Contradicting Motivations in Civic Tech Software Development: Analysis of a Grassroots Project

TL;DR

This paper analyzes grassroots civic tech projects using activity theory, revealing that core motivations align but contradictions mainly arise in implementation details and technical planning, highlighting the complex dynamics of social change software development.

Contribution

It applies activity theory to understand motivations and contradictions in civic tech, offering new insights into the development process of grassroots social change software.

Findings

Core motivations are aligned among participants.

Main contradictions occur in implementation and technical planning.

Examining activity systems reveals evolving development dynamics.

Abstract

Grassroots civic tech, or software for social change, is an emerging practice where people create and then use software to create positive change in their community. In this interpretive case study, we apply Engestr\"om's expanded activity theory as a theoretical lens to analyze motivations, how they relate to for example group goals or development tool supported processes, and what contradictions emerge. Participants agreed on big picture motivations, such as learning new skills or improving the community. The main contradictions occurred inside activity systems on details of implementation or between system motives, instead of big picture motivations. Two most significant contradictions involved planning, and converging on design and technical approaches. These findings demonstrate the value of examining civic tech development processes as evolving activity systems.