There is essentially no framework, which we can construct, that can truly describe a “framework” for ecosystems because an ecosystem’s success is typically based on its ability to capture the least common denominators of a community, or the groups typically left out of the discussion.
The Nature of Ecosystems
Ecosystem, originally a biological term, describes a community or environment in which organisms (or entities) interact with each other and their physical environment. Ecosystems exist in nature, within institutions, and even within the human body. One commonality holds for all these systems: they operate and progress more efficiently when they are left alone.Questioning Artificial Construction
As the entrepreneurial community seeks to curate these ecosystems artificially, we must ask why such a need exists. We spend significant time and money trying to create something that occurs naturally. Perhaps the problem is not a lack of ecosystems, but rather that our institutions are not ready to recognize their own problematic nature. We must ask: What is an entrepreneurial ecosystem more than the act of removing our institutions and organizations to get them out of the way of the entrepreneurs?HumEnt and Human-Centric Systems
We need to "return to our roots" and find a more natural balance. Just as an ecosystem in nature survives when we stop interfering, entrepreneurship thrives when we give entrepreneurs the space to operate. This ties back to the concept of Humane Entrepreneurship (HumEnt), where the human must sit at the forefront of all decisions.The Role of Culture
Two essential concepts define both natural and artificial systems: * Bottom-up: Ecosystems are created by the symbiosis of organisms working synergistically. * Intangible: The energy, or culture, provides the flow of the ecosystem.Culture is the driving force that determines parameters of success or failure. The ability of an ecosystem to engage with all members of a community—including women, children, and the disenfranchised—is a guiding factor for prosperity. It is our responsibility to navigate the uncertainty of these gray areas to advance society.