The Servicitization of Peer Production: Reflections on the Open Source Software Experience

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Abstract:

The concept of what Yochai Benkler called “peer production” as an alternative mechanism to traditional hierarchies and markets has captured the imagination of numerous communities in contexts ranging from t-shirt design to software to gold mining. While
some question the suitability and potential longevity of this mode of production, others are focused on determining ways in
which peer-produced products and services can be suitably packaged to meet the requirements of consumers. In particular, the
mature peer production phenomenon known as open source software has emerged as a credible alternative to its proprietary counterpart
and presents a compelling challenge to both industry and academia as we seek to understand how firms and other organizations
can build sustainable business models leveraging the public commons of open source products and the collaborative engine that
created them.