TY - GEN
T1 - Conceptualizing the commons-based peerproduction of software
T2 - 31st International Conference on Information Systems, ICIS 2010
AU - Andreev, Pavel
AU - Feller, Joseph
AU - Finnegan, Patrick
AU - Moretz, Jeffrey
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Commons-based peer-production (CBPP), as exemplified by community-based open source software (OSS) development, has been posited by Yochai Benkler as an alternative to hierarchies and markets for organizing the production of information goods. This study seeks to conceptualize viable CBPP through an Activity Theoretic analysis of 524 peer-reviewed OSS research artifacts. The analysis reveals the reliance of peer-production communities on complex systems of interrelated tools, rules, and roles as mediating components enabling communities to (i) exploit the two theorized advantages of CBPP (resource allocation and information processing) and (ii) overcome the two theorized challenges associated with this mode of production (motivation and organization). The study clarifies and extends extant understanding of CBPP in several significant ways, and concludes that in order for CBPP to be viable, participants must operate in a sustainable fashion that both enhances the commons and leaves the community intact.
AB - Commons-based peer-production (CBPP), as exemplified by community-based open source software (OSS) development, has been posited by Yochai Benkler as an alternative to hierarchies and markets for organizing the production of information goods. This study seeks to conceptualize viable CBPP through an Activity Theoretic analysis of 524 peer-reviewed OSS research artifacts. The analysis reveals the reliance of peer-production communities on complex systems of interrelated tools, rules, and roles as mediating components enabling communities to (i) exploit the two theorized advantages of CBPP (resource allocation and information processing) and (ii) overcome the two theorized challenges associated with this mode of production (motivation and organization). The study clarifies and extends extant understanding of CBPP in several significant ways, and concludes that in order for CBPP to be viable, participants must operate in a sustainable fashion that both enhances the commons and leaves the community intact.
KW - Activity theory
KW - Commons-based peer production
KW - Open source software
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85069301130&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Conference Publication
AN - SCOPUS:85069301130
SN - 9780615418988
T3 - ICIS 2010 Proceedings - Thirty First International Conference on Information Systems
BT - ICIS 2010 Proceedings - Thirty First International Conference on Information Systems
PB - Association for Information Systems
Y2 - 12 December 2010 through 15 December 2010
ER -