The Sustainability of Superior Performance of Platform Complementor: Evidence from the Effects of Iterative Innovation and Visibility of App in iOS Platform in China

Na Wang, Shuangying Chen, Lei Xiao and Feng Fu
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Na Wang: School of Economics and Management, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
Shuangying Chen: School of Economics and Management, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
Lei Xiao: School of Economics and Management, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
Feng Fu: School of Economics and Management, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-16

Abstract: The sustainability of superior performance is a vital goal for complementor in mobile platform ecosystem, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to realize it. The previous literature about the sustainability of superior performance is insufficient and lacks deep research the mechanisms that affect the sustainability of superior performance. Based on user-oriented perspective, this study examines the direct and interactive effects of app’s iterative innovation and visibility on the sustainability of complementor’s superior performance. Using a two-way fixed effect model and monthly panel data, with the final dataset of 4596 observations from 384 apps of top-ranking positions by revenue available from December 2018 to December 2019 on the Apple iOS App Store in China, the results show that a) app’s iterative innovation and visibility (including platform recommendations and download rankings) promote the sustainability of app’s superior performance; b) platform recommendations and iterative innovation have a synergistic effect on the sustainability of app’s superior performance; and c) the download ranking has a substitution effect on iterative innovation to promote the sustainability of app’s superior performance. The findings of this study have theoretical and practical implications for improving the sustainability of app’s superior performance in the digital age.

Keywords: sustainability of superior performance; iterative innovation; platform recommendation; download ranking; user-oriented (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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