[Air-l] 7 new papers on opensource.mit.edu

Wed Sep 24 09:40:17 PDT 2003

HI Y'All!

I hope the new academic year for everyone has started well.  I am in the 
midst of my PhD comprehensive exams (written component was last friday 
and this coming friday is the oral!) - but felt kind of guilty with the 
long que of articles that needed to be posted.  Any way, as usual we 
have had a great summer harvest!  Please do send your comments to the 
authors.

Many thanks to all the authors for their submissions.

Here are the papers:

Paper 1
Authors:
Casadesus-Masanell, Ramon & Pankag Ghemawat
Title:
Dynamic Mixed Duopoly: A Model Motivated by Linux vs. Windows
http://opensource.mit.edu/papers/masanellghemawat.pdf
Abstract:
This paper analyzes a dynamic mixed duopoly in which a profit-maximizing 
competitor interacts with a competitor that prices at zero (or marginal 
cost), with the cumulation of output affecting their relative positions 
over time. The modeling effort is motivated by interactions between 
Linux, an open-source operating system, and Microsofts Windows in the 
computer server segment, and consequently emphasizes demand-side 
learning effects that generate dynamic scale economies (or network 
externalities). Analytical characterizations of the equilibrium under 
such conditions are offered, and some comparative static and welfare 
effects are examined.

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Paper 2
Authors:
Demil, Benoit & Xavier Lecocq
Title:
Neither market or hierarchy or network: The emerging bazaar governance
http://opensource.mit.edu/papers/demillecocq.pdf
Abstract
Despite the growing body of literature describing the open-source 
phenomenon, few contributions have been theoretically grounded and 
research has largely focused on the software industry. Drawing on 
transaction cost economics, we go beyond these limitations and advance 
that open source constitutes a new generic governance structure—which we 
label bazaar governance— based on a specific contract. We characterize 
this structure in terms of its strengths and weaknesses and in 
comparison with market, firm and network structures. We consider how 
bazaar governance is actualized within an industry and the institutional 
entrepreneur’s crucial role in this process. Finally, we propose that 
bazaar governance has a profound impact on the structure of the industry 
in which it is introduced.

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Paper 3
Authors:
González-Barahona, Jesús M & Gregorio Robles
Title:
Free software engineering: A field to explore
http://opensource.mit.edu/papers/barahonarobles.pdf
Abstract:
The challenge of free software is not that of a new competitor who, 
under the same rules, produces software faster, cheaper and of a better 
quality. Free software differs from "traditional" software in more 
fundamental aspects, starting with philosophical reasons and 
motivations, continuing with new economic and market rules and ending up 
with a different way of producing software. Software Engineering cannot 
ignore this phenomenon, and the last five years or so has seen ever more 
research into all these issues. This article takes a look at the most 
significant studies in this field and the results they are producing, 
with a view to providing the reader with a vision of the state of the 
art and the future prospects of what we have come to call free Software 
Engineering.
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Paper 4
Authors:
Lakhani, Karim R & Bob Wolf
Title:
Why Hackers Do What They Do: Understanding Motivation and Effort in 
Free/Open Source Software Projects
http://opensource.mit.edu/papers/lakhaniwolf.pdf
Abstract:
In this paper we report on the results of a study of the effort and 
motivations of individuals to contributing to the creation of Free/Open 
Source software. We surveyed 684 software developers in 287 F/OSS 
projects, to learn what lies behind the effort put into such projects. 
Academic theorizing on individual motivations for participating in F/OSS 
projects has posited that external motivational factors in the form of 
extrinsic benefits are the main drivers of effort. We find in contrast, 
that enjoyment-based intrinsic motivation, namely how creative a person 
feels when working on the project, is the strongest and most pervasive 
driver. We also find that user need, intellectual stimulation derived 
from writing code, and improving programming skills are top motivators 
for project participation.
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Paper 5
Authors:
Stewart, Katherine J & Sanjay Gosain
Title:
Impacts of ideology, trust, and communication on effectivness in open 
source software development teams
http://opensource.mit.edu/papers/stewartgosain.pdf
Abstract:
This paper develops a framework of the OSS ideology (including specific 
norms, beliefs, and values) and a theoretical model to show how 
components of the ideology, combined with trust and communication, 
impact effectiveness in OSS teams. The research model proposes distinct 
roles for affective trust, cognitive trust, social communication, and 
task communication as determinants of OSS team effectiveness. The 
results suggest that in order for OSS projects to grow into the kind of 
large successes that prior work has studied, the teams that work on them 
should foster the norms and values of the larger community and maintain 
consistent task communication to develop cognitive trust among members.
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Authors:
van Reijswoud, Victor & Corrado Topi
Title:
Alternative Routes in the Digital World: Open Source Software in Africa
http://opensource.mit.edu/papers/reijswoudtopi.pdf
Abstract:
Software allows people to work with computers. Operating Software 
controls the hardware components and application software provide tools 
to facilitate and support the users' work. Most of the softwares are 
owned by private people or companies and users by licenses to use the 
software. This type of software is called proprietary or closed source 
software since the user purchases a license for using the product and 
the actual product (source code). At present Microsoft and Oracle are 
the biggest producers of this type software in the world. In the two 
decades a new approach for software development is emerging. Open Source 
Software movement is built on the premise that better software is 
produced when everyone is allowed to modify and change the software. So, 
in stead of selling user licenses, the product (source code) is 
distributed. The article discusses the differences between Open and 
Closed Source Software and reasons that organizations in the African 
context should decide to embrace the Open Source Software initiative. 
Several emerging initiatives promoting the use of Open Source Software 
are considered.
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Paper 7
Author
Barnes, Jonathan
Title:
Open Source Software as an organisational Technology
http://opensource.mit.edu/papers/barnes.pdf
Abstract:
This paper is still relatively preliminary, yet it provides a decent 
introduction to open source, as well as including discussion on various 
economic issues, contained in the following sections: The benefits of 
Open Source, Possible incentives that encourage contribution, Barriers 
to widespread implementation of Open Source.

-- 
===============================================
Karim R. Lakhani
MIT Sloan School of Management
&
The Boston Consulting Group, Strategy Practice Initiative
e-mail: karim.lakhani at sloan.mit.edu | lakhani.karim at bcg.com
voice:  617-851-1224
fax:    617-344-0403
http://spoudaiospaizen.net/
http://opensource.mit.edu | http://freesoftware.mit.edu
http://userinnovation.mit.edu