Bridging the Information Systems Literature on Digital Sourcing, Platforms, and Ecosystems

This chapter bridges two foundational streams in Information Systems (IS) research: digital sourcing and digital platform ecosystems. Historically treated as distinct, these domains are increasingly converging due to shifts in technology, organizational strategy, and ecosystem dynamics. Digital sourcing has evolved from cost-efficiency and capability access toward innovation and agility, while digital platforms have matured into orchestrated ecosystems enabling third-party value creation. The chapter outlines key theoretical foundations shared across both streams and identifies three core areas of convergence: governance, relationships, and knowledge and innovation. The chapter proposes future research directions, including hybrid governance models, algorithmic orchestration, and integrative learning frameworks, and lays the groundwork for a unified perspective on how organizations leverage external actors and technologies in the digital age. This conceptual bridge offers a foundation for advancing theory and informing practice in increasingly platform-based and sourcing-dependent ecosystems.