Simple rules in the development of multi-sided platforms

This paper explores the use of simple rules and combines this concept with the art of building and leading a platform. This paper defines simple rules based on the works by Sull & Eisenhardt (2015). We will identify the four key features of simple rules and six different types of simple rules. We will explain the main advantages of simple rules and how these can be useful for the development and leadership of multi-sided platforms. We will also explain the concept of business platforms and distinguish between multi-sided platforms as a market and as a modular technical architecture. We define key characteristics of multi-sided platforms and the market that is built around them. Then we will collect simple rules from a set of papers and reports and sort those that are useful in the development of multi-sided platforms, categorizing them by type of simple rule, platform type and platform development stage. The ultimate goal of this paper is to explain how simple rules can be selected and used to develop and lead multi-sided platforms. The goal within this paper is to provide a database of simple rules that can be used for this purpose and can be selected by category.