Infrastructuring of Digital Platforms

Abstract

Digital platforms expand into multiple adjoining business domains for revenue maximization purposes. Governments also use digital platforms for public welfare in multiple interrelated sectors. Such horizontal growth transforms digital platforms as digital infrastructure which consequently increases its e-adoption. This research determines combinations of platform attributes which drive the infrastructuring of digital platforms. Results of this research will enable platform mangers to, a priori, embed such attributes in platform architecture to achieve platform objectives. Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) research methodology followed by a descriptive cross-analysis has been used in this research. Five key result sets emerge, which, inter alia, indicate that criticality, ubiquity, and generativity are key attributes driving the infrastructuring of digital platforms, unlike earlier research results showing modularity and heterogeneity as key attributes. fsQCA research method with a set theory approach is more suitable for such configurational analysis compared to multivariate techniques.