Introduction and utilization of the concept digital ecosystem instigate the development of digital ecology. A digital ecosystem is a distributed, flexible, adaptive, amenable socio-technical system with features of self-organization, self-operation, scalability and sustainability, motivated by the concept of natural ecosystems.
Specialization of the concept digital ecosystem brought forth digital health ecosystems, digital service ecosystems, digital transportation ecosystems and digital business ecosystems. The latter are defined as combinations of digital systems used in the business, the people that interact with them, and related business processes and technology environment. A digital business ecosystem emerges in coupling of digital business ecosystems to the socio-economic system of its users.
Ecological Approach as a New Methodology for Information Studies- Let us consider information ecology as a methodology for information studies. It will allow us to understand what progresses could be achieved based on this methodology and what opportunities can be gained in applications.
The Concept of Information Ecology-
As usual, the definition for a new terminology is necessarily needed first so that the understanding and the application of the terminology in the future can be precise as well as reliable. The definition of information ecology shall, of course, keep the spirit of the definition of the general ecology.
Information ecology is a holistic study of information processing systems in the context of their surroundings by explicating patterns of, processes in and interrelationships between these systems and their components in the context of their environment.
The efficacy of this definition is demonstrated by application of ecological principles in other areas, such as plant ecology, animal ecology and other kinds of ecology.
Defining information ecology, we do not define information or information processing because the definition of information and information processing belongs to Level 1 of information studies, while information ecology is Level 3 of the information studies.
From the perspective of scientific research, there are two basic approaches to the studied phenomena-reductionism and holism. The major feature of reductionism is dividing a complex system into elements and reducing the theory of the system to the theory of its elements. Holism goes in the opposite direction assuming that basic properties and functioning of a complex system cannot be deduced from the properties and behaviour of its elements.
Ecological theory in general and information ecology in particular base their studies on holistic approach because relations, connections and processes uniting separate elements in an integrated system produce synergy making the whole system irreducible to its elements. Ignoring these regularities of system science can cause various misconceptions and result in waste of time and energy in human society.
Information Ecology as a Research Model-
A critical issue of any research in general and information studies, in particular, is correct selection of an adequate basic structure for representation, modelling and exploration of the research domain. An important innovation of information ecology is the introduction of the triadic structure “subject–object-interaction” as the basic system of information studies.
The structure “subject–object-interaction” consists of three components:
Subject can be any intelligent system possessing knowledge and goals and treated from the information perspective although the most typical, most characteristic, and thus, the most meaningful, subjects are human beings who have complex goals and enough knowledge.
Object can be any information processing system imbedded in its environment.
Interaction consists of processes that go between the Subject and the Object.