Wikipedia Admins and Templates: The Organizational Capabilities of a Peer Production Effort

9 Pages Posted: 7 Apr 2008

See all articles by Max Loubser

Max Loubser

University of Oxford - Oxford Internet Institute

Matthijs L. den Besten

GSCM-Montpellier Business School

Date Written: April 3, 2008

Abstract

Wikipedia, the on-line encyclopedia, is a phenomenal success. It is tempting to think that Wikipedia owes its success to the special and innovative way in which it gathers and integrates content. However, it might just as well be that the contrary is the case: that, through a process of trial and error, Wikipedia has strayed from its idealistic origins and has been able to sustain itself only by adapting more and more of the features found in regular firms. In this paper, we point out some similarities between Wikipedia and project based firms and we discuss what research would be needed to determine whether these similarities matter.

Suggested Citation

Loubser, Max and den Besten, Matthijs L., Wikipedia Admins and Templates: The Organizational Capabilities of a Peer Production Effort (April 3, 2008). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1116171 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1116171

Max Loubser

University of Oxford - Oxford Internet Institute ( email )

1 St. Giles
University of Oxford
Oxford OX1 3PG Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire OX1 3JS
United Kingdom

Matthijs L. Den Besten (Contact Author)

GSCM-Montpellier Business School ( email )

2300, Avenue des Moulins
Montpellier, 34185
France

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