Architecting Platforms as a Business

Overview

Traditional brick-and-mortar companies are embracing the concept of platform-based business models to survive in the digital economy. “A platform is a business model that allows multiple participants (producers and consumers) to connect to it, interact with one another, and create and exchange value. The most successful companies in the digital era including Alibaba, Amazon, Facebook, DBS (DigiBank) and Disney (MagicBands) were all designed on platform business models.” (Source: “Insurance beyond digital: The rise of ecosystem and platforms,” McKinsey & Company).

A “Think Platform” approach requires a change of perspective, focusing not on the inside-out approach of designing the business but on the outside-in approach, starting with the Ecosystem. Value creation amongst entities of the platform Ecosystem drives success of the platform

Key Takeaways

• understand the role of platforms and the challenges involved in building a platform
• design a business platform and support business practices
• define the technical architecture to support the platform
• defining key enablers for the platform, namely Governance, Trust, Brand
• demonstrate understanding and skills acquired through the design of a platform for business and to present to a panel for assessment

The programme will take you through design phases with practical hands-on activities. You are expected to do some pre-reading to be up to speed. Case based discussions, industry practitioners sharing will be used to augment learning.

Who Should Attend

• Please refer to the job role section.
• This is an intermediate course is intended for Public Service Officers, business and technical architects operating in the digital product space, who need to have a practice based programme to conceptualise and design a platform for business growth. Managers and professionals working on strategy and business or digital product innovations can also benefit.
• You are expected to interact to share views and experiences while working in your respective teams.

Prerequisites

• You have 3 to 5 years of working experience in product management or with functional experience in a specific domain transitioning to a larger digital role would benefit most from the course; have a strong interest in digital product and services and an understanding of how these enhance business competitiveness; foundational insights into technology and its architecture.
• This is an intensive, fully hands-on course, and you are expected to do prior readings, class preparation and project work outside of in-class sessions over a 4-week period.
• You must have working experience in a business or technology function. Some understanding of product management would be useful.
• You should have a keen interest to develop a digital platform business.

Useful Pre-Programme Knowledge

If you are new to product management, you are strongly encouraged to attend Managing Digital Products to enhance your learning experience for APAB.