The program fee covers tuition, books, case materials, accommodations, and most meals.
Application Due: 15 APR 2024
Summary
The vast majority of the world's most valuable companies today are platforms: Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Google, Facebook, and many other firms have built their fortunes by facilitating innovation across global ecosystems or enabling the broad exchange of goods and services. The rise of artificial intelligence further propels the opportunity and need to leverage a platform model for competitive advantage. AI companies are evolving into the next generation of platforms. This program will show you how to create sustainable value whether you are competing as, with, or against digital platforms.
This program is eligible for the Digital Transformation Certificate. Learn More
-
Summary
-
The vast majority of the world's most valuable companies today are platforms: Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Google, Facebook, and many other firms have built their fortunes by facilitating innovation across global ecosystems or enabling the broad exchange of goods and services. The rise of artificial intelligence further propels the opportunity and need to leverage a platform model for competitive advantage. AI companies are evolving into the next generation of platforms. This program will show you how to create sustainable value whether you are competing as, with, or against digital platforms.
This program is eligible for the Digital Transformation Certificate. Learn More
DetailsCollapse All
Compete in the age of digital platformsCompete in the age of digital platforms
- Develop global strategies for creating, managing, or engaging with digital platforms that deliver a competitive advantage
- Understand the core fundamentals of how to launch and maintain a platform business that outperforms digital and conventional competitors in the United States, China, and other global markets
- Identify how to leverage data and artificial intelligence to augment a platform business
Understand the unique dynamics of platform businesses and marketsUnderstand the unique dynamics of platform businesses and markets
- Identify the critical factors for success and failure of a platform business
- Recognize the social and ethical responsibilities of running a platform business
- Determine a governance policy to prevent misuse or abuse of your platform by businesses, governments, and/or consumers
- Understand the influence of data privacy laws, antitrust policy, and regulations
Manage platforms as a successful businessManage platforms as a successful business
- Maximize value for your business by interacting with the right platforms in the right way
- Know how to build or belong to a platform, if you are a traditional product or service business
- Reinvigorate a struggling platform
- Explore options for responding to platform competitors
- Know the steps to take to "buy" a platform to accelerate time to market
Expand your personal and professional networkExpand your personal and professional network
- Extend your network by living and working with accomplished executives from various backgrounds, industries, and countries around the globe
- Build relationships with a diverse group of peers who can provide wide-ranging insights into your business challenges and career decisions
Who Should Attend
- C-level or senior leaders engaged in strategic planning or developing new businesses at companies in any industry (e.g., technology, retail, financial services, auto, insurance, consumer products, etc.)
- Executives, directors, vice presidents, and senior managers who want to work more effectively with platforms or respond to new opportunities in the business of platforms
- Senior leaders overseeing specific platforms at large platform organizations
- Entrepreneurs and startup founders of platform businesses
- Board members interested in exploring or understanding platform businesses
Learning and Living at HBS
When you participate in an Executive Education program on the HBS campus, you enter an immersive experience where every aspect of the learning model has been carefully designed to facilitate your growth. Your learning will take place on your own, in your living group, and in the larger classroom, driven by the renowned HBS case method.
-
Learning and Living at HBS
-
When you participate in an Executive Education program on the HBS campus, you enter an immersive experience where every aspect of the learning model has been carefully designed to facilitate your growth. Your learning will take place on your own, in your living group, and in the larger classroom, driven by the renowned HBS case method.
Admissions Criteria and Process
What You Will Learn
Featuring a blend of dynamic lectures and topical case studies, this program examines the current state of platform businesses and explores new frontiers on the horizon. It also takes a closer look at the different aspects of network effects.
Participants should expect to spend at least 9-12 hours on self-paced case preparation prior to attending the program. Case materials will be made available approximately two weeks prior to program start.
-
What You Will Learn
-
Featuring a blend of dynamic lectures and topical case studies, this program examines the current state of platform businesses and explores new frontiers on the horizon. It also takes a closer look at the different aspects of network effects.
Participants should expect to spend at least 9-12 hours on self-paced case preparation prior to attending the program. Case materials will be made available approximately two weeks prior to program start.
Key TopicsCollapse All
Building a platform businessBuilding a platform business
- Identifying different "market sides" of a platform business, solving chicken-or-egg problems, designing a profitable business model, and governing a platform and its ecosystem
- Discovering different sources of value in a platform business
- Exploring how large language models, such as ChatGPT, are changing our thinking about platforms
- Applying insights about why some platforms thrive—and others don't—as well as outlining the challenges to launch a successful platform business
- Creating a platform that is relevant to a broad cross-section of traditional markets
Managing challenges in a platform businessManaging challenges in a platform business
- Studying the underlying economics that lead to sub-optimal outcomes in a platform business
- Anticipating and avoiding problems associated with building an innovation or a transaction platform
- Understanding the dynamics, limitations, and subtleties of networks and ecosystems
- Recognizing how markets can tip and cause spectacular returns or devastating losses
- Addressing governance issues caused by bad actors, counterfeit products, antitrust violations, and the merging of platforms
Engaging with platformsEngaging with platforms
- Developing a plan and process for interacting with a platform business
- Turning products into platforms that can compete in traditional or digital marketplaces
- Transforming a business by incorporating complementary platforms in the digital economy
- Understanding the "rules" of a platform and its implications for success as a business
Discovering new frontiers in platform technologies and markets Discovering new frontiers in platform technologies and markets
- Exploring new and future platforms, such as self-driving cars, quantum computing, and gene editing
- Analyzing how voice interfaces and AI technology, such as in Siri and Alexa, will likely develop into hybrid platforms for innovation and transactions
The HBS Advantage
Our Executive Education programs are developed and taught by top faculty who are widely recognized as skilled educators, groundbreaking researchers, and award-winning authors. Through their board memberships, consulting, and field-based research, they address the complex challenges facing business leaders across the globe.
-
The HBS Advantage
-
Our Executive Education programs are developed and taught by top faculty who are widely recognized as skilled educators, groundbreaking researchers, and award-winning authors. Through their board memberships, consulting, and field-based research, they address the complex challenges facing business leaders across the globe.
Faculty ChairFaculty