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Membership Herding and Network Stability in the Open Source Community: The Ising Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Wonseok Oh

    (Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill University, 1001 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1G5, Canada)

  • Sangyong Jeon

    (Department of Physics, McGill University, 3600 University Street, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2T8, Canada and RIKEN-Brookhaven Research Center, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973)

Abstract

The aim of this paper is twofold: (1) to conceptually understand membership dynamics in the open source software (OSS) community, and (2) to explore how different network characteristics (i.e., network size and connectivity) influence the stability of an OSS network. Through the lens of Ising theory, which is widely accepted in physics, we investigate basic patterns of interaction and present fresh conceptual insight into dynamic and reciprocal relations among OSS community members. We also perform computer simulations based on empirical data collected from two actual OSS communities. Key findings include: (1) membership herding is highly present when external influences (e.g., the availability of other OSS projects) are weak, but decreases significantly when external influences increase, (2) propensity for membership herding is most likely to be seen in a large network with random connectivity, and (3) for large networks, when external influences are weak, random connectivity will result in higher network strength than scale-free connectivity (as external influences increase, however, the reverse phenomenon is observed). In addition, scale-free connectivity appears to be less volatile than random connectivity in response to an increase in the strength of external influences. We conclude with several implications that may be of significance to OSS stakeholders in particular, and to a broader range of online communities in general.

Suggested Citation

  • Wonseok Oh & Sangyong Jeon, 2007. "Membership Herding and Network Stability in the Open Source Community: The Ising Perspective," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 53(7), pages 1086-1101, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:53:y:2007:i:7:p:1086-1101
    DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.1060.0623
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    References listed on IDEAS

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