Digital Platforms as dislocators On digitalization and limits of discourse

Abstract

In the ever evolving digital landscape, the platform has been of significant importance. The questions of what constitutes a digital platform as well as the effects that follow in the wake of the same have been discussed extensively. The focus has primarily been on companies and how their business are affected, how businesses can create and capture value, and how the digital platform enable the invention of new business models. But maybe not that much attention have been given to the possible transformative power of the digiatal platform from a broader perspective? Although the well-being of a society depends on the success of companies, the social body itself has been formed and built according to former relationships between companies and states. These structures can now be challenged and it is against this background I have written this thesis. Through the conduct of two discourse analyzes, I sought to answer the question: How does the emergence of digital platforms affect incumbent firms and institutions? The short answer is that they are affected, but to varying degrees both in relation to time as well as magnitude. Consequently, the comprehension of digital platform is context-dependent.