讲座预告|宋培建：APIs in Software Platform: Implications for Innovation and Imitation

主题：APIs in Software Platform: Implications for Innovation and Imitation

主讲人：宋培建

时间：2018年4月23日（周一）10：00

地点：25教学楼A区三层Class C

主讲人介绍：南京大学商学院营销与电子商务系副教授。2009年获得复旦大学管理学博士学位；2015年到2016年美国伊利诺伊大学香槟分校访问学者。研究方向是平台战略、数据驱动的电子商务运营管理。近年来在国际顶尖期刊MIS Quarterly以及国际主流期刊Decision Support Systems, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, Information and Management, Journal of International Marketing上发表论文20余篇。担任国际期刊Electronic Commerce Research and Applications副编辑，Journal of Global Information Management评审委员会成员，MIS Quarterly等国际期刊审稿人。

讲座内容：APIs provided by software platforms play a vital role in facilitating app development by third-party developers. However, a remaining ambiguity is whether platform APIs actually bolster original app development or app imitation. In this study, we empirically explore the dual role of platform-provided APIs in influencing app innovation and imitation, and how such role is influenced by market environment and app characteristics.We employ content analysis on app source code to identify the extent of app originalty and imitation on a leading web browser platform and apply a difference-in-difference approach to examine how the release of a key version of APIs influence the app originalty and imitation. Our finding suggeststhat the provision of platform APIs fosters app innovation and undermines app imitation. Furthermore,we findthat the positive influence of APIs on app innovation is strengthened in app markets with greater market potentials and higher levels of app complexity. The role of APIs in reducing app imitation is weakened in app markets with greater market potentials and higher market concentration.Our study generates important theoretical and practical implications.