Group maintenance behaviors of core and peripherial members of free/libre open source software teams

Michael J. Scialdone, Na Li, Robert Heckman, Kevin Crowston

Research output: Chapter in Book/Entry/PoemConference contribution

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Group Maintenance is pro-social, discretionary, and relation-building behavior that occurs between members of groups in order to maintain reciprocal trust and cooperation. This paper considers how Free/libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) teams demonstrate such behaviors within the context of email, as this is the primary medium through which such teams communicate. We compare group maintenance behaviors between both core and peripheral members of these groups, as well as behaviors between a group that remains producing software today and one which has since dissolved. Our findings indicate that negative politeness tactics (those which show respect for the autonomy of others) may be the most instrumental group maintenance behaviors that contribute to a FLOSS group’s ability to survive and continue software production.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationOpen Source Ecosystems
Subtitle of host publicationDiverse Communities Interacting - 5th IFIP WG 2.13 International Conference on Open Source Systems, OSS 2009, Proceedings
EditorsCornelia Boldyreff, Kevin Crowston, Bjorn Lundell, Anthony I. Wasserman
PublisherSpringer New York LLC
Pages298-309
Number of pages12
ISBN (Print)9783642020315
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009
Event5th IFIP WG 2.13 International Conference on Open Source Systems, OSS 2009 - Skovde, Sweden
Duration: Jun 3 2009Jun 6 2009

Publication series

NameIFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology
Volume299
ISSN (Print)1868-4238
ISSN (Electronic)1868-422X

Other

Other5th IFIP WG 2.13 International Conference on Open Source Systems, OSS 2009
Country/TerritorySweden
CitySkovde
Period6/3/096/6/09

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Information Systems and Management

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