As a response to the call for cumulative knowledge in ecosystem research, this paper focuses on ecosystem literature from the perspective of a focal firm. Through an in-depth analysis of modern and classic ecosystem conceptual works, this paper clarifies the theoretical underpinnings of the structure view and the coevolution view of ecosystems. Whereas according to the structure view an ecosystem features a modular structure of multilateral interdependences, coevolutionists envisage it as a community of affiliated and interacting actors which keeps open exchange with environments. To deal with this tension, instead of proposing an integrative or overarching ecosystem definition, this research offers an integrative framework which can accommodate the merits of both views. We do so by suggesting that 1) the coevolution view helps understand where value proposition and complementarities come from and how they come about; 2) the structure view infuses granularity into the coevolution view to specify the ecosystem affiliation as a premise on which coevolution can be orchestrated; 3) affiliation plays the role as a linking concept between the two views, allowing for the focal firm's continuous innovation to be explained.

作为对生态系统研究中不断积累的知识的呼吁的回应，本文从一家重点公司的角度着眼于生态系统文献。通过对现代和经典生态系统概念作品的深入分析，阐明了生态系统结构视图和协同进化视图的理论基础。根据结构观点，生态系统具有多边相互依存的模块化结构，而共同进化论者则将其设想为由相互联系且相互作用的参与者组成的社区，与环境保持开放交换。为了应对这种紧张局势，本研究提供了一个可以兼顾两种观点的优点的综合框架，而不是提出一个整体的或总体的生态系统定义。为此，我们提出以下建议：1）协同进化视图有助于理解价值主张和互补性的来源以及它们的产生方式；2）结构视图将粒度注入到协同进化视图中，以指定生态系统隶属关系作为协调协同进化的前提；3）从属关系在这两种观点之间起着联系概念的作用，从而可以说明焦点企业的持续创新。