TY - GEN
T1 - Theorizing modes of open source software development
AU - Lindberg, Aron
AU - Xiao, Xuan
AU - Lyytinen, Kalle
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Open Source Software (OSS) development is distributed across actors and artifacts and involves translating diffuse representations into distinct sets of contiguous code artifacts. Despite the highly distributed and dynamic nature of OSS development, it is often described in unitary, monolithic terms - an unfortunate situation which masks considerable variance across OSS development processes. Therefore we explore reasons for systematic variance in these processes so as to enable more effective OSS development practices. Drawing on theory of distributed cognition, we develop a language of cognitive translations, which occur within and across distributed social arrangements and structural conditions of sharing knowledge. This language provides micro-foundations for understanding how different modes of OSS development emerge. Through examining how generative characteristics of social and structural distributions in OSS shape distinct development pathways, we propose a theoretically derived typology explaining the characteristics, dynamics, and conditions for success of different modes of OSS development.
AB - Open Source Software (OSS) development is distributed across actors and artifacts and involves translating diffuse representations into distinct sets of contiguous code artifacts. Despite the highly distributed and dynamic nature of OSS development, it is often described in unitary, monolithic terms - an unfortunate situation which masks considerable variance across OSS development processes. Therefore we explore reasons for systematic variance in these processes so as to enable more effective OSS development practices. Drawing on theory of distributed cognition, we develop a language of cognitive translations, which occur within and across distributed social arrangements and structural conditions of sharing knowledge. This language provides micro-foundations for understanding how different modes of OSS development emerge. Through examining how generative characteristics of social and structural distributions in OSS shape distinct development pathways, we propose a theoretically derived typology explaining the characteristics, dynamics, and conditions for success of different modes of OSS development.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84902262265&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84902262265&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/HICSS.2014.560
DO - 10.1109/HICSS.2014.560
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84902262265
SN - 9781479925049
T3 - Proceedings of the Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences
SP - 4568
EP - 4577
BT - Proceedings of the 47th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, HICSS 2014
T2 - 47th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, HICSS 2014
Y2 - 6 January 2014 through 9 January 2014
ER -