Architecting Platforms as a Business

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

• 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 course will take the participants through design phases with practical hands-on activities. Participants are expected to do some pre-reading to be up to speed. Case based discussions, industry practitioners sharing will be used to augment learning

This is an intermediate course is intended for managers, professionals, and business and technical architects operating in the digital product space, who need to have a practice based course to conceptualise and design a platform for business growth. Managers and professionals working on strategy and business or digital product innovations can also benefit.

Participants are expected to come from both corporate enterprises and start-ups, and are expected to interact to share views and experiences while working in their respective teams.

• Participants with 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 participants are expected to do prior readings, class preparation and project work outside of in-class sessions over a 4-week period.
• Participants must have working experience in a business or technology function. Some understanding of product management would be useful. Participants should have a keen interest to develop a digital platform business.

Participants who are new to product management are strongly encouraged to attend the Managing Digital Products to enhance their learning experience for APAB.

• Tech Management: Digital Strategy & Planning
• Product Management: Product Go-To-Market
• Product Management: Product Life Cycle Management
• Product Management: Product Strategy

• Product Manager
• Engagement Manager

With effect till 31 Dec 2022