The open source guild : creating more sustainable enterprise

Larner, Justin and Cheverst, Keith William John (2017) The open source guild : creating more sustainable enterprise. Journal of Management Development, 36 (1). pp. 71-80. ISSN 0262-1711

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Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to report on an action research project with two emergent micro-businesses that explored how their business model connected with the principles of open source. Design/Methodology/Approach: We first gained initial qualitative data to establish the core values of each micro-business, which we then explored in the context of open source and business models in two design workshops with each organisation. Findings: We developed the open source guild business model, which has the elements of: building a focal micro-business with resources secured through the guild, promoting learning and development through apprenticeship, promoting shared values through a commons of experience and capturing value by protecting key intellectual property. Research limitations/implications: This research was undertaken with two emergent micro-businesses in the North West of England. Further research will be needed to establish the wider applicability of the open source guild model. Practical implications: The open source guild model can be a mechanism for an emergent micro-business to create a community around their values and grow their business without conventional external investment of resources. Originality/value: This research contributes to the literature on business models based on open source and how these models can be sustainable in terms of the quadruple bottom line, which extends the triple bottom line to include personal values and meaning.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Journal of Management Development
Additional Information:
This article is (c) Emerald Group Publishing and permission has been granted for this version to appear here. Emerald does not grant permission for this article to be further copied/distributed or hosted elsewhere without the express permission from Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1400/1401
Subjects:
?? open sourcebusiness modelsguildsmicro-businesssustainabilitybusiness, management and accounting (miscellaneous)history ??
ID Code:
84697
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
13 Feb 2017 16:18
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
31 Dec 2023 00:38