On the Weickian Model in the Context of Open Source Software Development: Some Preliminary Insights

Despite being regarded as a path-breaking model of organising, Weick’s Enactment-Selection-Retention (ESR) model has been labelled too abstract a model find any practical applications. This paper attempts to show that exploration-oriented open source projects represent valuable case studies where Weick’s ESR model can be applied. By taking the Linux case study as a case in point, it is argued that a qualitative analysis of micro interactions (i.e. double interacts) might reveal broad organising patterns. Preliminary implications in terms of coordination and knowledge making processes are discussed in the final section.