Towards a platform age

: strategies for openness and quality control in digital platforms

Abstract

Digital platforms and the underlying platform business models have become increasingly important for business and innovation in the past years. The world9s most valuable companies (e.g., Apple, Meta, Google and Amazon) are primarily digital platforms facilitating interactions and transactions among various user groups. While comprehensive research exists on platform strategies and their impact, the balance between platform openness and control to leverage network effects remeins an underexplored. This study utilizes a qualitative research approach including 11 expert interviews to analyze the effects of platform openness and control. The research finds key strategies for platforms to manage the tension between openness and control. The key themes that emerged from the analysis relate to leveraging platform architecture through APIs, aligning openness with business models, implementing adaptive competitive strategies, enforcing quality assurance policies, optimizing network effects, pursuing innovative monetization approaches, and managing strategic risks. The study provides valuable insights into the strategic decisions that digital platforms must make to balance openness and control. Furthermore, it provides a strategic framework for managing openness in digital platforms, significantly contributing to the existing literature.

Date of Award	5 Jul 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Régis Coeurderoy (Supervisor)