Platform-based service innovation and system design: research opportunities
Industrial Management & Data Systems
ISSN: 0263-5577
Article publication date: 25 July 2018
Issue publication date: 13 August 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore research opportunities for service innovation and system design in network platforms by investigating representative case examples in an emerging market, China.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors provide four case examples to illustrate the manner in which network platforms facilitate and lead to service innovation and effective system design. Then, the authors propose nine research directions that present significant research opportunities, and the authors make theoretical and methodological suggestions.
Findings
The results indicate that research opportunities exist mainly in three areas: ecosystem design and evolution, including role design, coherence and sustainability issues; leader–participant collaboration, including governance, co-opetition and innovation stimulation issues; and transformation of traditional industries, including process informatization, modularization and standardization issues.
Originality/value
This study extends the platform-related literature by showing new platform features represented by case evidence from emerging economies, and provides recommendations to guide and direct management practices and efforts in platform-based service innovation and system design.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (71602159, 71420107024, 71572141).
This paper forms part of a special section “Featured issue on supply chain innovation”.
Citation
Fu, W., Wang, Q. and Zhao, X. (2018), "Platform-based service innovation and system design: research opportunities", Industrial Management & Data Systems, Vol. 118 No. 5, pp. 975-997. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-03-2017-0130
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited