From Peer Production to Productization: A Study of Socially Enabled Business Exchanges in Open Source Service Networks

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Feller, Joseph; Finnegan, Patrick; Fitzgerald, Brian; Hayes, Jeremy
• 署名单位: University College Cork; University of Limerick
• 刊物名称: INFORMATION SYSTEMS RESEARCH
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1047-7047
• DOI: 10.1287/isre.1080.0207
• 发表日期: 2008
• 页码: 475-493
• 关键词: virtual organization; SOFTWARE-DEVELOPMENT; incomplete data; MODEL; systems; projects; trust

摘要

Peer production phenomena such as open source software (OSS) have been posited as a viable alternative to traditional production models. However, community-based development often falls short of creating software products in the sense that consumers understand. Our research identifies an emerging business network archetype in the OSS sector, the open source service network (OSSN), which seeks to address the productization challenge. To do so, OSSNs must overcome the problems associated with exchanging resources between firms. We demonstrate that OSSNs overcome exchange problems by primarily relying on social, rather than legal, mechanisms; similar to the OSS communities from which they emerged. This is made possible because OSSNs use IT infrastructures that provide high visibility for primary value-creating activities. The research utilizes a multimethod theory-building approach, deriving a model from extant research, re. ning the model through qualitative case study analysis, and further re. ning the model through quantitative analysis of survey data. The paper reveals the manifestation of social mechanisms in OSSNs and how these are used for coordinating and safeguarding exchanges between firms. Specifically, we illustrate the primary importance of a shared macroculture (goals and norms) and collective sanctions for punishing firms who violate these goals/norms. Furthermore, our research highlights the interplay between digital and social networks within OSSNs, demonstrating that the use of social mechanisms is inherently dependent upon the underlying IT infrastructure.