Corruption in Open-Source Software Organisations: A Theoretical Framework

This article analyses the corruption phenomenon in Open Source Software Organizations using a deductive approach. For that purpose, we examine whether there may be corruption motives in such organizations which are not based on the profit motive and give advice how corruption should be dealt with. Our findings demonstrate that although in Open Source Software Organizations there is no intent to realize a profit, corrupt practices may occur nonetheless and should be combated. Criteria of efficiency for the assessment of the different anti-corruption instruments are that they prohibit corruption ex-ante and that no instrument influences the motivation in a negative way. Assigning the types of people joining the open source community on Frey / Osterloh's motivation types makes an examination of the effects of the instruments possible and shows that only intrinsic instruments are suited to fight corruption in Open Source Software Organizations in an effective way.