In a groundbreaking advancement for sustainable operations management, a newly developed conceptual model, known as the Transformative Service Ecosystem for Sustainable Operations Management (TSESOM), has been introduced to reshape the management of sustainability initiatives within botanic garden communities across the globe. This innovative framework, recently published in the distinguished journal Biological Diversity, addresses critical shortcomings in prevailing models by embedding deeper ecosystemic and interdisciplinary thinking to foster regenerative and co-creative collaborations. The implications stretch far beyond traditional organizational efficiency, aiming to harmonize human activity, biodiversity, and environmental stewardship in a cohesive operational matrix.
Sustainable operations management (SOM) has traditionally concentrated on optimizing internal processes and resource allocation within organizations. However, the escalating complexity of ecological challenges demands a systemic shift towards viewing operations as part of broader, interconnected service ecosystems. TSESOM redefines SOM by situating it within dynamic service ecosystems marked by an interplay of diverse stakeholders, natural systems, and governance structures, thereby adopting a holistic approach grounded in philosophical and contextual foundations spanning macro, meso, and micro levels.
The development of TSESOM was guided by a rigorous integrative literature review adhering to PRISMA protocols, ensuring a comprehensive synthesis of existing knowledge. Through meticulous searches conducted in Scopus and Web of Science databases, the study filtered relevant peer-reviewed articles, culminating in a dataset of 54 high-quality scholarly works. Employing NVivo qualitative analysis, key themes and conceptual gaps were extracted, highlighting foundational inadequacies such as insufficient integration of biodiversity science, systems thinking, and the principles outlined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria.
One of the most significant revelations from this scholarly investigation is the systemic oversight in current SOM paradigms, which largely prioritize quantitative efficiency metrics at the expense of qualitative ecosystemic interactions. The dominant models lack the capacity to address the co-evolutionary nature of human and ecological systems, resulting in fragmented efforts that fail to catalyze transformative sustainability outcomes. TSESOM confronts this limitation by explicitly embedding regenerative goals and embracing a service-dominant logic that stresses value co-creation among multiple actors.
At the core of the TSESOM framework are six interrelated components functioning as dynamic feedback loops rather than linear stages. These include partnership mapping, which identifies and mobilizes diverse expertise across disciplines and sectors; mechanisms for integration that foster collaborative innovation; resilience strategies that enhance the ecosystem’s capacity to absorb shocks; leadership and governance models that support adaptive decision-making; and continuous evaluation and learning processes that drive ongoing improvement. Collectively, these components enable a shift from siloed, efficiency-focused operations towards a vibrant, interdependent ecosystemic model.
Botanic gardens and garden tourism serve as exemplary contexts to apply and test the versatility of TSESOM. These sites operate at the interface of conservation science, public engagement, and sustainable economic activity, making them ideal microcosms for exploring regenerative SOM strategies. The model facilitates pioneering approaches in biodiversity preservation, promotes community health and well-being, and supports sustainable visitor economies through enriching educational and recreational experiences. Examples include leveraging big data analytics to optimize biodiversity outcomes and integrating sustainable tourism frameworks that align with global environmental goals.
The practical applicability of TSESOM is further substantiated by dual implementation pathways focusing on big data utilization and tourism development. In the realm of big data, the framework harnesses advanced analytics to monitor ecosystem health, visitor impacts, and operational efficiencies, thereby enabling evidence-based decision-making. Within tourism, the model encourages co-created service experiences that foreground sustainability, fostering a visitor economy that respects and enhances ecological integrity while generating socio-economic benefits.
Beyond its immediate operational scope, TSESOM represents a pivotal step forward in bridging the longstanding gap between theoretical sustainability constructs and tangible, scalable practices. Its interdisciplinary orientation calls for collaboration among ecologists, business scholars, policymakers, and community stakeholders, making it a robust platform for transformative service research. By foregrounding systemic innovation, TSESOM supports planetary health imperatives and contributes meaningfully to sustainability transitions on local, regional, and global scales.
Future research trajectories emerging from this work highlight the necessity of empirical validation and longitudinal studies to track the model’s impact over time. Scholars are also encouraged to investigate the risks associated with value co-destruction—a phenomenon occurring when multi-stakeholder collaborations inadvertently produce negative outcomes—and to design safeguards to mitigate these challenges. Such explorations will be vital for refining TSESOM’s theoretical robustness and operational effectiveness.
Nicholas Catahan, the principal author and a senior lecturer at Edge Hill University Business School, brings a multifaceted expertise spanning business management, ecology, tourism, and environmental science. His integrative approach advances the discourse on responsible and mindful tourism, emphasizing the coalescence of academic insight and practical application. Through TSESOM, Catahan envisions not only greener operations but also more inclusive, equitable, and knowledgeable communities actively engaged in sustainable place-making.
Biological Diversity, the journal publishing this seminal study, stands at the forefront of biodiversity conservation scholarship. Sponsored by the South China Botanical Garden under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and in partnership with John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd., it fosters the cross-pollination of ideas across botany, ecology, socioeconomics, and policy research. This platform is uniquely positioned to amplify transformative models such as TSESOM that address complex environmental challenges through interdisciplinary lenses.
The emergence of TSESOM marks a significant paradigm shift in sustainable operations management. Its emphasis on co-creative ecosystems resonates with urgent global calls for integrated action to achieve the UN SDGs and operationalize ESG frameworks effectively. By realigning operational strategies with ecological and social dimensions, TSESOM exemplifies how applied research can catalyze systemic change in managing people, plants, places, and planetary prosperity.
In conclusion, the introduction of the TSESOM framework heralds a promising pathway toward regenerative and transformative sustainability practices. It challenges existing operational orthodoxy and invites a reimagining of service management that is attuned to the complexities of living systems and human-nature interdependencies. As botanic gardens and similar institutions adopt and adapt this model, the potential to foster resilient, adaptive, and thriving ecosystems becomes not just an aspiration but a practicable reality.
Subject of Research: Not applicable
Article Title: Transformative Service Ecosystems for People, Plants, Place, Planet, and Prosperity: A Sustainable Operations Management Perspective
News Publication Date: 10-Jun-2026
References: Catahan, Nicholas. 2026. “Transformative Service Ecosystems for People, Plants, Place, Planet, and Prosperity: A Sustainable Operations Management Perspective,” Biological Diversity: 1–14.
Image Credits: Nicholas Catahan
Keywords: biodiversity conservation, botanic gardens, co-creation/co-creative innovation, Service-Dominant Logic (SDL), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Sustainable Operations Management (SOM), Transformative Service Ecosystem for Sustainable Operations Management (TSESOM), Transformative Service Research (TSR)
