A Process Perspective on Platform Design and Management: Evidence from a Digital Platform in Health Care

Daniel Fürstenau, Carolin Auschra*, Stefan Klein, Martin Gersch

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Multi-sided platforms have become the hallmark of the digital economy. However, their impact varies profoundly across different markets. We have done a longitudinal case study on HSPC, a platform jointly provided by a consortium led by multiple U.S. health care providers. Our focus is on the development processes of the platform over a period of five years and the underlying management decisions and design choices. We have developed a platform management framework to capture and reconstruct the influence and interdependencies of choices over time. The case highlights distinct strategic choices aiming at scaling of the platform and competitive positioning at an early stage of platform evolution. Our findings show four main conflicts regarding the implementation and scaling of the platform and its services as well as the processual interplay and interdependencies between different management areas. The paper thereby contributes to a process view on platform management and offers an understanding of specifics of platform evolution in health care.
Original languageEnglish
JournalElectronic Markets
Volume29
Issue number4
Pages (from-to)581-596
Number of pages16
ISSN1019-6781
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2019
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Digital health platforms
  • Platform governance
  • Process perspective
  • Standardization
  • Technical architecture

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