I took the course – Platform Strategy for Business (audit
option, followed the discussions regularly and did all the homework!) the first time it was
offered on edX. This post is not for advertising for the course, but I must
mention that I was very satisfied and motivated by the syllabus (for a 6 week introductory
course) and content delivery.
The course draws attention to the topics largely from the
work of the teachers – Platform
Revolution: How networked markets are tranforming the economy and how to make
them work for you. Platform revolution is a thorough introductory work on
all the major topics necessary to learn about the economic shifts caused by
platforms. The other book that comes close to this book is MatchMakers:
The new economics of Multi-sided platforms.
The class engaged the students with carefully chosen weekly
readings, short videos, discussion questions, and quizzes. The peer review and
feedback mechanisms are commendable for a MOOCS course. This course motivates
anyone preparing to work with some high order thinking, academic, and theoretical
foundations on not only the basics of platforms, but also on serious topics
such as design and development issues and paradoxes, launching strategies, pricing models, special topics on freemiums
and openness, competitive strategies and traps for failure. I believe that
learning begins after taking a course. There is so much to understand about
platforms and their role in shaping the future of firms. This course is a
pre-requisite for gaining insights and some of the necessary tools on serious
topics on platforms.
