Platform Strategy • Gregor Hohpe & James Lewis

Platforms should focus on solving real business problems rather than attempting to anticipate all possible use cases or needs

Effective platforms remove constraints and enable new capabilities while making complex things simpler - they don’t just shift complexity around

The economics of platforms are critical - internal platform economics typically can’t match cloud provider economics, so focus on differentiated value

Platform success requires balancing standardization with innovation - too much standardization stifles innovation while too little creates chaos

Use clear metaphors and analogies (like automotive platforms) to help explain complex platform concepts and make them more accessible

Don’t try to hide all complexity - expose what users need to understand while abstracting undifferentiated complexity

Platform strategy should focus on enabling developer productivity and business value rather than perfect technical solutions

Consider what new constraints and complexities may emerge when removing existing constraints through platforming

Start with understanding your domain and business needs rather than jumping straight to technical platform implementation

Successful platforms make other people/teams smarter and more capable rather than just doing things for them