Prof. Annabelle Gawer

London, England, United Kingdom Contact Info
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A leading expert on digital platforms & ecosystems strategy + the digital economy. Highly…

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Experience & Education

  • University of Surrey

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Publications

  • Digital Platforms and Ecosystems: Remarks on the Dominant Organizational Forms of the Digital Age

    Innovation: Organization & Management / Francis & Taylor

    What are the principal consequences on organization and manage- ment of the ongoing Digital Revolution? This essay examines how value can be created and captured in fundamentally new ways thanks to digital innovation. I propose that digital platform firms and their ecosystems are the emblematic organizational form of the digital age. I present the main implications of the rise of digital platforms and ecosystems on competition and innovation. The paradox of digital platforms in their current…

    What are the principal consequences on organization and manage- ment of the ongoing Digital Revolution? This essay examines how value can be created and captured in fundamentally new ways thanks to digital innovation. I propose that digital platform firms and their ecosystems are the emblematic organizational form of the digital age. I present the main implications of the rise of digital platforms and ecosystems on competition and innovation. The paradox of digital platforms in their current organizational form is that while distributed patterns of value creation characterize the circumstances that allowed them to emerge, the business models they have adopted have led to a centralized modality of value capture. This has given rise to salient instances of digital platform firms’ abuse of economic power over their ecosystem members and to widespread concerns on digital platforms firms’ abuse of power on other dimensions, including privacy and labour relations. In my conclusion, I highlight the importance of future research on eco- systems’ governance and call for a careful examination of a platform firms’ responsibilities in society.

    See publication

  • Digital platforms’ boundaries: The interplay of firm scope, platform sides, and digital interfaces

    Long Range Planning

    This article explores what factors drive digital platform firms to set or modify their boundaries. Building on economics, strategic management, and information systems research, I suggest that digital platforms make strategic decisions over three distinct types of interrelated boundaries: (1) the scope of the platform firm (what assets are owned, what labor is employed, and what activities are performed by the firm), (2) the configuration and composition of the platform's sides (which distinct…

    This article explores what factors drive digital platform firms to set or modify their boundaries. Building on economics, strategic management, and information systems research, I suggest that digital platforms make strategic decisions over three distinct types of interrelated boundaries: (1) the scope of the platform firm (what assets are owned, what labor is employed, and what activities are performed by the firm), (2) the configuration and composition of the platform's sides (which distinct groups of customers have access to the platform), and (3) the digital interfaces (that specify the 2-way exchange of data between the platform firm and each of its sides). In this article, I explore the interdependence between these seemingly separate decisions and the role of some important moderating variables. These moderators include whether the platform is a transaction or an innovation platform, and the extent to which the platform has developed from its initial formation stage. My work explains why we see so much variation in boundaries across platforms and over time.

    See publication

  • The Business of Platforms: Strategy in the Age of Digital Competition, Innovation, and Power

    HarperCollins / HarperBusiness

    A trio of experts reveal the principles that have made platform businesses the most valuable firms in the world and the first trillion-dollar companies.

    Platforms, operating within ecosystems, bring together individuals and organizations so they can innovate and interact in ways not otherwise possible. Platforms create economic value far beyond what we see in conventional companies.

    The Business of Platforms is an invaluable, in-depth look at platform strategy and digital…

    A trio of experts reveal the principles that have made platform businesses the most valuable firms in the world and the first trillion-dollar companies.

    Platforms, operating within ecosystems, bring together individuals and organizations so they can innovate and interact in ways not otherwise possible. Platforms create economic value far beyond what we see in conventional companies.

    The Business of Platforms is an invaluable, in-depth look at platform strategy and digital innovation. Cusumano, Gawer, and Yoffie address how a small number of companies have come to exert extraordinary influence over every dimension of our personal, professional, and political lives. They explain how these new entities differ from the powerful corporations of the past. They also question whether there are limits to the market dominance and expansion of these digital juggernauts. Finally, they discuss the role governments should play in rethinking data privacy laws, antitrust, and other regulations that could reign in abuses from these powerful businesses.

    This book is the most authoritative and timely investigation yet of the powerful economic and technological forces that make platform businesses, from Amazon and Apple to Microsoft, Facebook, and Google—all dominant players in shaping the global economy, the future of work, and the political world we now face.

    Review
    “A must-read for all operators or participants of existing or future platform businesses.” (Stephane Kasriel, CEO of Upwork)

    “Whether you are a customer, a business manager, or a regulator, this book offers indepth, and up-to-date answers by three experts who began analyzing platforms when the word wasn’t even known. A true treatise and treasure.” (Bengt Holmstrom, MIT Professor of Economics and Management and winner of the 2016 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences)

    “Essential reading for any business trying to compete as a platform or against a platform” (Arne Sorenson, CEO of Marriott International)

    Other authors
    See publication

  • Towards a Theory of Ecosystems

    Strategic Management Journal (Wiley)

    Managerial Summary: We consider what makes ecosystems different from other business constellations, including markets, alliances, or hierarchically managed supply chains. Ecosystems, we posit, are interacting organizations, enabled by modularity, not hierarchically managed, bound together by the nonredeployability of their collective investment elsewhere. Ecosystems add value as they allow managers to coordinate their multilateral dependence through sets of roles that face similar rules, thus…

    Managerial Summary: We consider what makes ecosystems different from other business constellations, including markets, alliances, or hierarchically managed supply chains. Ecosystems, we posit, are interacting organizations, enabled by modularity, not hierarchically managed, bound together by the nonredeployability of their collective investment elsewhere. Ecosystems add value as they allow managers to coordinate their multilateral dependence through sets of roles that face similar rules, thus obviating the need to enter into customized contractual agreements with each partner. We explain how different types of complementarities (unique or supermodular, generic or specific, uni‐ or bi‐directional) shape ecosystems and offer a “theory of ecosystems” that can explain what they are, when they emerge, and why alignment occurs. Finally, we outline the critical factors affecting ecosystem emergence, evolution, and success—or failure.

    Other authors
    See publication

  • The Rise of the Platform Enterprise: A Global Survey

    The Emerging Platform Economy Series No.1



    http://thecge.net/category/research/the-emerging-platform-economy/

    See publication

  • Bridging Differing Perspectives on Technological Platforms: Toward an Integrative Framework

    Research Policy

    Description in non-jargon terms for non-academic readers:
    Technological platforms, and digital platforms in particular, are becoming a prevalent mode of industrial organization. This article, cited over 6000 times since its publication, clarifies what platforms are by bridging the economics and the engineering perspective on platforms. Economists see platforms simply as a certain type of market (so-called double-sided or multi-sided markets). Engineers tend to seen platforms through the…

    Description in non-jargon terms for non-academic readers:
    Technological platforms, and digital platforms in particular, are becoming a prevalent mode of industrial organization. This article, cited over 6000 times since its publication, clarifies what platforms are by bridging the economics and the engineering perspective on platforms. Economists see platforms simply as a certain type of market (so-called double-sided or multi-sided markets). Engineers tend to seen platforms through the prism of their design, and focus on their ability to be a foundation for further innovation. This article cross-fertilizes these two streams of research for a richer characterization of what platforms are. It conceptualizes platforms as evolving organizations, with implications for competition and innovation. It proposes a classification system of platforms as internal (to firms), supply-chain platforms, and ecosystem platforms.

    See publication

  • Amazon's Smartphone Launch Offers a Prudent Platform for Growth

    The Conversation

    A short piece on Amazon, published in The Conversation and in The New Statesman

    See publication

  • Platforms, Markets, and Innovation

    Edward Elgar

    Annabelle Gawer presents cutting-edge contributions from 24 top international scholars from 19 universities across Europe, the USA and Asia, from the disciplines of strategy, economics, innovation, organization studies and knowledge management. The novel insights assembled in this volume constitute a fundamental step towards an empirically based, nuanced understanding of the nature of platforms and the implications they hold for the evolution of industrial innovation. The book provides an…

    Annabelle Gawer presents cutting-edge contributions from 24 top international scholars from 19 universities across Europe, the USA and Asia, from the disciplines of strategy, economics, innovation, organization studies and knowledge management. The novel insights assembled in this volume constitute a fundamental step towards an empirically based, nuanced understanding of the nature of platforms and the implications they hold for the evolution of industrial innovation. The book provides an overview of platforms and discusses governance, management, design and knowledge issues.

    Endorsements:

    ‘Annabelle Gawer’s collected volume of research shows that a vibrant community of scholars has arisen around platforms and innovation. Each of the chapters is first rate, with top researchers offering some of their latest work. This will be an indispensable book for students of innovation and technology management everywhere.’
    – Prof. Henry Chesbrough, University of California, Berkeley, US
    ‘In her pioneering book Platform Leadership (with Michael Cusumano), Gawer gave us the strategy of building coalitions of customers, suppliers, and complementors. Now, she brings together a number of the leading researchers in the area of platform strategy to give us a book that will be a key reference for both practitioners and academics.’
    – Adam Brandenburger, New York University, US

    See publication

  • Platform Leadership : How Intel, Microsoft, and Cisco Drive Industry Innovation

    Harvard Business School Press

    Platform Leadership explains how Intel, Microsoft, Cisco, Palm and others have orchestrated ecosystem innovation to support their products - and in the process, established dominant market positions.
    ‘In her pioneering book Platform Leadership (with Cusumano), Gawer gave us the strategy of building coalitions of customers, suppliers, and complementors.’
    – Prof. Adam Brandenburger, New York University, US

    Platform Leadership (Annabelle Gawer's 1st book, based on her MIT PhD) has…

    Platform Leadership explains how Intel, Microsoft, Cisco, Palm and others have orchestrated ecosystem innovation to support their products - and in the process, established dominant market positions.
    ‘In her pioneering book Platform Leadership (with Cusumano), Gawer gave us the strategy of building coalitions of customers, suppliers, and complementors.’
    – Prof. Adam Brandenburger, New York University, US

    Platform Leadership (Annabelle Gawer's 1st book, based on her MIT PhD) has had an impact on top-management strategic thinking and practice worldwide, and become a reference in business academia (cited 650 times as of October 2012).

    Platform Leadership was translated in Chinese and in Japanese.

    Other authors
    • Michael Cusumano
    See publication

Projects

  • Platforms, Markets, and Innovation

    -

    ‘Annabelle Gawer’s collected volume of research shows that a vibrant community of scholars has arisen around platforms and innovation. Each of the chapters is first rate, with top researchers offering some of their latest work. This will be an indispensable book for students of innovation and technology management everywhere.’
    – Prof. Henry Chesbrough, University of California, Berkeley, US
    ‘In her pioneering book Platform Leadership (with Michael Cusumano), Gawer gave us the strategy of…

    ‘Annabelle Gawer’s collected volume of research shows that a vibrant community of scholars has arisen around platforms and innovation. Each of the chapters is first rate, with top researchers offering some of their latest work. This will be an indispensable book for students of innovation and technology management everywhere.’
    – Prof. Henry Chesbrough, University of California, Berkeley, US
    ‘In her pioneering book Platform Leadership (with Michael Cusumano), Gawer gave us the strategy of building coalitions of customers, suppliers, and complementors. Now, she brings together a number of the leading researchers in the area of platform strategy to give us a book that will be a key reference for both practitioners and academics.’
    – Adam Brandenburger, New York University, US

    The emergence of platforms is a novel phenomenon impacting most industries, from products to services. Industry platforms such as Microsoft Windows or Google, embedded within industrial ecosystems, have redesigned our industrial landscapes, upset the balance of power between firms, fostered innovation and raised new questions on competition and innovation.

    Annabelle Gawer presents cutting-edge contributions from 24 top international scholars from 19 universities across Europe, the USA and Asia, from the disciplines of strategy, economics, innovation, organization studies and knowledge management. The novel insights assembled in this volume constitute a fundamental step towards an empirically based, nuanced understanding of the nature of platforms and the implications they hold for the evolution of industrial innovation. The book provides an overview of platforms and discusses governance, management, design and knowledge issues.

    With a multidisciplinary approach, this book will strongly appeal to academics and advanced students in management, innovation, strategy, economics and design. It will also prove an enlightening read for business managers in IT industries.

    See project

Languages

  • French

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