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Provisioning of Large-Scale Systems: The Interplay Between Network Effects and Strategic Behavior in the User Base

Author

Listed:
  • Jayakrishnan Nair

    (Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400076, India)

  • Adam Wierman

    (Computing and Mathematical Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125)

  • Bert Zwart

    (Centrum voor Wiskunde en Informatica, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

Abstract

In this paper, we consider the problem of capacity provisioning for an online service supported by advertising. We analyse the strategic interaction between the service provider and the user base in this setting, modeling positive network effects, as well as congestion sensitivity in the user base. We focus specifically on the influence of positive network effects, as well as the impact of noncooperative behavior in the user base on the firm’s capacity provisioning decision and its profit. Our analysis reveals that stronger positive network effects, as well as noncooperation in the user base, drive the service into a more congested state and lead to increased profit for the service provider. However, the impact of noncooperation, or “anarchy” in the user base strongly dominates the impact of network effects. This paper was accepted by Noah Gans, stochastic models and simulation .

Suggested Citation

  • Jayakrishnan Nair & Adam Wierman & Bert Zwart, 2016. "Provisioning of Large-Scale Systems: The Interplay Between Network Effects and Strategic Behavior in the User Base," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 62(6), pages 1830-1841, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:62:y:2016:i:6:p:1830-1841
    DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.2015.2210
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Liu, Baolong & Wang, Weilong, 2023. "Live commerce retailing with online influencers: Two business models," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).

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