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Platform Strategy

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The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Strategic Management

Abstract

This article summarizes the platform strategy literature and is organized around launch strategies, governance and competition. A platform strategy is the mobilization of a networked business platform to expand into and operate in a given market. A business platform, in turn, is a nexus of rules and infrastructure that facilitate interactions among network users. Platforms provide building blocks that serve as the foundation for complementary products and services. They also match buyers with suppliers, who transact directly with each other using system resources and are generally subject to network effects.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Geoffrey Parker

  2. Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

    Marshall Van Alstyne

Authors
  1. Geoffrey Parker
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  2. Marshall Van Alstyne
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Geoffrey Parker .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. GSBPP, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA, USA

    Mie Augier

  2. Berkeley Research Group, LLC, Emeryville, CA, USA

    David J. Teece

  3. Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA

    David J. Teece

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© 2018 The Author(s)

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Parker, G., Van Alstyne, M. (2018). Platform Strategy. In: Augier, M., Teece, D.J. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Strategic Management. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-00772-8_435

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