Nonmonetary Reward Systems, Counterproductive Behavior, and Responses to Sanctions in Open Collaboration Environments

Nonmonetary reward systems that recognize high-quality contributions are a common feature of online communities. A growing body of work demonstrates positive links between nonmonetary rewards and increases in voluntary contributions, but negative externalities that may arise with these systems have received little attention. Concomitant performance pressures could incite counterproductive behaviors, and whether counterproductive behavior would be at the expense of productive contributions is unclear. Using proprietary data of members’ suspensions for counterproductive behavior in the online community, Stack Overflow, which enlists a nonmonetary reward system to sustain voluntary contributions, this study examines site members’ weekly movements through the system and their corresponding behaviors. I find being near a milestone reward threshold is associated with an increased likelihood of suspension for counterproductive behavior. However, members also increase productive contributions near the time of their suspensions, which may help offset their counterproductive behaviors. By contrast, formal suspensions for counterproductive behavior are associated with a reduction in post-suspension contributions. Jointly, these findings support the use of nonmonetary rewards systems to sustain voluntary contributions in online communities but offer a note of caution regarding the unintended consequences of enforcement.