Knowledge donation and knowledge collection patterns in a free software community

Abstract

This study aims to understand which combinations of tools and activities performed by members of a free software community lead to knowledge sharing. This paper reports a qualitative study developed using data from a worldwide Free Software Community (FSC). We’ve applied Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) technique, which offers alternatives configurations leading to both the outcomes and their absence. Results show that there is no solution leading to the absence of knowledge collection; there are several and alternative combinations leading to knowledge collection, knowledge donation, and both knowledge sharing processes. There are also some combinations leading to the absence of knowledge donation or the absence of both processes.