Platform Thinking: exploiting data through platforms (POK)

We are talking about companies – like social networks – that exploit data to offer personalized advertising or personalized experiences – in services like Netflix or Spotify – but even companies that offer data to external partners for other purposes, like fitness apps that share data with pharmaceutical companies or other health companies. This is a widely intriguing but also a slippery topic, given the amount of data-related scandals we lived over the last few years. Therefore, this course aims to assess the strategies and tactics to exploit data through platforms, highlighting the opportunities and challenges of creating and managing data-driven opportunities. In doing so, we will consider the ethical and policy implications – and related opportunities – to have a transparent and trustable relationship with the end-users. Finally, we will position the data within the platform thinking process.

The course is structured into 3 Modules:

Module 1 – Strategies to exploit data

Module 2 - Generating platforms through data

Module 3 - Implications of data exploitation

The modules have different lessons within them, consisting of texts, videos, quizzes and individual self-reflection exercises. We advise you to follow the pathway linearly: even if all the lectures should be self-contained, they often build on concepts introduced in depth in previous videos. It is important that you keep your own pace: the length indications are a rough estimate, but your pace should guide you at best for the enjoyment and the individual reflection on the topics covered.

By actively participating in this MOOC, you will achieve different intended learning outcomes (ILOs).

1. To understand the role of data in the sustainability of digital business models,

2. To assess the various strategies to capture value from data,

3. To analyze the business environment around you to identify potentialities for a platform revolution based on data,

4. To analyze the available data to apply platform thinking.