Beyond Boundaries: Ecosystem Health through Indirect Integration and Pseudo-Sides

Fujii & Tsujimoto (2021) introduce the concept of indirect integration—where platform sponsors attract new complementors without directly extending platform boundaries, as seen in the video game industry. This research idea proposes a broader, cross-industry exploration of indirect integration mechanisms: How can platforms leverage or co-opt complementors already aligned with competitors to improve ecosystem health, resilience, and innovation? This would involve network analysis, case studies, and modeling of “pseudo-sides” (complementors who multi-home or are co-innovated across rival platforms). The novelty lies in challenging the assumption that platform growth requires expanding direct relationships, offering new strategies for mature or highly contested ecosystems.

References:

1. Indirect Integration: Orchestrating Complementors behind Competitors to Shrink Platform Boundaries in Digital Multi-sided Platform Ecosystems. N. Fujii, Masaharu Tsujimoto (2021). Europe.