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Loosen control without losing control: Formalization and decentralization within commons‐based peer production

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  • David Rozas
  • Steven Huckle

Abstract

This study considers commons‐based peer production (CBPP) by examining the organizational processes of the free/libre open‐source software community, Drupal. It does so by exploring the sociotechnical systems that have emerged around both Drupal's development and its face‐to‐face communitarian events. There has been criticism of the simplistic nature of previous research into free software; this study addresses this by linking studies of CBPP with a qualitative study of Drupal's organizational processes. It focuses on the evolution of organizational structures, identifying the intertwined dynamics of formalization and decentralization, resulting in coexisting sociotechnical systems that vary in their degrees of organicity.

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  • David Rozas & Steven Huckle, 2021. "Loosen control without losing control: Formalization and decentralization within commons‐based peer production," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 72(2), pages 204-223, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jinfst:v:72:y:2021:i:2:p:204-223
    DOI: 10.1002/asi.24393
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    1. David Rozas & Antonio Tenorio-Fornés & Silvia Díaz-Molina & Samer Hassan, 2021. "When Ostrom Meets Blockchain: Exploring the Potentials of Blockchain for Commons Governance," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(1), pages 21582440211, March.

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