategies that enhance customer value? ⁃ How should firms enhance customer readiness before initiating digital transformation within a service ecosystem? ⁃ When do customers perceive that a hub firm's digitalization efforts serve its own interests rather than those of its customers? ⁃ How can firms identify and prioritize key customers to drive their digital transformation initiatives and maximize value creation within a service ecosystem?
Corporate digital responsibility in digitalized service ecosystems	⁃ How can CDR practices mitigate the extractive logic of surveillance capitalism and address societal concerns, such as algorithmic discrimination, structural injustice, and unethical treatment? ⁃ How can hub firms ensure that their business partners adhere to CDR principles? Which mechanisms (e.g. contractual agreements, penalty clauses, and liability shifting) best support mutually beneficial CDR compliance? ⁃ How do a hub firm's CDR practices (both ethical and unethical) influence the engagement of multiple actors (e.g. suppliers and customers) in the digital transformation of service ecosystems? ⁃ How can firms build and maintain trust in digital ecosystems when different actors have varying CDR expectations? ⁃ How do “machine-washing” practices influence different actors' perceptions of CDR initiatives? ⁃ How do paradoxical perceptions of financial (e.g. data monetization) and ethical objectives influence different actors' perceptions of CDR initiatives? ⁃ How do firms navigate the fragmented regulatory landscape for CDR in global digital ecosystems while aligning their commitments with evolving government regulations and industry standards? ⁃ Which service ecosystem actors (e.g. suppliers, customers) across different industries are more prone to violating CDR principles, and why?

Research themes	Research questions
Dual effects of digitalization strategy on service ecosystem orchestration	⁃ How do firms reconcile the dual role (empowerment vs tensions) of digitalization strategies? Which governance mechanisms are most effective in minimizing/managing these tensions? ⁃ How can the development of new information architectures help alleviate tensions in digitalized service ecosystems? ⁃ How do fully autonomous technologies (e.g. Agentic AI) reshape collaboration dynamics within ecosystems? ⁃ How does the shift from firm-centric control to ecosystem-level governance in digitalized service ecosystems influence power dynamics and collaboration among different actors? ⁃ How can digital platforms be designed to balance openness with control to prevent free-rider effects and data governance conflicts in ecosystems?
Customer perceptions in the digitalized service ecosystems	⁃ What strategies should firms adopt to ensure the customer-centricity of new digitalization initiatives? ⁃ What governance mechanisms enable effective collaboration between the hub firm and customers in co-developing digitalization strategies that enhance customer value? ⁃ How should firms enhance customer readiness before initiating digital transformation within a service ecosystem? ⁃ When do customers perceive that a hub firm's digitalization efforts serve its own interests rather than those of its customers? ⁃ How can firms identify and prioritize key customers to drive their digital transformation initiatives and maximize value creation within a service ecosystem?
Corporate digital responsibility in digitalized service ecosystems	⁃ How can CDR practices mitigate the extractive logic of surveillance capitalism and address societal concerns, such as algorithmic discrimination, structural injustice, and unethical treatment? ⁃ How can hub firms ensure that their business partners adhere to CDR principles? Which mechanisms (e.g. contractual agreements, penalty clauses, and liability shifting) best support mutually beneficial CDR compliance? ⁃ How do a hub firm's CDR practices (both ethical and unethical) influence the engagement of multiple actors (e.g. suppliers and customers) in the digital transformation of service ecosystems? ⁃ How can firms build and maintain trust in digital ecosystems when different actors have varying CDR expectations? ⁃ How do “machine-washing” practices influence different actors' perceptions of CDR initiatives? ⁃ How do paradoxical perceptions of financial (e.g. data monetization) and ethical objectives influence different actors' perceptions of CDR initiatives? ⁃ How do firms navigate the fragmented regulatory landscape for CDR in global digital ecosystems while aligning their commitments with evolving government regulations and industry standards? ⁃ Which service ecosystem actors (e.g. suppliers, customers) across different industries are more prone to violating CDR principles, and why?