Analysing Multi-voiced Strategising and Firm-stakeholder Interaction in Open Source Software Communities (Track 3, Session 1)
Author(s) :
Johanna Kujala (University of Tampere, Finland)
Nina Helander (Tampere University of Technology, Finland)
Hanna Lehtim�ki (Life Works Consulting Ltd., Finland)
Abstract : The utilisation of open source software (OSS) has increased remarkably in the recent years. Given that open source communities themselves are networks mixed up by individual developers and firms participating in the community, OSS is an interesting research context. Thus, it is not a surprise that OSS communities have been in the interest of quite a few network researchers. However, the number of studies that specifically take into account the role of firms in these OSS communities or emphasise the firm-stakeholder interaction is still rather limited, although one of the most remarkable features of OSS is that the knowledge to create the product is not in the hands of firms, but resides within different actors around the firm. As actors involved in the OSS communities have sometimes very contradictory intentions and expectations, we find it important to seek ways of strategising that will take into account the perspectives of different parties by analysing the nature of firm-stakeholder interaction in the OSS communities. The purpose of this paper is to discuss how we can analyse the firm-stakeholder interaction in OSS communities by looking at the process from a multi-voiced strategy perspective. Multi-voicedness is defined as a company�s understanding of multiple stakeholder interests. The paper starts by discussing what it takes to formulate a multi-voiced strategy process that incorporates varying or even contradictory stakeholder views. As a result of the discussion build on stakeholder thinking, we present a way to look at strategy making from a multi-voiced stakeholder perspective. After that, we take a look at OSS communities and relations between OSS firms as well as other actors in the networks by assessing the elements of multi-voiced strategising in OSS communities. Finally, based on these elements, we discuss how multi-voiced strategising and firm-stakeholder interaction in OSS communities can be analysed at the empirical level. The paper is part of a larger research project, which aims to study the various business opportunities and business models provided by the open source software.

Menu