Raf Cammarano is an Enterprise Architect based in Australia whose blog covers the nexus of I.T. strategy and design. While I’ll grant it may be a tough read for non-geeks, he’s written a wonderful series on Business Ecosystems which outlines how old, linear supply chains are being supplanted by more complex ecosystems of interdependent and inter-related resources.

A linear supply chain is relatively easy to manage… Business ecosystems, on the other hand, have a complex array of relationships and each relationship has to be managed. This can’t be done without the help of technology.

What strikes me as interesting is that marketers hoping to tap new consumer demands will increasingly need to rely upon a new way of thinking. One that emphasizes relationships over process flow. And none of this will be possible without advisors able to translate complex technology into every day terms.