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When does community participation enhance the performance of open source software companies?

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  • Stam, Wouter
Abstract
This study examined how participation in open innovation communities influences the innovative and financial performance of firms commercializing open source software. Using an original dataset of open source companies in the Netherlands, I found that the community participation-performance relationship is curvilinear. In addition, results indicate that extensive technical participation in open source projects is more strongly related to performance for firms that also engage in social ("offline") community activities, for companies of larger size, and for firms with high R&D intensities. Overall, this research refines our understanding of the boundary conditions under which engagement in community-based innovation yields private returns to commercial actors.

Suggested Citation

  • Stam, Wouter, 2009. "When does community participation enhance the performance of open source software companies?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(8), pages 1288-1299, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:respol:v:38:y:2009:i:8:p:1288-1299
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    Cited by:

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    3. J. Andrei Villarroel & John E. Taylor & Christopher L. Tucci, 2013. "Innovation and learning performance implications of free revealing and knowledge brokering in competing communities: insights from the Netflix Prize challenge," Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 42-77, March.
    4. Gauguier, Jean-Jacques, 2009. "L’industrialisation de l’Open Source," Economics Thesis from University Paris Dauphine, Paris Dauphine University, number 123456789/4388 edited by Toledano, Joëlle.
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    8. Adrián Kovács & Bart Looy & Bruno Cassiman, 2015. "Exploring the scope of open innovation: a bibliometric review of a decade of research," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 104(3), pages 951-983, September.
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    10. Michael Fritsch & Sebastian von Engelhardt, 2010. "Who Starts with Open Source? Institutional Choice of Start-Ups in the German ICT Sector," Jena Economics Research Papers 2010-049, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena.
    11. Hu, Jin & Hu, Daning & Yang, Xuan & Chau, Michael, 2023. "The impacts of lockdown on open source software contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(10).
    12. Alexy, Oliver & Henkel, Joachim & Wallin, Martin W., 2013. "From closed to open: Job role changes, individual predispositions, and the adoption of commercial open source software development," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(8), pages 1325-1340.
    13. Yang, Wei & Zhou, Qing & Yu, Xianyun & Wang, Dongpeng & Li, Hui, 2019. "How to facilitate knowledge collaboration in OCs: An integrated perspective of technological and institutional measures," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 21-28.
    14. Rolandsson, Bertil & Bergquist, Magnus & Ljungberg, Jan, 2011. "Open source in the firm: Opening up professional practices of software development," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(4), pages 576-587, May.
    15. Menéndez-Caravaca, Eloísa & Bueno, Salvador & Gallego, M. Dolores, 2021. "Exploring the link between free and open source software and the collaborative economy: A Delphi-based scenario for the year 2025," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
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    18. Ger Post & Lotte Geertsen, 2016. "Collective ideation within the context of science and technology park and regional triple helix network," ERSA conference papers ersa16p846, European Regional Science Association.
    19. Zaggl, Michael A., 2017. "Manipulation of explicit reputation in innovation and knowledge exchange communities: The example of referencing in science," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(5), pages 970-983.

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