An open collaboration approach uses methods that are based around sharing knowledge, contributing to project sustainability in the longer term. Open collaboration, where peers co-create materials, relies more on gathering to discuss how solutions should be implemented, than carrying out implementation.
Three key principles of open collaboration are egalitarianism, meritocracy and self-organisation. This is not not usually how organisations develop solutions, where tasks are assigned, status rather than merit makes key decisions, and processes are imposed on workers. Open collaboration is normally associated with open source communities, where the benefits of this approach are obvious: people volunteer their time, contributors are motivated, increased scrutiny creates higher quality, and a broader range of expertise is usually available.
Examples
Standards development organisations.
Open source communities (e.g., Wikipedia and the “GNU manifesto”).
Online communities (e.g., Reddit).
Sources
Riehle, D., Ellenberger, J., Menahem, T., Mikhailovski, B., Natchetoi, Y., Naveh, B. & Odenwald, T. (2009) Open Collaboration within Corporations Using Software Forge, IEEE Software.
Jemielniak, D., & Przegalinska, A. (2020). Collaborative society. MIT Press.
Ziegler, V. & Yrjola, S. (2020). 6G Indicators of Value and Performance, 2020 2nd 6G wireless summit (6G SUMMIT) (pp. 1-5). IEEE.