Boundary Reinforcement in Multisided Platforms: A Configurational Analysis of External Conditions

Abstract

This article contributes to the discussion on the governance dynamics of platform ecosystems. We take a broad perspective to understand how the environment beyond the platform ecosystem (i.e., external conditions) shapes the actions of the platform and its various actors in reinforcing platform boundaries. Prior work explored how external influences, such as societal norms and national and local regulations, influence platform ecosystems, including external competitive pressures. But studies on the broader set of potential influences from external conditions are lacking; in particular, a study of such conditions and their influence across platforms in light of boundary reinforcement is called for. Boundary reinforcement is critical for the identity and legitimacy of a platform and for longer-term platform sustenance. Using a fuzzy-set qualitative configurational analysis (fsQCA) method with input coded from 271 peer-reviewed research articles covering 29 platforms, we offer a model detailing how external conditions influence a platform's boundary reinforcement actions.