INSTITUTIONAL TRANSFORMATION THROUGH DIGITAL PLATFORMS: ENABLERS AND INHIBITORS OF GROWTH IN EMERGING ECOSYSTEMS

Abstract

This thesis investigates the growing adoption of digital platforms, particularly sharing economy platforms, and its relation to the social transformation and development of communities. It examines the relationship between digital platforms and their broader institutional environment. To contribute to a better understanding of this relationship, I draw on two case studies of popular sharing economy platforms in Indonesia. The first is GO-JEK, which is a transport, logistics and payment platform that started as a ride-hailing for motorcycles before it expanded to other services. The second is iGrow, which is a platform that connects under-employed farmers with urban investors and owners of underutilized land to create opportunities for better agricultural productivity. Using an interpretive approach, this thesis studies how these two acclaimed platforms affect and are affected by the prevalent institutional conditions in their respective fields.