A managed ecosystem approach to addressing and managing extreme threats in organizational contexts

Purpose Given the growing impact of extreme threats in today’s business environment, this study aims to introduce a novel approach to understanding them through the managed ecosystem perspective. Design/methodology/approach This study applies the managed ecosystem perspective to analyze extreme threats – such as cyberattacks, terrorism and geopolitical conflicts – highlighting how these threats function as structured and coordinated networks of interdependent actors, resources and activities. Findings Extreme threats often originate from ecosystem-based interactions, and understanding the nature of these threats is critical for organizations to enhance threat assessment and response. The contributions of this research include emphasizing the role of the ecosystem’s value proposition as a threat attractor, highlighting the mechanisms that allow extreme threats to emerge and persist and offering insights into how organizations can better assess and respond to these threats. Research limitations/implications The findings suggest that future research should further explore the ecosystem dynamics of extreme threats, particularly how their emergence and persistence shape organizational response strategies. Social implications Viewing extreme threats as managed ecosystems underscores the importance of coordinated efforts across various stakeholders, which can lead to more effective societal responses to threat assessment and response. Originality/value This paper departs from existing research that focuses on traditional risk models by arguing that extreme threats are not simply higher-intensity versions of standard threats but instead function as managed ecosystems. To understand their nature, this paper applies the managed ecosystem perspective, offering valuable insights for enhancing threat assessment and response in an increasingly complex and uncertain world.