In-depth enablement on users with governance mechanisms by platform firms

Purpose Platform enablement has become a critical topic in the management domain, yet there is a significant gap between the platform’s value creation and users’ value capture due to insufficient resources and capabilities. The purpose of this paper is to examine how platform firms can effectively deeply enable users, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and to analyze the governance mechanisms required to maintain stability throughout this enablement process. Design/methodology/approach We adopt a single-case study on Alpha (pseudonyms), an Internet platform firm specializing in the pig farming industry, supported by 13 interviews, extensive second-hand data and in-depth participant observation for triangulation. Findings The study identifies three enablement mechanisms – data enablement, structure enablement and process enablement – that enable users in the three stages of “Implementing digitalization, providing linkages and facilitating reconfiguration”. Additionally, two governance mechanisms (monitoring business processes and governing service interfaces) are essential to sustaining this process. Originality/value This paper identifies a novel mechanism termed process enablement, which refers to improving users’ organizational capabilities by integrating resources and business processes. The study also broadens the concept of structure enablement, emphasizing that platform firms could eliminate barriers not only between complementary resources but also between competitive resources. By integrating the lens of platform governance with that of platform enablement, this study uncovers the underlying logic of platform governance to complement platform enablement.