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Struggling towards virtuous coevolution: institutional and strategic works of Alibaba in building the Taobao e-commerce ecosystem

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  • Qiang Zhang

    (Shanghai University of Engineering Science)

  • Yan Wang

    (Shanghai Business School)

Abstract

The business ecosystem literature has accumulated a rich array of theoretical and empirical insights, which presume a keystone role of the focal company in facilitating virtuous coevolution that synchronises fundamental logics across multi-level fields to secure its competitive advantage. However, scant attention has been paid to the mechanisms underlying keystone strategies. This paper examines the case of Alibaba in building its Taobao ecosystem, drawing on organisational institutionalism theories, to develop a theoretical model that directs attention towards fundamental patterns and configurations of institutionalisation-influencing strategies and utilisation of the constructed institutional foundation to achieve a competitive advantage.

Suggested Citation

  • Qiang Zhang & Yan Wang, 2018. "Struggling towards virtuous coevolution: institutional and strategic works of Alibaba in building the Taobao e-commerce ecosystem," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 17(3), pages 208-242, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:abaman:v:17:y:2018:i:3:d:10.1057_s41291-018-0037-7
    DOI: 10.1057/s41291-018-0037-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Han, Jin & Zhou, Haibo & Löwik, Sandor & de Weerd-Nederhof, Petra, 2022. "Building and sustaining emerging ecosystems through new focal ventures: Evidence from China's bike-sharing industry," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    3. Yunpeng Sun & Ruoya Jia & Asif Razzaq & Qun Bao, 2023. "Drivers of China’s geographical renewable energy development: evidence from spatial association network structure approaches," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(6), pages 4115-4163, December.
    4. Chen, Zhe & Sarkar, Apurbo & Rahman, Airin & Li, Xiaojing & Xia, Xianli, 2022. "Exploring the drivers of green agricultural development (GAD) in China: A spatial association network structure approaches," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).

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