At a glance
| Start | Spring 2027 |
| Duration | 2 days |
| ECTS | 2 ECTS |
| Costs | CHF 1'980 incl. lecture material |
| Language | English |
| Methodology | On-site and in-person |
Executive Education Course - Economics of Digital Platforms
Digital platforms have become a defining feature of today's economy. From Google and Facebook to Amazon, Uber, and Airbnb, digital platforms are reshaping markets, creating new business opportunities, and raising important challenges for strategy, management, and competition. This course provides a broad overview of digital platforms’ business models, their unique characteristics, and their wider economic implications. Through real-world examples and industry cases, participants will develop a structured understanding of how platform markets work and why they have become so influential.
Learning Objectives
Participants will gain a structured understanding of the main economic forces that shape digital platforms and their business models. They will learn how platforms create value, how they attract and coordinate different groups of users, and how features such as network effects, pricing structures, data, and ecosystem design influence platform growth and success. The course will also enable participants to apply these concepts to real-world cases across a variety of industries. They will learn to evaluate platform strategies, understand the challenges faced by platforms, and reflect on the broader managerial and economic implications of platform markets.
Content
- Platforms: Definitions and Core Concepts
- Network Effects and Defensibility
- Growing a Platform
- Pricing and the Challenge of Disintermediation
- Ratings, Reviews, and Recommendations
- Platform Market Power
Location
At the Center for Continuing Education of the University of Zurich at Schaffhauserstrasse 228 in 8057 Zurich.
Examinaton
To obtain the corresponding ECTS credits, participants must complete an assessment at the end of each module (e.g., written exam, case study presentation, written assignment, or similar). Further information and details regarding the assessment requirements for this module will be published in due course on our online learning platform OLAT.
Costs
CHF 1'980 incl. lecture notes
Eligibility Core Electives
Eligibility Elective Area
At Executive Education, you can attend more than 80 modules and have them credited toward the elective sections of our CAS, DAS, and MAS programs. Here, we list only a selection of suitable programs.
Contact us!
Would you like to learn more about our executive education programs in Management, Leadership, Strategy, Marketing, and Finance at Executive Education? Our Program Directors will be happy to assist you.