Trade-offs in designing ICT platforms for independent living services

Bringing independent living services to market requires common service platforms that connect service providers to elderly people and informal carers. Realizing such common service platforms is challenging as issues like organizing model, openness, governance and subsidization models have to be decided upon. This paper elicits trade-offs in designing ICT platforms for independent living services by developing three generic value network configurations. We do so through an action design research project in which series of workshops and stakeholder interviews are done. Analysis of the case suggests several core dilemmas for realizing ICT platforms for independent living services. Besides contributing to academic theories on ICT platforms, we also provide practical recommendations on how to realize the potential of independent living.