Paper Number
ECIS2026-1936
Paper Type
SP
Abstract
While the importance of user groups in management literature is already discussed, the platform literature mostly investigates complementors and consumers as individual entities. Previous research has focused on knowledge exchange in platform owner-moderated user communities or the impact of user involvement in product innovation. This short paper examines the role of user groups in enterprise software platform ecosystems. We identify three key functions user groups fulfil: influencing the platform owner, facilitating networking, and enabling knowledge exchange. The conducted single-case study of an influential user group in the SAP ecosystem also revealed three key tensions: balancing between the interests of complementor and consumers, providing value for both individuals and companies, and determining the most effective way to communicate with the platform owner. The preliminary results of this study contribute to the understanding of actor dynamics in platform ecosystems and lay the groundwork for further research.
Recommended Citation
Landler, Philipp; Heim, Sophie; and Wittges, Holger, "Towards An Understanding Of The Role Of User Groups In Enterprise Software Platform Ecosystems – A Case From The Sap Ecosystem" (2026). ECIS 2026 Proceedings. 7.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2026/platforms/platforms/7
Towards An Understanding Of The Role Of User Groups In Enterprise Software Platform Ecosystems – A Case From The Sap Ecosystem
While the importance of user groups in management literature is already discussed, the platform literature mostly investigates complementors and consumers as individual entities. Previous research has focused on knowledge exchange in platform owner-moderated user communities or the impact of user involvement in product innovation. This short paper examines the role of user groups in enterprise software platform ecosystems. We identify three key functions user groups fulfil: influencing the platform owner, facilitating networking, and enabling knowledge exchange. The conducted single-case study of an influential user group in the SAP ecosystem also revealed three key tensions: balancing between the interests of complementor and consumers, providing value for both individuals and companies, and determining the most effective way to communicate with the platform owner. The preliminary results of this study contribute to the understanding of actor dynamics in platform ecosystems and lay the groundwork for further research.
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