Complexity-management mechanisms on our two example platforms (data sources for illustrative cases indicated in Appendix)
| Complexity management mechanism | Promoting openness and enhances networking | Facilitating the self-development of solutions | Providing tools to enhance collaboration | Embracing diverse resource combinations | Setting common rules and protocols | Using marketplace-logic | Using modularity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complexity management approach | Absorption | Absorption | Absorption | Absorption | Reduction | Reduction | Reduction |
| Complexity domain | Relational | Cognitive | Relational | Relational | Cognitive | Cognitive | Relational |
| Example: ThingWorx | Diverse user communities (vendors and service providers) with diverse technological knowledge | Provides tools and resources to support developers in creating and tailoring customized solutions | Supports developer-to-developer collaboration with a database of illustrative articles, technical documentation, and download support software | Connects millions of devices through interactions with business systems, such as ERP, CRM, and big-data analytics software | Allows connected-product providers to exploit a set of standards, secure, and scalable tools with configurable, role-based authorizations | Its marketplace aims to both develop and sell own-IoT applications, as well as finding market-ready solutions | Uses a modular structure, encompassing a core module that connects to all platform components |
| Example: MindSphere | Ecosystem characterized by broad domain expertise and several IT capabilities (app developers, system integrators, and tech partners) | Provides an environment that facilitates the development of customer applications | Incentivizes collaboration through an open-source platform that facilitates resource- and library-sharing among community users | Provides partners in both operational technology (OT) and informational technology (IT) with tools to meet diverse customer needs | MindConnect suite connects physical assets (industrial devices) with standardized, secure interfaces | Third-party developers can also market their applications via the platform's digital marketplace | APIs make modular architecture and help customers develop customized applications |
| Complexity management mechanism | Promoting openness and enhances networking | Facilitating the self-development of solutions | Providing tools to enhance collaboration | Embracing diverse resource combinations | Setting common rules and protocols | Using marketplace-logic | Using modularity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complexity management approach | Absorption | Absorption | Absorption | Absorption | Reduction | Reduction | Reduction |
| Complexity domain | Relational | Cognitive | Relational | Relational | Cognitive | Cognitive | Relational |
| Example: ThingWorx | Diverse user communities (vendors and service providers) with diverse technological knowledge | Provides tools and resources to support developers in creating and tailoring customized solutions | Supports developer-to-developer collaboration with a database of illustrative articles, technical documentation, and download support software | Connects millions of devices through interactions with business systems, such as ERP, CRM, and big-data analytics software | Allows connected-product providers to exploit a set of standards, secure, and scalable tools with configurable, role-based authorizations | Its marketplace aims to both develop and sell own-IoT applications, as well as finding market-ready solutions | Uses a modular structure, encompassing a core module that connects to all platform components |
| Example: MindSphere | Ecosystem characterized by broad domain expertise and several IT capabilities (app developers, system integrators, and tech partners) | Provides an environment that facilitates the development of customer applications | Incentivizes collaboration through an open-source platform that facilitates resource- and library-sharing among community users | Provides partners in both operational technology (OT) and informational technology (IT) with tools to meet diverse customer needs | MindConnect suite connects physical assets (industrial devices) with standardized, secure interfaces | Third-party developers can also market their applications via the platform's digital marketplace | APIs make modular architecture and help customers develop customized applications |