%0 Journal Article %J Journal of Database Management %D 2008 %T Bug Fixing Practices within Free/Libre Open Source Software Development Teams %A Kevin Crowston %A Scozzi, Barbara %X Free/libre open source software (FLOSS, e.g., Linux or Apache) is primarily developed by distributed teams. Developers contribute from around the world and coordinate their activity almost exclusively by means of email and bulletin boards, yet some how profit from the advantages and evade the challenges of distributed software development. In this article we investigate the structure and the coordination practices adopted by development teams during the bug-fixing process, which is considered one of main areas of FLOSS project success. In particular, based on a codification of the messages recorded in the bug tracking system of four projects, we identify the accomplished tasks, the adopted coordination mechanisms, and the role undertaken by both the FLOSS development team and the FLOSS community. We conclude with suggestions for further research. %B Journal of Database Management %V 19 %P 1–30 %G eng %N 2 %> https://crowston.syr.edu/sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/jdbm2008.pdf %0 Conference Proceedings %B Proceedings of the 41st Hawai'i International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS) %D 2008 %T Shared mental models among open source software developers %A Scozzi, Barbara %A Kevin Crowston %A Eseryel, U. Yeliz %A Li, Qing %X Shared understandings are important for software development as they guide to effective individual contributions to, and coordination of, the software development process. In this paper, we present the results of a preliminary analysis on shared mental models within Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) development teams. Based on structuration theory and by adopting cognitive mapping and process analysis, we represented and com-pared the mental models of some developers of the Lucene Java project. Our analysis suggests that there is a high-level of sharing among core developers but the shar-ing is not complete, with some differences related to ten-ure in the project. %B Proceedings of the 41st Hawai'i International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS) %C Big Island, Hawai'i, 7-10 January %G eng %R 10.1109/HICSS.2008.391 %> https://crowston.syr.edu/sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/SharedMntalModels.pdf %0 Conference Proceedings %B Proceedings of the IFIP 2nd International Conference on Open Source Software %D 2006 %T The role of mental models in FLOSS development work practices %A Kevin Crowston %A Scozzi, Barbara %K FLOSS %K Mental Model %X Shared understandings are important for software development as they guide to effective individual contributions to, and coordination of, the software development process. In this paper, we present the theoretical background and research design for a proposed study on shared mental models within Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) development teams. In particular, we plan to perform case studies on several projects and to use cognitive maps analysis to represent and compare the mental models of the involved members so as to gauge the degree of common knowledge and the development of a collective mind as well as to better understand the reasons that underlie team members actions and the way common mental models, if any, arise. %B Proceedings of the IFIP 2nd International Conference on Open Source Software %C Lake Como, Italy, 8–9 June %P 91-97 %> https://crowston.syr.edu/sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/oss2006crowstonscozzi.pdf %0 Journal Article %J European Journal of Innovation Management %D 2005 %T Methods for modeling and supporting innovation processes in SMEs %A Scozzi, Barbara %A Garavelli, C. %A Kevin Crowston %K Coordination %K Organizational Modelling %X Purpose – Sets out to investigate business modeling techniques (BMTs) which can be used to support and improve innovation processes within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach – Based on a literature review, different analysis perspectives on innovation processes are identified and discussed, and some firm needs and problems are pointed out. The importance of BMTs to firms is further tested by an empirical study whose initial results are reported. Finally, by matching problems and techniques characterized by the same ontology, the BMTs most suitable to address SME needs are identified and their role within the innovation process discussed. Findings – The main result of the paper is the identification of the problems facing SMEs in innovation processes and the possible support offered by BMTs. Though methods and models alone do not assure the success in the innovation development process (IDP), they are enabling factors and can support the creation of strategies, reasoning, insights and communication. Originality/value – The adoption of such BMTs, facilitating the codification of the characteristics of the IDP, might be particularly useful in those environments where, due to the lack of specialized resources, it is difficult to structure all of the information related to the innovation process and to exploit the related benefits and opportunities. %B European Journal of Innovation Management %V 8 %P 120–137 %G eng %N 1 %R 10.1108/14601060510578619 %> https://crowston.syr.edu/sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/MethodsForModeling.pdf %0 Conference Paper %B 1st International Workshop on Computer Supported Activity Coordination, 6th International Conference on Enterprise Information Systems %D 2004 %T Coordination practices for bug fixing within FLOSS development teams %A Kevin Crowston %A Scozzi, Barbara %X Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) is primarily developed by distributed teams. Developers contribute from around the world and coordinate their activity almost exclusively by means of email and bulletin boards. FLOSS development teams some how profit from the advantages and evade the challenges of distributed software development. Despite the relevance of the FLOSS both for research and practice, few studies have investigated the work practices adopted by these development teams. In this paper we investigate the structure and the coordination practices adopted by development teams during the bug-fixing process, which is considered one of main areas of FLOSS project success. In particular, based on a codification of the messages recorded in the bug tracking system of four projects, we identify the accomplished tasks, the adopted coordination mechanisms, and the role undertaken by both the FLOSS development team and the FLOSS community. We conclude with suggestions for further research. %B 1st International Workshop on Computer Supported Activity Coordination, 6th International Conference on Enterprise Information Systems %C Porto, Portugal %G eng %> https://crowston.syr.edu/sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/scozzi04coordination.pdf %0 Journal Article %J IEE Proceedings Software %D 2002 %T Open source software projects as virtual organizations: Competency rallying for software development %A Kevin Crowston %A Scozzi, Barbara %X The contribution of this paper is the identification and testing of factors important for the success of Open Source Software (OSS) projects. We present an analysis of OSS communities as virtual organizations and apply Katzy and Crowston’s competency rallying (CR) theory to the case of OSS development projects. CR theory suggests that project participants must develop necessary competencies, identify and understand market opportunities, marshal competencies to meet the opportunity and manage a short-term cooperative process. Using data collected from 7477 OSS projects hosted by the SourceForge system (http://sourceforge.net/), we formulate and test a set of specific hypotheses derived from CR theory. The empirical data analysis supports the majority of these hypotheses, suggesting that CR theory provides a useful lens for studying OSS projects. %B IEE Proceedings Software %V 149 %P 3–17 %G eng %N 1 %R 10.1049/ip-sen:20020197 %> https://crowston.syr.edu/sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/iee2002.pdf