Platform Performance and Challenges - using Platforms in Lego Company

This article studies the performance and challenges of using nine implemented product platforms in LEGO Company. Most of these do produce results, but do not meet their goals due to challenges in their usage in the daily product. The main challenges are that the platforms are not being used by the product defining users (product developers) and platform erosion. When the platforms are not used it is due to: unsuitable calculation models, lack of goals, rewards or benefits from management, unattractive tradeoffs and difficulties in understanding the platform. This indicates that platform design needs focus on the incentive of using the platform. This problem lacks attention in literature, as well as industry, where assessment criteria do not cover this aspect. Therefore, we recommend including user incentive in platform assessment criteria to these challenges. Concrete solution elements ensuring user incentive in platforms is an object for future research