Talking about Platforms
Daniel Trabucchi, Tommaso Buganza and Philip Meier
We bring the latest discoveries from the field platform research right into your preferred podcasting app.
Digital platforms are omnipresent in almost all of our daily activities – from booking a fitness class to sending or watching a video clip, going through calling a cab, and ordering a pizza…even listening to this podcast – are mediated by multi-sided platforms.
Talking About Platforms is the place where we discover and try to make sense of the underlying mechanisms that have enabled and facilitated the rise of the platforms. We enter a critical discussion on what they can become for people, companies, and our society.
In every episode we welcome a platform scholar who will share with us one of his/her latest pieces of research, making it accessible to everyone and chatting with us on what platforms are and where they may go in the future.
Digital platforms are omnipresent in almost all of our daily activities – from booking a fitness class to sending or watching a video clip, going through calling a cab, and ordering a pizza…even listening to this podcast – are mediated by multi-sided platforms.
Talking About Platforms is the place where we discover and try to make sense of the underlying mechanisms that have enabled and facilitated the rise of the platforms. We enter a critical discussion on what they can become for people, companies, and our society.
In every episode we welcome a platform scholar who will share with us one of his/her latest pieces of research, making it accessible to everyone and chatting with us on what platforms are and where they may go in the future.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 19, 2025 • 39min
Industrial and B2B Platforms with Marin Jovanovic
Marin Jovanovic, an Associate Professor at Copenhagen Business School and expert in industrial transformation, shares insights on the evolution of B2B platforms. He delves into how these platforms differ from B2C ones, emphasizing data governance, network effects, and transaction complexity. The discussion highlights the significance of AI in healthcare, particularly in medical technology, and explores the shift from centralized to decentralized governance structures enabled by blockchain. Jovanovic also stresses the importance of collaboration and modularity for value creation in multi-firm ecosystems.
25 snips
Mar 14, 2025 • 20min
Platform Classics: Organizing for innovation in the digitized world
This discussion dives into the enduring insights of a landmark paper on digital transformation. It highlights the balance needed between control and creativity in tech ecosystems, drawing on examples from giants like Apple and Google. The shift towards collaborative knowledge work is examined, emphasizing the impact of interconnected devices on workplace dynamics. Key traits for fostering innovation and ethical considerations in digital technology are explored, urging leaders to promote inclusivity and agile cultures in an ever-evolving landscape.
Mar 12, 2025 • 46min
Social Media and Behavioural Impacts with Pinar Yildirim
Pinar Yildirim, an Associate Professor of Marketing and Economics at the University of Pennsylvania, explores intriguing topics surrounding social media's evolution and its societal impacts. She discusses how platforms like Twitter transforming into X affects content moderation and user engagement. The conversation dives into the creation of echo chambers in social networks and the challenges of user retention for platforms such as Facebook and TikTok. Pinar also highlights the delicate balance between freedom of expression and user safety in today's digital landscape.
14 snips
Mar 7, 2025 • 14min
Platform Classics: Platform Envelopment
Platforms act as crucial intermediaries that thrive on network effects, often leading to winner-take-all scenarios. The rise of streaming media exemplifies this, showcasing RealNetworks' initial edge and Microsoft's competitive maneuvers. Envelopment strategies allow companies like Apple and Blockbuster to enhance their market positions through savvy bundling and pricing tactics. Furthermore, companies must adopt defensive strategies against envelopment attacks, balancing collaboration and competition to innovate effectively.
Mar 5, 2025 • 49min
Crypto Economics and Open Source Platforms with Mariia Petryk
Mariia Petryk, an Assistant Professor at George Mason University, dives into the realm of blockchain economics and decentralized platforms. She discusses her journey into blockchain research and the anti-centralization ethos driving the movement. Key topics include the evolution of blockchain applications beyond Bitcoin and the interplay between open source communities and traditional business models. Mariia highlights challenges in navigating decentralized technologies and their impact on user trust and governance, making a complex subject accessible and engaging.
Feb 28, 2025 • 17min
Platform Classics: A Price Theory of Multi-Sided Platforms
Delve into the groundbreaking theories behind multi-sided platforms and their unique pricing strategies. Discover how user heterogeneity impacts platform dynamics and network effects. Learn about intricate pricing concepts like insulating tariffs and Ramsey pricing, and their regulatory implications. The podcast also tackles the complexities of mergers in platform markets and critiques traditional economic models, urging a fresh perspective on platform economies. It's a fascinating journey through the challenges and intricacies of modern marketplace dynamics!
9 snips
Feb 26, 2025 • 49min
Data, Organizations, and Platforms with Cristina Alaimo
Cristina Alaimo, an Associate Professor at ESSEC Business School and co-author of "Data Rules: Reinventing the Market Economy," dives into the evolving landscape of data-driven platforms. She discusses how platforms transform traditional business structures by embracing diverse participation and emphasizes the engineering of data rather than merely collecting it. The conversation highlights the importance of privacy in the data economy, the regulatory dynamics affecting platforms, and the cognitive revolution steering organizational innovation in a data-centric world.
Feb 21, 2025 • 14min
Platform Classics: Value Creation in Innovation Ecosystems
Discover how innovation ecosystems function like biological systems, emphasizing the interconnectivity of firms, suppliers, and customers. Dive into the complexities of the semiconductor lithography industry and how component innovations drive competitive advantages. Explore the evolving dynamics of vertical integration as technology matures and learn how successful navigation of innovation ecosystems requires collaboration, early mover advantages, and a keen understanding of industry interdependencies.
8 snips
Feb 19, 2025 • 39min
Algorithmic Management with Lindsey Cameron
Lindsey D. Cameron, Assistant Professor at Wharton and a Berkman Klein Center faculty affiliate, sheds light on algorithmic management and platform economies. She reveals how platforms often mask exploitation through declining wages and safety issues. Lindsey explores the sharing economy's narrative twist and discusses the control mechanisms of labor platforms. She emphasizes the necessity for transparency and accountability in platform work, especially concerning its implications in the Global South, fostering a more equitable future for gig workers.
7 snips
Feb 14, 2025 • 16min
Platform Classics: Industry Platforms and Ecosystem Innovation
Explore the distinction between internal and external platforms and their impact on industry dynamics. Learn about the strategic balance platform owners face in controlling technology while enabling external innovation. Discover IBM's shift to open systems as a blueprint for resilience against disruption, contrasted with the rivalries of JVC and Sony. Delve into future trends, including the influence of AI and data on personalized experiences, alongside the challenges of decentralized platforms and ethical data governance.
