Title: Product platform development in industrial networks

Authors: Martin Skold, Christer Karlsson

Addresses: Centre for Innovation and Operations Management, Stockholm School of Economics, Saltmatargatan 13-17, 113 83 Stockholm, Sweden. ' Department of Operations Management, Copenhagen Business School, Solbjerg Plads 3, DK 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark

Abstract: The purpose of the paper is to identify strategic issues in choosing deployment of product platform development in an industrial network often involving multiple brands. This is done through identifying types and characteristics of four generically different product platform strategies and clarifying strategic motives and differences. Number of platforms and number of product brands are identified as the two most important dimensions when distinguishing between generically different platform strategies. A strategic sampling is made resulting in in-depth longitudinal case studies in two automotive groups. Depending on company context, strategic objectives, and plans for future growth, the four types of generic product platform strategies raise different challenges and issues to deal with when realising product platform development in an industrial network. The four types of identified platform strategies with their different challenges and issues represent an addition and contribution to existing literature, which does not make any distinction between various kinds of platform strategies.

Keywords: product platform strategies; single brands; multiple brands; industrial networks; product brands; automobile industry; automotive brands.

DOI: 10.1504/IJATM.2011.040868

International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, 2011 Vol.11 No.3, pp.205 - 220

Published online: 13 Mar 2015 *

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