SIMPLIFYING SOLUTION SPACE: A MULTIPLE CASE STUDY ON 3D PRINTING TOOLKITS

Flexible production technologies like 3D printing give users a large solution space to innovate and design. To harness the full potential of these technologies, it is imperative to provide toolkits, with structured and simplified solution space that meets the needs of users with low involvement. This pa-per explores the manner in which the solution space of 3D printing toolkits is simplified for non-expert users. Toolkit solution space was analysed in 68 toolkits with two perspectives of modularity: 1) Mod-ularity-in-use and 2) Modularity-in-design. First, the solution spaces were categorized in a 2x2 matrix by using the perspective of modularity-in-use, i.e. design questions and design options they offer to users. Second, this categorization and the perspective of modularity-in-design were used to identify mechanisms that simplify toolkit solution spaces. Solution space can be simplified for non-expert users by 1) offering iterative design questions with known design options, 2) using generative algorithms, 3) reusing designs and components from other users and 4) offering ‘meta-toolkits’ for users to create their own toolkits. The meta-toolkits democratize toolkit creation, and simplify solution space for non-expert users, as they design innovative and customizable products, together with expert users, without losing design flexibility

A TYPOLOGY OF FREEMIUM BUSINESS MODELS FOR MOBILE APPLICATIONS

Freemium represents an essential business model in the accelerating mobile applications industry. While Freemium models contribute more than 90% of the revenue generated in Google Play and Apple’s app store, extant research lacks to date a systematic typology. Therefore, this paper aims at developing a classification scheme for Freemium business models. Using theoretical sampling, we identified 40 apps from which we derived an empirically grounded typology comprising nine distinct Freemium types. We differentiated each type by two key themes, which are its premium revenue stream and the relationship between the free and premium offering. The developed typology contributes to a better understanding of the differentiating criteria of Freemium business models and enables risk-return considerations in the decision-making of app publishers. In addition, the typology provides a generalizable framework for different kinds of Freemium offerings. Finally, we developed three testable propositions from the typology which relate to the monetary advantage of certain Freemium types. These propositions give strategic advice on how to position existing Freemium offerings in quasi-monopolistic markets