Pins on the Map: Navigating the Ambiguous Landscape of Generativity in Digital Platform Ecosystems

Abstract

Generativity is the main influencing mechanism for platform ecosystem evolution. As the literature on generativity grows, however, researchers have criticized that the concept itself remains rather fuzzy and ambiguous. Thus, the paper at hand aspires to make generativity more tangible. Based on a literature review, we uncover what is known about the nature, measurement, and management of generativity. Our results show that generativity is indeed still a somewhat elusive concept. While generativity is critical for the success of platform ecosystems, it also has negative effects. While there are valid approaches to measure generativity ex-post, leading indicators are still scarce. Lastly, while there are ways to manage generativity, the majority of the literature stresses its chaotic and serendipitous nature. By mapping the ambiguous landscape of generativity, we provide researchers and practitioners with a clearer understanding, further paving the way for generativity to become a valuable concept for understanding platform ecosystem evolution.