Value Co-Creation in Business Networks
Summary
Value co-creation in business networks refers to the collaborative processes through which firms, partners and stakeholders jointly integrate resources, knowledge and capabilities to generate mutual benefits. Rooted in both the resource-based and relational views, this field examines how inter-organisational interactions, digital platforms and ecosystem dynamics facilitate innovation, competitive advantage and sustainability. Key dimensions include strategic alignment among network actors, the management of reputational and knowledge-based assets, and the governance of collaborative structures. Across sectors—from cloud-computing alliances to logistics systems and B2B supply chains—research has highlighted the role of trust, secure communication channels and institutional support in shaping co-creative behaviours. The global significance of this research is evident in its capacity to inform policy frameworks, guide digital transformation strategies and enhance the resilience of supply networks in the face of market and environmental challenges.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Value Co-Creation in Business Networks publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in value co-creation in business networks across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Value co-creation: Joint process by which organisations and stakeholders integrate resources and capabilities to generate mutual value.
Business network: Interconnected web of firms, suppliers, partners and institutions engaged in collaborative relationships.
Resource-based view: Theoretical perspective that competitive advantage arises from firm-specific resources and capabilities.
Relational view: Perspective emphasising relational rents and competitive benefits derived from interfirm partnerships and networks.
Evolutionary game model: Analytical framework for simulating dynamic strategic interactions among multiple actors over time.
References
- Understanding and exploring the value co-creation of cloud computing innovation using resource based value theory: An interpretive case study. Journal of Business Research (2023).
- Four-Party Evolutionary Game Analysis of Value Co-Creation Behavior of Bulk Logistics Enterprises in Digital Transformation. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research (2024).
- Enhancing Stakeholder Value: Managerial Activities in the Value Creation Process for Suppliers and Buyer—Evidence from Slovak Enterprises. Administrative Sciences (2024).
About these summaries
This Nature Research Intelligence Topic summary is created with the cited references and a large language model. We take care to ground generated text with facts, and have systems in place to gain human feedback on the overall quality of the process in line with our AI principles. We strive to create accurate and useful summaries for people unfamiliar with the research topic and that supports this goal. These pages are a beta release and will be updated as we learn how best to help people gain value from a research topic summary.
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.