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How context and attention shape behaviors in online communities: a modified garbage can model
[Complexity theory and organization science]

Author

Listed:
  • Nicolai J. Foss
  • Lars Bo Jeppesen
  • Francesco Rullani

Abstract

Online communities have emerged as important organizational forms, but there are many gaps in our understanding. In particular, researchers have mainly focused on individual-level drivers of behaviors in communities, while downplaying (formal, informal) context at various levels. We theorize that different dimensions of context (i.e. omnibus and discrete context) influence decision-making in online communities through mechanisms involving community members’ attention. Specifically, context influences which problems members perceive and which solutions they retrieve and apply, thereby shaping the process of matching solutions and problems. We derive four hypotheses about contribution behaviors in online communities and how such behaviors are influenced by context. The empirical setting for our study is the open-source software community. We find support for our hypotheses in a unique dataset that captures the behavior of 24,057 community members who used the SourceForge.net online platform from 2000 to 2002.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicolai J. Foss & Lars Bo Jeppesen & Francesco Rullani, 2021. "How context and attention shape behaviors in online communities: a modified garbage can model [Complexity theory and organization science]," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 30(1), pages 1-18.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:indcch:v:30:y:2021:i:1:p:1-18.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/icc/dtaa040
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    Cited by:

    1. Hu, Jin & Hu, Daning & Yang, Xuan & Chau, Michael, 2023. "The impacts of lockdown on open source software contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(10).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O35 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Social Innovation
    • O36 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Open Innovation
    • M15 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - IT Management

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