When Does Community Participation Enhance the Performance of Open Source Software Companies?

41 Pages Posted: 27 Jun 2009 Last revised: 25 Apr 2010

See all articles by Wouter Stam

Wouter Stam

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Date Written: June 24, 2009

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.

Keywords: open source software, community participation, new ventures, performance

JEL Classification: O32

Suggested Citation

Stam, Wouter, When Does Community Participation Enhance the Performance of Open Source Software Companies? (June 24, 2009). Research Policy, Vol. 38, No. 8, pp. 1288-1299 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1425162

Wouter Stam (Contact Author)

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology ( email )

Clear Water Bay
Hong Kong, -
Hong Kong

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