Dynamics of Innovation in an Open Source Collaboration Environment: Lurking, Laboring, and Launching Floss Projects on Sourceforge

Posted: 4 Aug 2008

See all articles by Paul A. David

Paul A. David

Stanford University - Department of Economics; University of Oxford - All Souls College; UNU-MERIT (Maastricht)

Francesco Rullani

Ca Foscari University of Venice, Bliss - Digital Impact Lab

Date Written: August 2008

Abstract

A systems analysis perspective is adopted to examine the critical properties of the Free/Libre/Open Source Software (FLOSS) mode of innovation, as reflected on the SourceForge platform (SF.net). This approach re-scales March's () framework and applies it to characterize the innovation system of a distributed organization of interacting agents in a virtual collaboration environment, rather than to innovation within a firm. March () views the process of innovation at the organizational level as the coupling of sub-processes of exploration and exploitation. Correspondingly, the innovation system of the virtual collaboration environment represented by SF.net is an emergent property of two coupled processes: one involves the interactions among agents searching the locale for information and knowledge resources to use in designing novel software products (i.e., exploration), and the other involves the mobilization of individuals capabilities for application in the software development projects that become established on the platform (i.e., exploitation). The micro-dynamics of this system are studied empirically by constructing transition probability matrices representing the movements of 222,835 SF.net users among seven different activity states, which range from lurking (not contributing or contributing to projects without becoming a member) to laboring (joining one or more projects as members), and to launching (founding one or more projects) within each successive 6-month interval. The estimated probabilities are found to form first-order Markov chains describing ergodic processes. This makes it possible the computation of the equilibrium distribution of agents among the states, thereby suppressing transient effects and revealing persisting patterns of project joining and project launching. The latter show the FLOSS innovation process on SF.net to be highly dissipative: a very large proportion of the registered developers fail to become even minimally active on the platform. There is nevertheless an active core of mobile project joiners, and a (still smaller) core of project founders who persist in creating new projects. The structure of these groups interactions (as displayed within the 3-year period examined) is investigated in detail, and it is shown that it would be sufficient to sustain both the exploration and exploitation phases of the platform's global dynamics.

Suggested Citation

David, Paul A. and Rullani, Francesco, Dynamics of Innovation in an Open Source Collaboration Environment: Lurking, Laboring, and Launching Floss Projects on Sourceforge (August 2008). Industrial and Corporate Change, Vol. 17, Issue 4, pp. 647-710, 2008, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1194049 or http://dx.doi.org/dtn026

Paul A. David (Contact Author)

Stanford University - Department of Economics ( email )

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UNU-MERIT (Maastricht) ( email )

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Francesco Rullani

Ca Foscari University of Venice, Bliss - Digital Impact Lab ( email )

San Giobbe, Cannaregio 873
Venice, VE 30121
Italy
+390412347428 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.francescorullani.com

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