Panel Information

Platform Shift: How New Business Models are Changing the Shape of Industry and the Role of CIOs

11:00AM - 12:15PM

Prof. Marshall Van Alstyne, SM ‘91, PhD ‘98, MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy (@InfoEcon) - Moderator

Bryan Kirschner, Apigee Institute (@bryan_kirschner)

Jerry Wolfe, Vivanda (@wolfeman60)

Paddy Srinivasan, Xively by LogMeIn (@paddix)

Companies that can transform their traditional business models into platforms (or network models) will have a competitive advantage based on new insights into pricing, network effects, supply chains, and strategy. These principles show how dotcom companies like Airbnb, Amazon, Apple, and Uber managed, in a relatively short time, to attract millions of clients worldwide. But they apply also to traditional product companies like Sony, shoe companies like Nike, and spice companies like McCormick. New business models helped these companies extend existing transactions to new, associated products and services. Platforms beat products every time. This panel discussion will reveal the secret of Internet-driven platforms.