Platform Sponsor Scope, Ecosystem Structure and Heterogeneity: A Configurational Approach

The literature on platform-based ecosystems has focused extensively on the influence of platform structure and governance on the growth of the ecosystem. However, such a focus has remained largely discrete with little understanding of the nature and implications of the platform sponsors simultaneous choice of ecosystem structure and governance elements. We develop a configurational approach to holistically understand how elements of platform ecosystem structure and platform sponsor scope combine to shape performance. We examine how such choices differ across different types of platform ecosystems and at different stages of the ecosystem lifecycle. Our findings shed light on heterogeneity in platform ecosystems in terms of their structure and governance and contribute to the platform literature by advancing a configurational approach to understanding platform ecosystems.