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In a recent episode of the Ecosystem Aces podcast, Simon Ninan, VP and Head of Strategy & Growth for the Digital Infrastructure Business at Hitachi Vantara, delved into the critical role of ecosystems in driving business success. With over five years at Hitachi and a position on the corporate strategy team of the $80 billion Hitachi conglomerate, Ninan shared invaluable insights on the company’s strategic approach and the importance of ecosystems.
The Dual Role and Strategic Vision
Ninan’s responsibilities at Hitachi Vantara are twofold: shaping the strategy for the Digital Infrastructure Business and ensuring its execution across the organization. His role extends beyond Hitachi Vantara to the broader Hitachi corporate strategy, which encompasses over 900 subsidiaries. This vast network requires a cohesive strategy that is not only visionary but also highly executable.
Building, Buying, and Partnering
A significant part of Hitachi’s strategy involves making critical decisions about building, buying, or partnering to achieve business goals. Ninan emphasized the necessity of a thriving ecosystem, recognizing that no single company can achieve everything in isolation. This realization marks a shift from the traditional “we’ll do it ourselves” mentality to a more collaborative approach.
Internal and External Ecosystems
Ninan highlighted the importance of starting with internal value before extending efforts to external ecosystems. By fostering a collaborative culture within Hitachi and aligning incentives towards quality rather than quantity, the company can drive meaningful change. This internal focus ensures that strategies are not just theoretical but actionable, resonating with employees on the ground.
The Role of Culture and Collaboration
Changing the culture of a 110-year-old company like Hitachi is no small feat. Ninan discussed how the company has embraced a more ecosystem-oriented mindset, particularly in areas like Hitachi Energy and data centers. By co-creating solutions with partners, Hitachi addresses real-world problems more effectively.
Real-World Applications and Advice
Drawing from his experience with large digital transformation projects at Deloitte, Ninan underscored the importance of practical, executable strategies. He cautioned against purely theoretical approaches, advocating for strategies that resonate with the energy and passion of employees in the field.
Ninan’s advice for businesses looking to build strong ecosystems is to focus on relationships. Rather than viewing partnerships as merely transactional, he encourages making them personal. This shift in perspective fosters deeper, more collaborative relationships that can drive long-term success.
Conclusion
Simon Ninan’s insights on the Ecosystem Aces podcast provide a compelling look at how Hitachi Vantara leverages ecosystems to drive strategy and execution. By fostering a collaborative culture, aligning incentives, and focusing on practical, actionable strategies, Hitachi Vantara exemplifies the power of ecosystems in modern business.
Chip is passionate about building strong communities and ecosystems around enterprises to build excitement for the category, deliver value for customers, and grow the business. Prior to WorkSpan, Chip was with SAP for over 13 years, most recently growing the SAP Community Network to over 2 million engaged customers, partners, and developers. He has an MBA from the University of Chicago and an engineering degree from Northwestern.
