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
Feb 7, 2024 • 49min
Connected digital society with Helena Rong
Helena Rong, an urbanist and designer with interdisciplinary training, discusses the intersection of digital technology, collective intelligence architecture, and urbanism. Topics include fractional property ownership, collective governance in local development, decentralized technology, crypto, trust in transactional platforms, the role of policy and regulation in technology governance, challenges of integrating web-three technologies, and the impact of technology on decision making and governance.
Jan 31, 2024 • 37min
Platforms, blockchain, and the law with Primavera De Filippi
Primavera De Filippi, a blockchain expert, discusses the importance of platform governance in achieving the promises of blockchain technology. She explains the challenges of decentralized governance, the current state of the blockchain industry, and the concept of constitutionalization in platforms. The episode ends with information on how to follow Primavera's work.
Jan 24, 2024 • 51min
Digital public infrastructures with David Eaves
David Eaves, an Associate Professor in Digital Government at UCL, explores the transformative power of digital public infrastructure. He discusses the innovative approaches taken by countries like India and Estonia, emphasizing the importance of context in governance. The conversation covers the dynamics of digital mapping technologies and the ethical responsibilities tied to data management. Eaves also highlights the urgent need for educational initiatives to prepare the next generation of public leaders in an increasingly digital world.
Jan 17, 2024 • 52min
Platform competition with Shiva Shekhar
Shiva Shekhar, an Assistant Professor at Tilburg School of Economics, dives into platform competition and strategies that shape market dynamics. He discusses the role of exclusivity in two-sided markets and how it can enhance welfare despite limiting rival options. Shiva shares insights on merging platforms with 'superstars' and its impact on pricing. He explores why firms might invite competitors and the complex bargaining dynamics among rising creators and their unions. Lastly, he highlights barriers traditional firms face when adopting platform thinking.
Jan 10, 2024 • 50min
Platform identity with Panos Constantinides
Panos Constantinides, a Professor of Digital Innovation and co-founder of the European Digital Platforms Research Network, dives into the fascinating world of digital platforms. He explores how hub firm identity shapes platform governance and evolution. Delving into case studies like MetaTrader, Panos discusses the trade-offs between openness and control in platform growth. He highlights the importance of data control in forming successful ecosystems and shares insights on navigating the complexities of platform dynamics in the digital economy.
Jan 3, 2024 • 48min
Platform governance design with Liang Chen
Liang Chen, an Associate Professor at Singapore Management University, delves into the intricate world of platform governance. He shares how personal experiences, like his wife's creator work, fuel his fascination with platforms. The conversation explores how platforms nudge creators with incentives and the critical success factors for engaging them. Liang addresses power imbalances and discusses the challenges of globalizing digital platforms, highlighting the tension between public and private traffic. He also touches on the future of decentralized platforms and AI's transformative role.
Dec 27, 2023 • 48min
Dimensions of data labor with Hanlin Li
Hanlin Li, an assistant professor at UT Austin, delves into the complexities of data labor and governance. She discusses how online contributions are monetized and the need for transparency in data practices. Hanlin examines motivations behind volunteer content creation and explores generative AI's impact on creators. She emphasizes the importance of designing effective transparency measures and suggests policy mandates for data usage disclosure. Her insights aim to empower data producers and highlight the societal implications of user-generated content.
Dec 20, 2023 • 52min
Platform ecosystems as meta‐organizations with Tobias Kretschmer
Tobias Kretschmer, an ISTO professor at LMU Munich School of Management, discusses platform ecosystems as meta‐organizations. They cover topics such as the role of platform orchestrators, regulatory responses to platform problems, characteristics of platforms as meta-organizations, differences between traditional firms and platforms, the use of notifications and incentives, and the importance of critical mass and killer apps in platform ecosystems.
Dec 13, 2023 • 53min
The ERP platform play with Oliver Bossert
Oliver Bossert, specialized in large-scale transformations of enterprise architecture in various industries, discusses platform strategies for traditional firms, implementing 3D printing and inventory management, balancing localization and centralization, disciplined agile organizations, and the use of platforms within companies.
Dec 6, 2023 • 26min
Introducing season III
In season three of the podcast, the hosts discuss their personal journeys and the origins of platform thinking. They emphasize the importance of understanding and shaping platforms through research and collaboration. The hosts also explore different formats for practicing platform thinking and discuss the potential of platforms in various contexts.
