Research Model and Hypotheses

Abstract

Attracting volunteers is a key strategic challenge within open initiatives (Healy and Schussman 2003). Open initiatives face the challenge of “how to attract the participation of a broad community of contributors” (Chesbrough and Appleyard 2007, p. 68). In order to answer this question I have developed a research framework. The framework builds on the discussion of open source innovation, as well as private-collective innovation and social exchange theory. It describes the research rationales and provides the research questions. I highlight the firm and its tension in the realm of openness, develop clear research hypotheses, and introduce the research model.