A Systematic Literature Review for the Derivation of a Conceptual Design Framework for Platforms

Abstract

Business ecosystems and platforms are an omnipresent phenomenon in the current economic environment. In the course of this, market and competitive structures are undergoing a profound reinterpretation. While traditional industry structures rely on value creation within the boundaries of a company, platforms utilize an ecosystem of autonomous agents to create value. Thus, the platform and different stakeholders interact in order to incubate and coordinate an ecosystem. Shared, flexible value creation instead of a monolithic, rigid value chain, arranged to become the industry-defining premise. Platforms are the main reference point of value creation and delivery in many currently successful business models. Within different research contributions, the study of their characteristics diverge significantly. Within the framework of a design science research approach and through a systematic literature review combined with the realization of a taxonomic analysis of the term “platform” this contribution develops a systematization of the research area. This contribution develops a morphology of the conceptual design components “architecture, strategy and governance” and derives connected dimensions and characteristics in order to provide an ontology of design for companies and a unified understanding for further research initiatives. In addition, further necessary research approaches are identified as limitations.