An external developer platform opens up a company’s digital platform via APIs to third-party developers so they can develop their own digital customer offerings. In 2023, we studied what it takes for a leading software company to provide and nurture a successful external developer platform and ecosystem. In this year’s project, we seek to understand and document the state of external developer platforms and ecosystems at established companies across industries.
We will focus on the following research questions:
- Compared to software companies, how do external developer platforms help established companies across industries generate business value?
- What are the challenges they face and how do they address them?
- What can traditional companies learn from software companies?
This study will rely on a qualitative research methodology. We will conduct a series of interviews (one to three per company) with CIOs, CDOs, lead architects, and similar from established companies and create case vignettes.
This project is a continuation of MIT CISR’s 2023 research project on What it Takes to Build a Successful External Developer Platform.
SEEKING: We are seeking participation in the research from executives responsible for external developer platforms and ecosystems at established companies. These could be general managers of the external developer platform business unit or the chief architects for those platforms, but also chief digital officers, chief information officers, and similar.
CONTACT: Martin Mocker
