Organizations must develop an IT infrastructure that can respond to changes on a real-time basis and effectively compete in the market. An ecosystem that can link performance of IT system with business goals is essential. This article discusses a holistic approach to develop a digital ecosystem that can provide end-to-end solution integrating legacy and latest technologies. A three-step process is explained for developing a successful digital ecosystem. The article also covers success stories of well-aligned companies.

The Internet has changed the way businesses function. To put it appropriately, Internet has transformed the physical value chain to digital value chain by enabling previously tangible activities to digital virtual activities. It has enabled business to develop deeper relationship with customers, keep track of their changing needs and cope efficiently with such changes. The Web has enabled linkage of information systems of various interacting parties in a business, thereby reducing the time to react to the changes in the market. The concept of `business on Web' is to provide a two-way interaction with customers or suppliers. The Web-enabled collaborative business gives quicker market response and market awareness, thus enabling business to react faster to market requirements and needs. For instance, customers can order or post queries through web site facilitating supplier's organization to respond. This integrated virtual environment of business saves time, increases transparency and reduces mistakes. A perfect Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Consumer (B2C) approach termed as `digital ecosystem' is needed to support e-business.

Today for a customer, products and services are just a mouse click away. Organizations should develop and maintain a strategic tool to support customers online. Digital ecosystem is one of the strategic tools that can enable organizations to align the output of IT systems with business goals. Perfectly built ecosystem will constitute a well-aligned organization

Competitive advantage of Indian IT : Where India still holds the edge, India made its mark, IT outsourcing destination, many companies in North America and Europe, enormous talent pool, attracted many global corporations, Indian expertise, soothsayers predict, China will overtake India, India enjoys, cliché Engineering talent, Indian competitive advantage, focuses on China as reference, disadvantages plaguing China