Platform Thinking

Daniel Trabucchi is Professor of Platform Thinking at Politecnico di Milano. His research focuses on business transformation, bringing together the strategic and human dimensions. He teaches at the executive level and advises international companies on how to identify new innovative directions. Tommaso Buganza is Professor of Leadership & Innovation at Politecnico di Milano. His research activities are at the crossroad of Technology, Innovation, and Leadership. Platforms are the missing link among them; he teaches Platform Thinking to executives and consults international companies in search for a Platform-based transformations.

In a challenging and fast-changing business environment, this book is a must to read for all the executives called to reframe their Company's business model or in search for the innovation Gral. The authors guide the reader through the complex world of the platforms, providing 'new glasses' to see current business under a novel perspective and, if the case, rethink it. Always with the clear goal to stay competitive in the long run.--Augusto Mitidieri, Executive Director, Switzerland Innovation Park Ticino, multiawarded CEO This book has a clear purpose. It challenges business leaders to think differently and recognize the innovative potential of platform business models and 'platform thinking' more generally. This is particularly prescient message as European platforms have largely lagged the rest of the world. With a deft combination of essential frameworks and highly informative cases, Trabucchi and Buganza will surely inspire a wave of platform formation and innovation.--Peter C. Evans, PhD, Chief Strategy Officer, McFadyen Digital, and Co-Chair of the MIT Platform Strategy Summit This book shows entrepreneurs and veteran managers alike how to consider the creation or growth of a multi-sided platform. Those who ignore it will be doubly surprised when a platform recruits their customers and suppliers with a better offer. With hundreds of examples and templates, Trabucchi and Buganza also demonstrate that anyone can--and probably must--build a platform business.--Ted Ladd, Professor at Hult, Instructor at Harvard and Stanford, author of Innovating with Impact from the Economist