"You can’t compare features vs solutions vs platforms because the investment envelopes / payoff horizons vary big time". I think this is an important insight, and something I've been thinking about lately too. They are all investments, as you say, but the outcomes and the time horizons are very different and it is easy to confuse one with another.
Plus one in search of best mental models for given situation/time :) Want to know your thoughts around 'platform' vs. 'ecosystem'. For me 'platform' suggest a horizontal integration; 'ecosystem' on the other hand, vertical. More so, 'Platform' is open given the horizontal nature; but 'ecosystem' is enclose and most importantly, self-sustain.
Here are examples of 'platforms' vs. 'eco' per my definitions. Google is an ecosystem because it owns any thing from cloud computing to browser, operation system (Chrome/Android) to content distribution and consumer facing services, from hardware to software. It is enclose and self-sustain (Apple's taking away IDFA or change app store policy has little impact on Google). Facebook, by the same token, I consider it a platform.
I much appreciate the differentiation you made about 'Product' (solution) vs. 'Feature'. I required all my PMs and teams involved product development to think at 'product' level not 'feature'. Or one might risk missing the full picture or too obsessed with certain vanity metrics that has little to do with the end outcome/strategic goal.
Lastly, contributing one synonym for product leader I come to like, 'Be the vine maker, not the wine maker'. (quoted from a famous woman wine maker based in Spain).
Thanks for sharing. The categorization of various platforms makes sense and generalizable. Per the definition, I think maker platforms are more resilient and self-sustaining since it demands the 'livelihood' of those built/grow on top of it; while exchange platforms, since it is only facilitating exchanges, are replaceable. Thus overtime, become commoditized; as competition grows, margin will inevitably shrink. Once come to mind is programmatic advertising platform, aka DSP.
"You can’t compare features vs solutions vs platforms because the investment envelopes / payoff horizons vary big time". I think this is an important insight, and something I've been thinking about lately too. They are all investments, as you say, but the outcomes and the time horizons are very different and it is easy to confuse one with another.
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Plus one in search of best mental models for given situation/time :) Want to know your thoughts around 'platform' vs. 'ecosystem'. For me 'platform' suggest a horizontal integration; 'ecosystem' on the other hand, vertical. More so, 'Platform' is open given the horizontal nature; but 'ecosystem' is enclose and most importantly, self-sustain.
Here are examples of 'platforms' vs. 'eco' per my definitions. Google is an ecosystem because it owns any thing from cloud computing to browser, operation system (Chrome/Android) to content distribution and consumer facing services, from hardware to software. It is enclose and self-sustain (Apple's taking away IDFA or change app store policy has little impact on Google). Facebook, by the same token, I consider it a platform.
I much appreciate the differentiation you made about 'Product' (solution) vs. 'Feature'. I required all my PMs and teams involved product development to think at 'product' level not 'feature'. Or one might risk missing the full picture or too obsessed with certain vanity metrics that has little to do with the end outcome/strategic goal.
Lastly, contributing one synonym for product leader I come to like, 'Be the vine maker, not the wine maker'. (quoted from a famous woman wine maker based in Spain).
I always refer this guide for platform types:
https://www.applicoinc.com/blog/what-makes-uber-different-from-android-how-to-make-sense-of-platform-businesses/
tl;dr there are maker (1:n) platforms and exchange (1:1) platforms, and if an exchange platform is successful, you end up with a thriving ecosystem
Thanks for sharing. The categorization of various platforms makes sense and generalizable. Per the definition, I think maker platforms are more resilient and self-sustaining since it demands the 'livelihood' of those built/grow on top of it; while exchange platforms, since it is only facilitating exchanges, are replaceable. Thus overtime, become commoditized; as competition grows, margin will inevitably shrink. Once come to mind is programmatic advertising platform, aka DSP.