The DOI matches its Crossref record; 3 of the 3 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
The Architecture of Platforms: A Unified View
Open accessAbstract
The central role of "platform" products and services in mediating the activities of disaggregated "clusters" or "ecosystems" of firms has been widely recognized. But platforms and the systems in which they are embedded are very diverse. In particular, platforms may exist within firms as product lines, across firms as multi-product systems, and in the form of multi-sided markets. In this paper we argue that there is a fundamental unity in the architecture of platforms. Platform architectures are modularizations of complex systems in which certain components (the platform itself) remain stable, while others (the complements) are encouraged to vary in crosssection or over time. Among the most stable elements in a platform architecture are the modular interfaces that mediate between the platform and its complements. These interfaces are even more stable than the interior core of the platform, thus control over the interfaces amounts to control over the platform and its evolution. We describe three ways of representing platform architectures: network graphs, design structure matrices and layer maps. We conclude by addressing a number of fundamental strategic questions suggested by a unified view of platforms.
Overview
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Citations
Cites
Teece, D. J. (1986) · Research Policy · doi:10.1016/0048-7333(86)90027-2 · Cited by 7,842
Technological paradigms and technological trajectories
Dosi, G. (1982) · Research Policy · doi:10.1016/0048-7333(82)90016-6 · Cited by 6,685
Platform Competition in Two-Sided Markets
Rochet, J.-C., & Tirole, J. (2003) · Journal of the European Economic Association · doi:10.1162/154247603322493212 · Cited by 5,642
Cited by
Industry Platforms and Ecosystem Innovation
Gawer, A., & Cusumano, M. A. (2014) · Journal of Product Innovation Management · doi:10.1111/jpim.12105 · Cited by 2,394
Bridging differing perspectives on technological platforms: Toward an integrative framework
Gawer, A. (2014) · Research Policy · doi:10.1016/j.respol.2014.03.006 · Cited by 1,869
The Digital Platform: A Research Agenda
de Reuver, M., Sørensen, C., & Basole, R. C. (2018) · Journal of Information Technology · doi:10.1057/s41265-016-0033-3 · Cited by 1,681
Infrastructure studies meet platform studies in the age of Google and Facebook
Plantin, J.-C., Lagoze, C., Edwards, P. N., & Sandvig, C. (2018) · New Media & Society · doi:10.1177/1461444816661553 · Cited by 1,663
Digital innovation and transformation: An institutional perspective
Hinings, B., Gegenhuber, T., & Greenwood, R. (2018) · Information and Organization · doi:10.1016/j.infoandorg.2018.02.004 · Cited by 1,537
Tiwana, A., Konsynski, B., & Bush, A. A. (2010) · Information Systems Research · doi:10.1287/isre.1100.0323 · Cited by 1,514
Networks, platforms, and strategy: Emerging views and next steps
McIntyre, D. P., & Srinivasan, A. (2017) · Strategic Management Journal · doi:10.1002/smj.2596 · Cited by 1,109
Introduction—Platforms and Infrastructures in the Digital Age
Constantinides, P., Henfridsson, O., & Parker, G. G. (2018) · Information Systems Research · doi:10.1287/isre.2018.0794 · Cited by 943
Hein, A., Schreieck, M., Riasanow, T., Setzke, D. S., Wiesche, M., Böhm, M., & Krcmar, H. (2020) · Electronic Markets · doi:10.1007/s12525-019-00377-4 · Cited by 945
Technology Ecosystem Governance
Wareham, J., Fox, P. B., & Cano Giner, J. L. (2014) · Organization Science · doi:10.1287/orsc.2014.0895 · Cited by 931
The Ambivalent Ontology of Digital Artifacts1
Kallinikos, J., Aaltonen, A., & Marton, A. (2013) · MIS Quarterly · doi:10.25300/misq/2013/37.2.02 · Cited by 780
Boudreau, K. J. (2012) · Organization Science · doi:10.1287/orsc.1110.0678 · Cited by 676
The Internet-of-Things: Review and research directions
Ng, I. C. L., & Wakenshaw, S. Y. L. (2017) · International Journal of Research in Marketing · doi:10.1016/j.ijresmar.2016.11.003 · Cited by 621
Collaborative Platforms as a Governance Strategy
Ansell, C., & Gash, A. (2018) · Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory · doi:10.1093/jopart/mux030 · Cited by 604
Innovation, Openness, and Platform Control
Parker, G., & Van Alstyne, M. (2018) · Management Science · doi:10.1287/mnsc.2017.2757 · Cited by 549
Digital platforms for development: Foundations and research agenda
Bonina, C., Koskinen, K., Eaton, B., & Gawer, A. (2021) · Information Systems Journal · doi:10.1111/isj.12326 · Cited by 512
Evaluative infrastructures: Accounting for platform organization
Kornberger, M., Pflueger, D., & Mouritsen, J. (2017) · Accounting Organizations and Society · doi:10.1016/j.aos.2017.05.002 · Cited by 349
Chen, L., Tong, T. W., Tang, S., & Han, N. (2022) · Journal of Management · doi:10.1177/01492063211045023 · Cited by 345
Entrepreneurship in digital platforms: Anetwork‐centric view
Srinivasan, A., & Venkatraman, N. (2018) · Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal · doi:10.1002/sej.1272 · Cited by 331
Zachariadis, M., Hileman, G., & Scott, S. V. (2019) · Information and Organization · doi:10.1016/j.infoandorg.2019.03.001 · Cited by 324
Karhu, K., Gustafsson, R., & Lyytinen, K. (2018) · Information Systems Research · doi:10.1287/isre.2018.0786 · Cited by 286
Song, P., Xue, L., Rai, A., & Zhang, C. (2018) · MIS Quarterly · doi:10.25300/misq/2018/13737 · Cited by 273
Platform Architecture and Quality Trade-offs of Multihoming Complements
Cennamo, C., Ozalp, H., & Kretschmer, T. (2018) · Information Systems Research · doi:10.1287/isre.2018.0779 · Cited by 273
The Rise of Platform Ecosystems
Tiwana, A. (2014) · Platform Ecosystems · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-408066-9.00001-1 · Cited by 264
Liminal movement by digital platform‐based sharing economy ventures: The case of Uber Technologies
Garud, R., Kumaraswamy, A., Roberts, A., & Xu, L. (2022) · Strategic Management Journal · doi:10.1002/smj.3148 · Cited by 274
Disruption in Platform‐Based Ecosystems
Ozalp, H., Cennamo, C., & Gawer, A. (2018) · Journal of Management Studies · doi:10.1111/joms.12351 · Cited by 223
Jacobides, M. G., Cennamo, C., & Gawer, A. (2024) · Research Policy · doi:10.1016/j.respol.2023.104906 · Cited by 220
Akbar, Y. H., & Tracogna, A. (2018) · International Journal of Hospitality Management · doi:10.1016/j.ijhm.2017.12.004 · Cited by 213
Computing the everyday: Social media as data platforms
Alaimo, C., & Kallinikos, J. (2017) · The Information Society · doi:10.1080/01972243.2017.1318327 · Cited by 205
Configurations of platform organizations: Implications for complementor engagement
Saadatmand, F., Lindgren, R., & Schultze, U. (2019) · Research Policy · doi:10.1016/j.respol.2019.03.015 · Cited by 190
Chen, L., Yi, J., Li, S., & Tong, T. W. (2022) · Journal of Management · doi:10.1177/0149206320988337 · Cited by 177
Building the Value of Next-Generation Platforms: The Paradox of Diminishing Returns
Cennamo, C. (2018) · Journal of Management · doi:10.1177/0149206316658350 · Cited by 173
From product system to ecosystem: How firms adapt to provide an integrated value proposition
Stonig, J., Schmid, T., & Müller‐Stewens, G. (2022) · Strategic Management Journal · doi:10.1002/smj.3390 · Cited by 150
Foerderer, J., Kude, T., Schuetz, S. W., & Heinzl, A. (2019) · Information Systems Journal · doi:10.1111/isj.12186 · Cited by 126
Complementor competitive advantage: A framework for strategic decisions
Cenamor, J. (2021) · Journal of Business Research · doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.09.016 · Cited by 116
Frattini, F., Bianchi, M., De Massis, A., & Sikimic, U. (2014) · Journal of Product Innovation Management · doi:10.1111/jpim.12108 · Cited by 105
Agarwal, S., & Kapoor, R. (2023) · Organization Science · doi:10.1287/orsc.2022.1615 · Cited by 105
Digital Platforms in the Global South: Foundations and Research Agenda
Koskinen, K., Bonina, C., & Eaton, B. (2019) · IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-18400-1_26 · Cited by 76
Hilbolling, S., Berends, H., Deken, F., & Tuertscher, P. (2021) · Journal of Product Innovation Management · doi:10.1111/jpim.12555 · Cited by 71
Brunswicker, S., Almirall, E., & Majchrzak, A. (2019) · MIS Quarterly · doi:10.25300/misq/2019/13561 · Cited by 59
“Understanding the impact of technology on firms' business models”
André Cavalcante, S. (2013) · European Journal of Innovation Management · doi:10.1108/ejim-10-2011-0085 · Cited by 52
Taxonomy of digital community currency platforms
Diniz, E. H., Siqueira, E. S., & van Heck, E. (2019) · Information Technology for Development · doi:10.1080/02681102.2018.1485005 · Cited by 47
Vertical and horizontal complementarities in platform ecosystems
Thomas, L. D. W., Ritala, P., Karhu, K., & Heiskala, M. (2025) · Innovation · doi:10.1080/14479338.2024.2303593 · Cited by 34
Platform Compatibility and Developer Multihoming: A Trade-off Perspective
Tian, J., Zhao, X., & Xue, L. (2022) · MIS Quarterly · doi:10.25300/misq/2022/16369 · Cited by 26
Guerreiro Augusto, M., Acar, B., Soto, A. C., Sivrikaya, F., & Albayrak, S. (2024) · Autonomous Intelligent Systems · doi:10.1007/s43684-023-00059-1 · Cited by 15
Metadata
- Authors
- Baldwin, C. Y., & Woodard, C. J.
- Venue
- Platforms, Markets and Innovation
- Publisher
- Edward Elgar Publishing
- Published
- 2009-12-28
- OpenAlex
- W3124511088
- Cited by
- 800
- References
- 3
- FWCI
- 45.42
- Type
- book chapter
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
Data sources
Bibliographic data: Semantic Scholar, OpenAlex, Crossref.
Contains information from the Semantic Scholar Academic Graph Datasets, made available under the ODC Attribution License (ODC-BY 1.0).
Semantic Scholar’s data is described in: Kinney, R., et al. (2023). The Semantic Scholar Open Data Platform. arXiv:2301.10140.