Value Co-Creation in Digital Ecosystems: A Systematic Literature Review and Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to systematically examine and map the development of the literature on value co-creation in digital ecosystems. Design/Methods/Approach: This study employs a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) following the PRISMA guidelines. A total of 81 Scopus-indexed journal articles published between 2016 and 2026 were analyzed using Biblioshiny for bibliometric analysis and qualitative content analysis to synthesize the findings reported in the literature. Originality/Value: This study provides a comprehensive synthesis of value co-creation in digital ecosystems by integrating a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis. Unlike previous studies that examined value co-creation in broader contexts, this study specifically focuses on digital ecosystems and offers a structured understanding of the intellectual foundations, research trends, key actors, antecedents, and outcomes of value co-creation. Findings: The findings indicate that research on value co-creation in digital ecosystems continues to evolve and attract increasing scholarly attention, although quantitative studies remain limited. Value co-creation is identified as a multi-actor process driven by technological and platform, governance and institutional, actor interaction and social relational, organizational capability, and environmental and contextual factors. The findings also reveal that value co-creation generates ambivalent outcomes, creating positive value for firms, customers, innovation, markets, and ecosystems while also having the potential to result in value co-destruction. Practical/Policy Implications: The findings suggest that organizations should develop digital platforms not only as transaction channels but also as collaborative ecosystems that facilitate resource integration among actors to foster sustainable value co-creation. From an academic perspective, this study provides a comprehensive overview of value co-creation research in digital ecosystems and proposes a research agenda for future studies, particularly by encouraging quantitative approaches to empirically examine the relationships among antecedent variables, the value co-creation process, and outcomes across various digital ecosystem contexts.