Dynamics of individual actors’ self, social, and task pre-dispositions in multi-actor service ecosystems

Actors increasingly engage in service ecosystems where multiple other actors can be present and influence value co-creation. Comprehending such contexts has gained importance in research, but remains an emerging field of study due to the complexity of such multi-actor encounters. To unpack this complexity, we add to extant research and establish novel actor engagement foundations to explicate value co-creation in multi-actor service ecosystems. Our research informs on value co-creation at a meta-theoretical level utilizing the explanatory power of mid-range theory. We suggest that actor pre-disposition (propensity to engage) differs from actor disposition (readiness to engage) outlined in more recent engagement literature. To achieve this, we apply a longitudinal study design and use an established, yet in business research largely neglected, measurement from organizational psychology. This paper uncovers a novel dynamic perspective on these pre-dispositions prior to and during resource investment throughout focal multi-actor engagement activities.