Value Creation and Evolution of a Value Network: A Longitudinal Case Study on a Platform-as-a-Service Provider

Current research on cloud computing emphasizes the important role of Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) providers. However, little is known about how PaaS providers can offer value to the content providers and firms operating the platform. The findings demonstrate how a small PaaS provider in the cloud gaming market was able to develop a strong position in the value network by offering direct and indirect value to its partners. The findings also reveal how the firm developed its value network over fourteen years, from a complex network with several actors to a very simple value network which included only partners of prime importance.