Higher-Order System

Simon Wardley, “Open source as weapon”, Bits or Pieces (2015)

In Wardley Mapping, a higher-order system is an emergent structure or value-creating capability enabled by the commoditization and ubiquity of underlying components in the value chain. When lower-level components become cheap and ubiquitous, they allow entirely new systems to emerge on top of them. Identifying and anticipating these higher-order systems is central to strategic advantage and navigating cycles of change in business ecosystems.