Toward a Theory of Remixing in Online Innovation Communities
Authors: Stanko, Michael A.
Journal: Information Systems Research (2016)
<jats:p>Within online innovation communities, remixing (i.e., the community’s use of an existing innovation as source material or inspiration to aid in the development of further innovations) is an interesting form of knowledge collaboration. This study investigates an open theoretical question: Why are particular innovations remixed by online innovation communities? Some innovations languish, while others are widely remixed. Community members (even those unknown to the innovation’s creator) may remix, taking the source innovation in directions the original innovator may have never imagined. Within online innovation communities, remixing is not bound by some of the constraints to knowledge collaboration found in more traditional environments. To address our research question, we begin with variables constituent to innovation diffusion theory, essentially remixing this long-established theory to predict cumulative remixing in online innovation communities, using arguments grounded in the user innovation and learning literatures. We also consider two forms of communication that are relevant to knowledge sharing in online communities (online community interaction and front page prese…