Find an example of a product company venturing into platforms, e.g. H&R Block venturing into Fintech, Nike from products to platform initiatives, John Deere building its data platform, Lianjia – a real estate brokerage setting up a platform Ke Holdings to serve all real estate brokerages, and explain the following:
What is the rationale behind the move into the platform business?
What is the company’s platform business model and strategy, such as value proposition, open or closed platform design, screening criteria, pricing, key partnerships, mechanisms to increase trust, lower transaction cost, and attract and retain users, etc.
What’s your educated guess on whether this platform move will provide new growth for the company as a whole or might it backfire and sabotage its own bread and butter?
For inspiration, you can read some of the similar student assignments here at HBS: https://digital.hbs.edu/platform-digit/assignment/dig-it-blog-post-assignment-i-innovative-platforms/
(Links to an external site.)
but remember critical and independent thinking is key.
Length guideline for own post is roughly one-page in length, single-spaced, and quality of thinking is valued more than quantity, please use bullet points and short paragraphs to succinctly summarize your points.
Below are some more optional resources on how platform thinking can help companies grow faster despite limited resources, and some more articles at the bottom of the webpage:
A Video that explains platform strategy
(Links to an external site.) (hbr.org)
hbr platform strategy – Google Search
Insights – Platform Thinking Labs Platform Strategist | Platform Thinking Labs Platform Strategist (platformed.info)
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