scholarly journals A Tailored Participatory Action Research for FOSS Communities

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Alami ◽  
Peter Axel Nielsen ◽  
Andrzej Wasowski
Keyword(s):  
Operating System ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Open Source ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Established Method ◽  
Robot Operating System ◽  
Specific Control

Participatory Action Research (PAR) is an established method to implement change in organizations. However, it cannot be applied in the open source (FOSS) communities, without adaptation to their particularities, especially to the specific control mechanisms developed in FOSS. FOSS communities are self-managed, and rely on consensus to reach decisions. This study proposes a PAR framework specifically tailored to FOSS communities. We successfully applied the framework to implement a set of quality assurance interventions in the Robot Operating System community. The framework we proposed is composed of three components, interventions design, democratization, and execution. We believe that this process will work for other FOSS communities too. We have learned that changing a particular aspect of a FOSS community is arduous. To achieve success the change must rally the community around it for support and attract motivated volunteers to implement the interventions.

An Innovative “Cybernetic” Organization Improvement Plan through Participatory Action Research in Persistent “Open Source” Virtual Worlds

2013 ◽  
pp. 107-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolaos Pellas
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Learning Community ◽  
Open Source ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Learning Program ◽  
Administrative Practices ◽  
Improvement Plan ◽  
Viable System

The research interest of this chapter focuses on redefining contemporary structures of organizational crossing boundaries, learning processes and diffusion of innovations based on the structure of persistent “open source” virtual worlds (VWs). In this notion, the present study decrypts valuable ways of organizational changes in a virtual learning community and managerial responsibilities of situational complexities that usually interdict on “open-source” VWs, and especially Open Simulator (OS grid). This assumption frequently recapitulated with a “cybernetic” improvement plan that addressed to the organizational structure of collaborative e-learning courses, encountering by the “Viable System Model” (VSM). The participatory action research empowerment appeared initially from the implementation of a multi-dimensional framework for enhancing the dynamic presence of users, according to the “cognitive apprenticeship” model. This establishment approves firstly the latest organizational and administrative practices of an adult learning program, and secondly instructor’s progressing through the cybernetic management that the VSM governs.

An Innovative “Cybernetic” Organization Improvement Plan through Participatory Action Research in Persistent “Open Source” Virtual Worlds

2015 ◽  
pp. 1013-1034
Author(s):  
Nikolaos Pellas
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Learning Community ◽  
Open Source ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Learning Program ◽  
Administrative Practices ◽  
Improvement Plan ◽  
Viable System

The research interest of this chapter focuses on redefining contemporary structures of organizational crossing boundaries, learning processes and diffusion of innovations based on the structure of persistent “open source” virtual worlds (VWs). In this notion, the present study decrypts valuable ways of organizational changes in a virtual learning community and managerial responsibilities of situational complexities that usually interdict on “open-source” VWs, and especially Open Simulator (OS grid). This assumption frequently recapitulated with a “cybernetic” improvement plan that addressed to the organizational structure of collaborative e-learning courses, encountering by the “Viable System Model” (VSM). The participatory action research empowerment appeared initially from the implementation of a multi-dimensional framework for enhancing the dynamic presence of users, according to the “cognitive apprenticeship” model. This establishment approves firstly the latest organizational and administrative practices of an adult learning program, and secondly instructor's progressing through the cybernetic management that the VSM governs.

Applying participatory action approach to integrating professional librarians into open source software communities

2019 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 541-548
Author(s):  
Vandana Singh
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Software Development ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Open Source ◽  
Open Source Software ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Open Source Software Development ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
Library Professionals

This article theoretically explores how participatory action research might support integration of library professionals into open source software development communities. The author makes a case for the integration of library professionals into open source software communities to help develop better, context-specific, customizable software for use by libraries and advocates for inclusion of library professionals in open source software communities to produce high quality, customizable software. The value of open source software for libraries is discussed and the importance of this integration is articulated by the impacts of this approach. A plan for integration of library professionals into open source software communities is presented.

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