Common typology of multi-sided platforms and virtual communities: analysis of business models using qualitative system dynamics

Tymoteusz Doligalski ()
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Tymoteusz Doligalski: SGH Warsaw School of Economics

Electronic Commerce Research, 2025, vol. 25, issue 2, No 10, 985 pages

Abstract: Abstract This article presents a common typology of multi-sided platforms and virtual communities. The analysed entities comprise 69 of Poland’s most prominent websites, representing one of two business models. Based on three dimensions: collaboration among users, reputation-based user competition, and user multi-sidedness, we identified four business models. These are problem community, object community, object market, and reputation market. The differences in their logics of value creation go beyond the traditional division between multi-sided platforms and virtual communities. The identified business models were depicted in qualitative system dynamics diagrams. The typology was verified using the statistical clustering technique, which yielded corresponding results.

Keywords: Platforms; Communities; Business models; Typology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s10660-023-09700-w

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