What do hackathons do? understanding participation in hackathons through program theory analysis

Abstract

Hackathons are increasingly embraced across diverse sectors as a way of democratizing the design of technology. Several attempts have been made to redefne the format and desired end goal of hackathons in recent years thereby warranting closer methodological scrutiny. In this paper, we apply program theory to analyze the processes and efects of 16 hackathon case studies through published research literature. Building upon existing research on hackathons, our work ofers a critical perspective examining the methodological validity of hackathons and exemplifes how specifc processes for organizing hackathons are modifed for diferent purposes. Our main contribution is a program theory analysis of hackathon formats that provides an exploration and juxtaposition of 16 case studies in terms of causal relations between the input, process and the efects of hackathons. Our cataloguing of examples can serve as an inspirational planning resource for future organizers of hackathons.