Controlling the use of collaboration tools in open source software development
Heli Ikonen, Netta Iivari, Henrik Hedberg · 2010
This paper analyses control in the open source software (OSS) development context, focusing specifically on how the use of collaboration tools, such as bug trackers and mailing lists, are controlled in OSS projects. The tools are vital for the functioning of distributed OSS projects. One OSS case project was analysed in the paper. The findings show a surprising amount of control in the OSS project. In addition, when compared to traditional information systems (IS) development projects, different control modes and mechanism were found. Strong evidence for informal 'clan' and 'self-control' were found, but also a lot of formal control was in use. The results are discussed in connection to OSS literature and critical IS literature.