SELF-ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNANCE IN DIGITAL PLATFORM ECOSYSTEMS: AN INFORMATION ECOLOGY APPROACH

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Engert, Martin; Hein, Andreas; Maruping, Likoebe M.; Thatcher, Jason Bennett; Krcmar, Helmut
• 署名单位: Technical University of Munich; University of St Gallen; University System of Georgia; Georgia State University; University of Colorado System; University of Colorado Boulder; University of Manchester; Alliance Manchester Business School
• 刊物名称: MIS QUARTERLY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0276-7783
• DOI: 10.25300/MISQ/2024/18413
• 发表日期: 2025
• 页码: 91-122
• 关键词: boundary resources; POWER; architecture; INNOVATION; infrastructures; cocreation; advantage; EVOLUTION; community; strategy

摘要

This research investigates the interplay of top-down control and bottom-up self-organization within digital platform ecosystems (DPEs), focusing on the formation and management of complementor coalitions. Although these coalitions can increase a DPE's generativity, they can also threaten its integrity. We investigate this tension by employing information ecology (IE) theory, which allows us to examine complementor coalitions as holons that navigate between self-assertiveness and integration within the structural hierarchies of DPEs. Utilizing an inductive, embedded case-study approach, we analyze the interplay between top-down control exerted by platform owners and the bottom-up self-organization of complementors in two enterprise software platform ecosystems. Our findings identify three distinct interaction modes-mandated, supported, and autonomous self-organization-each presenting hierarchical trade-offs between platform owner control and complementor autonomy. Our findings extend the prevalent owner-centric theory ofplatform governance by highlighting the significant impact of bottom-up self-organization on the governance and evolution ofDPEs. We propose an integrated theory that accommodates these new dynamics, suggesting soft power as an effective governance mechanism. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexities in governing DPEs and offers practical insights for managing top-down control and bottom-up self-organization in the evolving landscape of enterprise software DPEs.