Governance of Data Platform within a Data Platform Ecosystem Framework: Evidence from Japan’s WAGRI Data Platform
Keywords:
data platform governance, data platform ecosystem, agricultureAbstract
The complex stakeholder landscape and governance of data platforms in agriculture, designed to facilitate data sharing and utilization among diverse stakeholders, often posed challenges. This research proposed a data platform ecosystem framework and also applied it to empirically investigate the evolution of the governance of Japan's WAGRI data platform and its development and operations strategies, covering the study of evolution period from 2017 to 2024. The research methodology employed a document review in conjunction with interviews of key stakeholders. The results revealed the evolution of the data platform ecosystem, which included: an increase in the number of actors and their relationships; an enhancement of technological capabilities of the platform infrastructure; and (3) the evolution of data platform governance, encompassing a strengthened governance structure, a refinement of data governance measures that protect data ownership and data security, and an expanded stakeholder collaboration. Furthermore, the platform’s development and operations strategies were based on a “business-to-business-to-consumer” business model. This business model, coupled with a strong leadership of the data platform owner and provider, was crucial for the successful and sustainable operation of the platform as demonstrated by the growth of the “WAGRI” data platform, which had become a self-sustaining platform through its operational revenue. Therefore, the model can be adapted for development and operation of other data platforms.
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