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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Following a change in the paradigm of innovation, much research has been focused
on open innovation and user entrepreneurship. Most of this research is centered on
open-source software communities as a main driver and tool for innovation initiatives.
Moving towards physical objects instead of merely considering software, the
emerging topic of open-source hardware deserves closer attention.
This study aims to elicit the motivations of open-source hardware developers, in
order to develop an understanding of how to manage innovation initiatives in this
field. Focusing on the most prominent open-source hardware prototyping platform,
Arduino, the results of a survey among community members indicate that developers
are mostly motivated by intrinsic and internalized extrinsic factors. Moreover, an
interview with a practitioner in the field of open-source hardware reveals interesting
insights that can be used to develop a corporate environment conducive to
innovation. Focusing on innovation both from a corporate and individual point of view,
this study presents a number of strategies that can be employed to optimize
undertakings in the field of open-source hardware.