Mi­chael Wessel

Through my research, I seek to answer central questions at the intersection of digital technology, business, and society. My work covers three main research areas: 

Digital Platforms and E-Commerce: How do platform ecosystems create and distribute value? My research examines the strategic decisions platforms face, including openness, quality control, user governance, and regulatory compliance. Platform operators need to understand the trade-offs between growth and sustainability. Policymakers require evidence-based insights to develop regulations that balance innovation with societal needs. This work also reveals how platforms can maintain trust and integrity in digital markets. 

Digital Business and Entrepreneurship: How do entrepreneurs succeed in the digital realm? My research investigates how digital technologies enable new forms of entrepreneurship, examining digital fundraising, the drivers of entrepreneurial success online, and how entrepreneurs learn and adapt in platform ecosystems. This work helps democratize access to capital, guides entrepreneurs through the challenges of digital business models, and demonstrates how they can build sustainable relationships with customers in competitive digital environments. 

Human-AI Interaction: How should businesses use AI responsibly and effectively? As AI transforms digital platforms and business processes, my research examines the opportunities and challenges that these technologies present. The work explores how AI-based systems affect user behavior, trust, and decision-making, and investigates the transformative potential of generative AI for digital platforms and e-commerce. Organizations can use these insights to implement AI in ways that create value while maintaining ethical standards and a positive user experience. 

My research employs empirical-quantitative methods, combining experiments, large-scale data analysis, and computational approaches, such as machine learning and text mining, to generate insights for practitioners and policymakers. The work has been published in leading international journals, including Journal of Management Information Systems, Journal of Information Technology, Information Systems Journal, Decision Support Systems, Industrial and Corporate Change, Journal of Business Venturing, and Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice—bridging academic rigor and practical relevance.