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International Conference on Software Process Improvement and Capability Determination

SPICE 2017: Software Process Improvement and Capability Determination pp 481–495Cite as

Exploring Knowledge Loss in Open Source Software (OSS) Projects

Part of the Communications in Computer and Information Science book series (CCIS,volume 770)

Abstract

Open Source Software is a term used to identify software developed and released under an “open source” license, meaning that under certain conditions; it is openly available for use, inspection, modification, and for redistribution free of cost (or with cost based on the license agreement). Incorporation of OSS while developing software can reduce time and cost of development. The nature of the work force (volunteers and paid) in OSS projects is transient and results in high turnover leading to knowledge loss. In this work, we explore the phenomenon of knowledge loss in OSS projects. Maintenance of OSS projects requires knowledge, typically shared asynchronously using technology-mediated channels. Knowledge sought in this manner is reactive in the sense that a developer will consult these channels looking for possible solutions or supporting information. We follow the backward snowballing to study the relevant literature on knowledge loss in OSS. Our work suggests that proactive knowledge exchange mechanisms may bring some benefits to OSS projects. Further integration of knowledge management practices with the established OSS practices can minimise knowledge loss.

Keywords

  • Software Development Process
  • Open Source Software
  • Knowledge Loss
  • Knowledge Retention Process
  • Open Source Software Contributor

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Fig. 1.

Notes

  1. 1.

    GNOME is a well-known large libre project sponsored by several companies. https://www.gnome.org/foundation/.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported, in part, by Science Foundation Ireland grant 13/RC/2094 to Lero, the Irish Software Research Centre (www.lero.ie).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland

    Mehvish Rashid, Paul M. Clarke & Rory V. O’Connor

  2. Lero, the Irish Software Research Centre, Limerick, Ireland

    Mehvish Rashid, Paul M. Clarke & Rory V. O’Connor

Authors
  1. Mehvish Rashid
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  2. Paul M. Clarke
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  3. Rory V. O’Connor
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Correspondence to Mehvish Rashid .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain

    Antonia Mas

  2. University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Baleares, Spain

    Antoni Mesquida

  3. Dublin University, Dublin, Ireland

    Prof. Dr. Rory V. O'Connor

  4. Software Quality Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    Terry Rout

  5. Impronova AB, Askim, Sweden

    Alec Dorling

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Rashid, M., Clarke, P.M., O’Connor, R.V. (2017). Exploring Knowledge Loss in Open Source Software (OSS) Projects. In: Mas, A., Mesquida, A., O'Connor, R., Rout, T., Dorling, A. (eds) Software Process Improvement and Capability Determination. SPICE 2017. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 770. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67383-7_35

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