The platform economy has fundamentally transformed the way businesses create value, compete, and grow. Unlike traditional companies that primarily produce and sell products or services, platform businesses create ecosystems that connect buyers, sellers, service providers, developers, creators, and consumers, generating value through interactions rather than ownership alone. Companies such as Amazon, Uber, Airbnb, Shopify, Alibaba, and countless emerging platforms have demonstrated that network effects, data, technology, and ecosystem management can create extraordinary competitive advantages and global scale.
Platform Economy: Amazon, Uber & Beyond is a practical, executive-oriented course designed to prepare Junior MBA students to understand, build, and lead platform-based businesses in the digital economy. Rather than focusing solely on technology or software development, the course examines platform strategy, ecosystem design, network effects, digital marketplaces, monetization models, governance, artificial intelligence, competitive dynamics, and executive leadership.
Students will explore platform business models, marketplace economics, customer ecosystems, digital trust, pricing strategies, platform governance, innovation, scaling, data-driven growth, ecosystem partnerships, regulation, and the future of platform organizations. Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on practical business application and strategic thinking, enabling future leaders to design organizations that thrive in increasingly interconnected digital markets.
Course Objectives
By the conclusion of this course, students will be able to:
• Understand the strategic principles underlying platform-based business models.
• Differentiate traditional linear businesses from digital platform ecosystems.
• Analyze network effects and their impact on competitive advantage.
• Design value creation systems that connect multiple stakeholder groups.
• Evaluate monetization strategies used by successful platform businesses.
• Understand governance and trust mechanisms within digital ecosystems.
• Apply artificial intelligence and data analytics to platform growth strategies.
• Develop scalable platform business models for entrepreneurial ventures.
• Recognize the risks and challenges associated with platform management.
• Lead organizations that leverage ecosystems to achieve sustainable growth and innovation.
