????網絡生態系統通常主要依賴于經濟刺激來調動參與者的積極性。為了催化與發展網絡生態系統，往往需要某種形式的平臺，但平臺開發者通常極力拓展參與者彼此合作的能力，而不是嚴格規定他們可以做什么、不可以做什么。

????蘋果（Apple）的iOS應用商店和谷歌（Google）的安卓（Android）市場之間的差別可供我們考量。蘋果的應用平臺雖利潤極為豐厚，但并不構成網絡生態系統。蘋果層級分明的開發規程以及嚴格的審查程序限制了實驗的范圍，它還要求平臺開發者（也就是蘋果）與參與者之間必須存在相當程度的互動。這一點給用戶帶來的好處是，它提高可靠性，同時還有利于恪守一定的質量標準。

????相比之下，開放程度很高的安卓平臺確實稱得上網絡生態系統。安卓允許開發者更加自由地進行實驗、測試潛在的應用。這種松散而靈活的結構意味著系統內存在著相對更多的“業余級別”應用，但也創造了更多合作與創新的機會。

????盡管當今的許多相關范例都來自科技公司，但網絡生態系統的應用并不局限于這一領域。想想馬爾科姆?麥克萊恩的故事吧，上世紀50年代他只是個卡車司機。當時，他發現從事運輸行業的不同群組之間需要建立更緊密的合作。隨后，他開發了一種標準的船運集裝箱，并允許全行業使用這種標準。通過鼓勵港口管理當局、貨主和吊車公司投入資金，采用支持該標準的新設備和新方法，麥克萊恩就像微軟一樣，加快了新標準的普及，并迅速變革了全球船運行業的面貌。

????我們預計，未來這類網絡生態系統將變得更加普及。例如，大數據（Big Data）可能成為滋生新興網絡生態系統的沃土。隨著某些公司積累的顧客行為資料越來越豐富、詳實，這些零散的數據可用于創造一個“平臺”，供參與者開發富有創意的產品與服務。利用各個政府機構所采集的數據的政府2.0項目則代表著另一種可能性，同樣有可能促成一個潛力巨大的網絡生態系統。

????網絡生態系統對當今世界很多行業都具有重要的啟示意義。首先，我們可以列出醫療保健、金融服務、傳媒與能源行業，它們變革的時機已經成熟。不過，我們不應就此止步。您所在的行業是否也已經做好了準備，迎接這種規模的變革？在您所處的領域，網絡生態系統應該以什么面貌出現？正如撞上一個華麗而結實的蜘蛛網，最終的結果可能會讓您大吃一驚。

????譯者：小宇

????Web ecosystems often rely primarily on economic incentives to mobilize its participants. Platforms of some sort are usually involved in catalyzing and growing web ecosystems, but the platform developer often tries to expand participants' abilities to work with each other rather than tightly specifying what they can and cannot do.

????Consider the differences between Apple's (AAPL) iOS app store to Google's (GOOG) Android marketplace. Apple's app platform, though highly profitable, does not constitute a web ecosystem. Apple's structured development regulations and rigorous screening process limit the scope for experimentation and require a significant level of interaction between the platform developer (Apple) and the participants. It offers the benefit of more reliability for its users and an adherence to certain quality standards.

????By contrast, the largely open Android platform does represent a web ecosystem. Android offers more freedom for developers to experiment and test potential applications. The relaxed and flexible structure means that a greater number of "amateur" applications are available, but it also creates many opportunities for collaboration and innovation.

????Though many of today's examples come from technology companies, the applicability of web ecosystems extends further than this domain. Consider the story of Malcolm McLean, a truck driver in the 1950s. After seeing the need for greater coordination between different groups working in shipping, McLean developed a standardized shipping container and made the standards available industry-wide. By encouraging port authorities, shippers, and crane companies to invest in new equipment and practices to support this standard, McLean, much like Microsoft, was able to speed up adoption and quickly reshape the global industry.

????We expect these web ecosystems to become more prevalent in the future. Big Data, for example, may become fertile ground for new web ecosystems. As certain companies accumulate richer and more detailed profiles of customer behavior, these bits of data can be used to create a "platform" that participants can use to develop innovative products and services. Government 2.0 projects, which make available data accumulated by various government agencies, represent another promising web ecosystem.

????Web ecosystems have meaningful implications for many industries today. For starters, we would single out health care, financial services, media, and the energy industries ripe for disruption. But let's not stop there. Is your industry ripe for change at this scale? What would a web ecosystem need to look like in your field? Like stumbling across an ornate and resilient spider web, the results might surprise you.