Platform Leadership: How Intel, Microsoft, and Cisco Drive Industry Innovation

by Annabelle Gawer, Michael A. Cusumano

Based on lessons from successful high-technology platform leaders, this book explains the dynamics of these highly complex and interconnected processes and partnerships. It provides a study of how companies successfully become platform leaders - companies whose products provide the basic technological architecture on which other products and systems are built (such as the microprocessor and Windows Operating System). The authors discuss how platform producers encourage other firms to create complimentary innovations, orchestrate innovations and standards for an entire industry and deal with various internal and external tensions or conflicts that arise when implementing platform-leadership strategies.

Genres: Business

336 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2002

Reviews

[Daniel Aarno · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book; especially the first part about Intel provided a lot of insights into the company and why it works the way it does. Provides a good history of why the companies and critical technologies developed the way the did during this critical time of IT evolution. The book is a bit dated though; especially the latter parts which are "forward looking".

[Demetri Mouratis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Could use a refresh as some of the technologies (e.g. Palm) are outdated or otherwise obsolete.