Start Date

12-13-2015

Description

This paper examines the attention put by IS researchers to the various contexts of the Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) phenomenon. Following a selective review of the IS literature on FOSS, we highlight some of the pitfalls that FOSS research encounter in its quest for theoretical progress. We raise awareness of these pitfalls' consequences for how we propose, test, and falsify theories about the FOSS phenomenon. We conclude by proposing an agenda for future research.

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Dec 13th, 12:00 AM

How Many Penguins Can Hide Under an Umbrella? An Examination of How Lay Conceptions Conceal the Contexts of Free/Open Source Software

This paper examines the attention put by IS researchers to the various contexts of the Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) phenomenon. Following a selective review of the IS literature on FOSS, we highlight some of the pitfalls that FOSS research encounter in its quest for theoretical progress. We raise awareness of these pitfalls' consequences for how we propose, test, and falsify theories about the FOSS phenomenon. We conclude by proposing an agenda for future research.