MOTIVATION TO CREATE FREE AND OPEN SOURCE PROJECTS AND HOW DECISIONS IMPACT SUCCESS

Abstract

As a consequence of the success of free and open source software such as Linux, organizations started to rethink development practices and opensource their applications. To opensource software means to release its source code open to the general public in the Internet. That has become an increasingly common strategy in the industry over the last years (e.g., Netscape-Navigator, IBM-Eclipse, and CAIXA-Curupira). However, what motivates organizations to commit their resources to publicize proprietary software is yet to be fully understood; and it is only after this motivation is comprehended that it will become possible to define, measure, and study success. This paper fulfills this gap in the literature by proposing a theoretical model that satisfies technical (software quality) and organizational (business value) requirements at the same time, defining what would be, thus, return on investment and how to achieve it. Specifically, the model proposes that, in opensourcing software, organizations should attempt (1) to attract users and developers, and (2) to receive contributions from them, mainly because achieving these goals makes it more likely to expand the user base and build an active community that constantly improves the software. To work towards these goals, this paper develops awareness of how (a) software architecture (modularity and interdependence), (b) programming language and integrated development environment, and (c) sponsor’s reputation and degree of commitment can influence a project’s dynamics.