Key success factors through internal organisation and external cooperation. An analyses of the most innovative platforms from China and the USA

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Problem Statement and Research Question
• Objectives
• Topic Approach and Research Methodology
• The Platform Business Model, Digital Innovation‐Theories and ‐Strategies
• The Online Platform Segment
• Platform Definition and Economy
• The 9 Types of Online Platforms and their Interdependencies
• Innovation “within” and “through” the Online Platform Segment: Business Model Innovation vs. Innovative Digital Native Platforms
• Definition and Degree of Innovation in Electronic Markets
• Transformation: Business Model Innovation towards a Digital Platform
• Technological Innovation in Electronic Markets
• Service Innovation
• Internal and External Business Strategies in Order to Achieve Digital Innovation
• Digital Innovation Management
• Organisational Strategies to Foster Business Model Innovation
• Cooperation in the Online Platform Segment in Order to Innovate
• The Interplay of Organisation and Cooperation
• USA and China as Main Digital Innovators in the Platform Segment
• Macroenvironmental Impact on the Innovation Capabilities of Platforms in China and USA
• Comparison of China and the United States
• Legal, Political and Social Influences on Digital Platforms
• The Impact of Economic Regulations, Cross‐Border Cooperation, and Technological Development on Platform Innovation
• Intermediate Result: Theoretical Summary of Enablers for Digital Innovation
• Measuring Digital Innovation
• The Difficulty of Measuring Innovation in the Platform Segment
• Theoretical Approach to Measure Digital Innovation: Evaluation Matrix Proposal
• Evaluation of the Most Innovative Platforms in China and the United States
• Scoring System
• Evaluation Criterions and ‐Procedure
• Result: The 4 most Innovative Online Platforms in China and USA
• Microenvironmental- and Business Analysis on the most Innovative Platforms
• E‐Commerce Platforms: Comparison of Alibaba and Amazon
• Market Environment: E‐Commerce
• Business Model Analysis of Alibaba and Amazon
• Innovation Strategies of Alibaba and Amazon through Cooperation and Organisation
• Social Media Platforms: Comparison of Tencent and Facebook
• Market Environment Analysis: Social Media
• Business Model Analysis of Tencent and Facebook
• Innovation Strategies of Tencent and Facebook through Cooperation and Organisation
• Summary and Conclusion
• The 5 Most Important Key Success Factors for Innovation through Organisation and Cooperation
• Role Model for Digital Innovation in the Online Platform Segment

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

The thesis aims to define the key success factors of digital innovation within the online platform segment through cooperation and internal organisation, and to develop a role model for platform innovation strategies. The research analyzes the most innovative platforms in China and the USA, evaluating their internal structures and external collaborations.

• The influence of business cooperation and internal organization on the innovation capabilities of online platforms
• Definition and measurement of digital innovation in the platform segment
• Analysis of the macro-environmental impact on platform innovation in China and the USA
• Comparison of innovation strategies between native digital platforms and incumbent companies in transformation processes
• Identification of key success factors for successful platform innovation through collaboration and organizational structures

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

Chapter 1 introduces the research question and objectives, highlighting the increasing importance of digital platforms and the need to understand the key drivers of innovation within this segment. Chapter 2 delves into the definition and types of online platforms, exploring different innovation theories and strategies, including business model innovation and technological and service innovation. Chapter 3 examines the macro-environmental impact on platform innovation in China and the USA, comparing the legal, political, social, and technological landscapes of both countries. The chapter also explores the difficulty of measuring digital innovation and proposes an evaluation matrix. Chapter 4 analyzes the micro-environmental and business models of the most innovative platforms in China and the USA - Alibaba and Tencent for China, and Amazon and Google for the USA - comparing their key success factors and innovation strategies. Chapter 5 summarizes the key learnings and provides a role model for digital innovation in the online platform segment.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The thesis focuses on digital innovation, platform business models, organizational strategies, business cooperation, and the macro- and micro-environmental factors influencing platform innovation. Key terms include business model innovation, technological innovation, service innovation, agile organization, open innovation, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, big data, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic alliances.