Continuity of the Commons in Open Source Communities

Ruben Van Wendel de Joode

1/01/2005
(Original Publish Date: 1/29/2004)

This article focuses on the question: given that volunteers are motivated to participate in open source software development (e.g. Markus, 2000 #192; Lakhani, 2000 #198), what mechanisms are present to coordinate their invested time and effort and ensure continuity of software? "Elinor Ostrom (1990) identifies eight design principles, e.g. the presence of conflict resolution mechanisms and collective choice arrangements, that explain how individuals in communities ensure the continuity of depletable resources, like fishing grounds and grazing fields. This article provides a first discussion of the mechanisms that institutionalize these principles in open source communities.