Social network structures in open source software development teams

• Main Authors: LONG, Y., SIAU, Keng
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2007
• Subjects: longitudinal study; open source software (OSS); social networks; social structure; Databases and Information Systems; Digital Communications and Networking
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/sis_research/9379; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/sis_research/article/10379/viewcontent/social_network_structures.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

Drawing on social network theories and previous studies, this research examines the dynamics of social network structures in open source software (OSS) teams. Three projects were selected from SourceForge.net in terms of their similarities as well as their differences. Monthly data were extracted from the bug tracking systems in order to achieve a longitudinal view of the interaction pattern of each project. Social network analysis was used to generate the indices of social structure. The finding suggests that the interaction pattern of OSS projects evolves from a single hub at the beginning to a corel periphery model as the projects move forward.