About the Course
Duration
3 Days
Introduction
The vast majority of the world's most valuable companies today are platforms: Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Google, Facebook, and many other firms have built their fortunes by facilitating innovation across global ecosystems or enabling the broad exchange of goods and services. The rise of artificial intelligence further propels the opportunity and need to leverage a platform model for competitive advantage. AI companies are evolving into the next generation of platforms. This program will show you how to create sustainable value whether you are competing as, with, or against digital platforms.
Who Should Attend
- C-level or senior leaders engaged in strategic planning or developing new businesses at companies in any industry (e.g., technology, retail, financial services, auto, insurance, consumer products, etc.)
- Executives, directors, vice presidents, and senior managers who want to work more effectively with platforms or respond to new opportunities in the business of platforms
- Senior leaders overseeing specific platforms at large platform organizations
- Entrepreneurs and startup founders of platform businesses
- Board members interested in exploring or understanding platform businesses
Key Benefits
For business leaders, platforms present enormous opportunities but also pose serious risks. Competing in what have been called "multi-sided markets driven by network effects" is often akin to playing three-dimensional chess. By examining the essential strategic insights of platform businesses and markets, this program will help you maximize the value and minimize the costs of creating, managing, or engaging with digital platforms.
Program Content
Building a Platform Business
- Identifying different "market sides" of a platform business, solving chicken-or-egg problems, designing a profitable business model, and governing a platform and its ecosystem
- Discovering different sources of value in a platform business
- Exploring how large language models, such as ChatGPT, are changing our thinking about platforms
- Applying insights about why some platforms thrive—and others don't—as well as outlining the challenges to launch a successful platform business
- Creating a platform that is relevant to a broad cross-section of traditional markets
Managing Challenges in a Platform Business
- Studying the underlying economics that lead to sub-optimal outcomes in a platform business
- Anticipating and avoiding problems associated with building an innovation or a transaction platform
- Understanding the dynamics, limitations, and subtleties of networks and ecosystems
- Recognizing how markets can tip and cause spectacular returns or devastating losses
- Addressing governance issues caused by bad actors, counterfeit products, antitrust violations, and the merging of platforms
Engaging With Platforms
- Developing a plan and process for interacting with a platform business
- Turning products into platforms that can compete in traditional or digital marketplaces
- Transforming a business by incorporating complementary platforms in the digital economy
- Understanding the "rules" of a platform and its implications for success as a business
Discovering New Frontiers in Platform Technologies and Markets
- Exploring new and future platforms, such as self-driving cars, quantum computing, and gene editing
- Analyzing how voice interfaces and AI technology, such as in Siri and Alexa, will likely develop into hybrid platforms for innovation and transactions
Special Features
This hands-on program includes group discussions, case studies, individual activity-based development and small group exercises to deepen your insights and sharpen your skills.
