Open Digital Platforms to Spur Innovation

As the novel coronavirus surfaced in Wuhan in 2019, Chinese
officials called for mobile isolation wards. Haier Group partnered
with suppliers to design and construct units quickly, thanks to the
openness of the leading manufacturer’s digital platforms. Unlike
Haier, many companies have tightly regulated, siloed platforms.
Georgetown Professor Kasra Ferdows says more companies can unlock
innovations by extending their platforms to facilitate a broader
range of collaborations. He breaks down how Haier capitalizes on
the expertise and resources of its ecosystem and rapidly exploits
new business opportunities. Ferdows is a coauthor of the HBR
article "How to Turn a Supply Chain Platform into an Innovation
Engine."