Information technology platforms: Conceptualisation and a review of emerging research in IS research

The concept of an information technology (IT) related “platform” is broad and covers phenomena ranging from the operating system Linux to the Internet. Such platforms are of increasing importance to innovation and value creation across many facets of industry and daily life. There is, however, a lack of common understanding in both research and industry about what is mean by the term “platform” when related to IT. This lack of consensus is detrimental to research and knowledge development. Thus, the aims of this study are to: (i) conceptualise an IT-platform by identifying its distinguishing dimensions and show the concept’s extension to ecosystems; and (ii) identify important current research directions for the IT-platform concept. To achieve these aims a systematic literature review was undertaken with 132 relevant articles taken from major information systems journals, conferences, and business publications. The study contributes by providing a sound base for future research into IT-platforms.