The Governance of Digital Platform-Based Ecosystems—Theoretical Logic,Action Framework and Mode Classification
In recent years,platform-based ecosystems have become an increasingly prominent and typical organizational form in modern economies.Digital platforms have redefined business models,disrupted traditional industries,and continuously launched innovative products and services,created enormous economic and social value.The sustainable development of digital platform-based ecosystems depends on the effective matching of their platform architecture design and governance rules.This study analyzes the governance of digital platform-based ecosystems in terms of theoretical logic,action framework,and mode division based on the dynamic mirror relationship between the platform's governance rules and governance architecture.First,the governance of digital platform-based ecosystems is a series of activities in which the platform owner designs and creates rules to manage platform participants based on the governance architecture.In the governance process,the governing body mainly faces two key issues:the balance between centralized and decentralized decision-making power,and the trade-off between open and closed platform boundaries.The centralization and decentralization of decision-making power affect the prioritization of value allocation in the digital platform ecosystem.In a governance environment where decision-making power is highly centralized,the platform owner dominates the priority of value allocation.The openness and closure of platform boundaries affect the selection of the number and quality of complementors in the digital platform ecosystem.Second,governance subject,governance goal,governance architecture,and governance rules are the four basic elements of the governance of digital platform-based ecosystems.They interact with each other to form an action framework for realizing the sustainability of digital platform-based ecosystems.The platform owner is the governance subject;platform value creation and distribution are the governance goals;the governance architecture includes the platform's underlying digital technology application and modularity,which form the physical foundation of the governance of digital platform-based ecosystems;and the decision-making power distribution,incentive,and control mechanisms are the governance rules.The key tasks of these four basic elements of governance subject,governance goal,governance architecture and governance rules include optimizing the organization and operation of the governance subject,balancing and managing the relationships and contradictions between multiple governance goals,enhancing the stability and adaptability of the governance architecture,and designing compatible governance rules to cope with the various challenges that emerge from the continuous evolution of the digital platform ecosystem.Finally,based on the dimensions of whether the decision-making power of the platform is decentralized or centralized,and whether the platform boundary is closed or open,the governance of digital platform-based ecosystems is classified into four types of modes:arbitrary governance,guided governance,contractual governance,and free governance.Combining the action framework of the governance of digital platform-based ecosystems,this paper analyzes the governance subject,governance goal,governance architecture,and governance rules of each mode.It also conducts in-depth discussions on the main features,advantages,disadvantages,and governance priorities of each governance mode.
Digital platform-based ecosystemsGovernanceTheoretical logicAction frameworkMode classification
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