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Interfirm Exchange and Innovation in Platform Ecosystems: Evidence from Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference

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  • Jens Foerderer

    (TUM School of Management, Technical University of Munich, 74076 Heilbronn, Germany; Business School, University of Mannheim, 68131 Mannheim, Germany)

Abstract

Platform firms’ success depends on complementary innovation. This paper studies the relation between opportunities for interfirm exchange and complementary innovation. An empirical study of a sample of app developer firms attending Apple’s 2016 Worldwide Developers Conference suggests three findings. First, the opportunity to exchange stimulated innovation in the form of major app updates that received positive consumer feedback. Second, the effects were more pronounced for older and larger firms, potentially because these firms have more experience and resources to leverage exchanges and safeguard against knowledge spillovers. Third, part of the effects may be attributed to learning and collaborations.

Suggested Citation

  • Jens Foerderer, 2020. "Interfirm Exchange and Innovation in Platform Ecosystems: Evidence from Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 66(10), pages 4772-4787, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:66:y:2020:i:10:p:4772-4787
    DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.2019.3425
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