The platform playbook: platforms as powerful organisational models for future cities

Sarah Barns

Chapter 3 in Handbook of Platform Urbanism, 2025, pp 29-43 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter examines the art of the ‘platform play’ as a set of engagement principles underpinning many successful digital products and services. Reflecting on how strategies to build and nurture ‘platform ecosystems’ are shaping the fields of strategic design and digital entrepreneurship, the chapter considers ‘platform strategy’ as increasingly fundamental to wider organisational strategy in a digitally-intensive global society. It argues that platform-informed methods of engagement deserve consideration for their ability to promote improved design and collaboration outcomes not only for extractive commercial gain but also for citizen-centric services. With more attention to citizen engagement opportunities, a ‘platform civics’ approachcan adapt platform strategy away from the damaging impacts of surveillance capitalism, towards improved outcomes for citizens and future cities. As such, it is a useful frame for considering the evolution of more citizen-centric futures for platform urbanism.

Keywords: Platforms; Futures; Citizens; Entrepreneurship; Cities; Placemaking (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035313754
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