The influence of sponsors on organizational structure of free software communities

TL;DR

This study investigates how sponsors influence the organizational structures of free software communities, revealing differences in decision-making, roles, and norms between sponsored and non-sponsored groups.

Contribution

It provides empirical evidence on the impact of sponsorship on community organization and describes strategies sponsors use to shape community structures.

Findings

Sponsored communities show more formal norms and decision-making influence.

Non-sponsored communities are more centralized and informal.

Sponsors actively shape community roles and norms.

Abstract

Initially, free software communities are characterized by selfmanagement, however, they were also influenced by public and private organizations that identified potential gains in the use of the geographically distributed production model. In this context, this research aims to answer the following questions: Do sponsors influence the organizational structures of free software communities by promoting differences between sponsored and non-sponsored communities? What strategies are adopted by the sponsor to influence the organizational structure of free software communities? Two constructs are central to the study: organizational structure and sponsorship. For this research, we adopted case study methodology and three free software communities were studied. In the analysis of the results it was evidenced that sponsors influence decision making, definition of community key roles, and a formalization of norms. In turn, nonsponsored communities were characterized by the centralization and informality of the norms. We conclude that differences were identified in the organizational structure of sponsored and nonsponsored free software communities, and this differentiation was influenced by sponsors. In addition, it was possible to describe strategies and mechanisms used by sponsors to influence the community organizational structure.