Integration of Platform Strategy and Product Architecture

Abstract

With increasing global competition, product development strategies require a great deal of responsiveness to maintain competitive advantage. This chapter examines the relationship between product architecture and platform strategy in the case of Japanese firms and aims to answer two guiding questions: (1) How have Japanese firms changed their product architecture during platform strategy implementation in emerging markets? (2) How do these changes reflect the complex requirements of customers in emerging markets? Based on a review of relevant literature, we present a research model that integrates product architecture with platform strategy.