Characterization of the 1-9-90 Roles within Commons-based Peer Production Communities

Samer Hassan @samerP2P

Commons-based Peer Production

Theoretical Findings

Social Research

Co-creation workshops

Lean Development

Decentralized Architecture

Canvas

Web App

UX

Theoretical Findings

Social Research

Qualitative Methods

● 22 semi-structured interviews ● 12 usability testing interviews● 4 contextual inquiries● 3 focus groups (design thinking tech, card sorting)

1-9-90 rule

Sample: Role 1%I feel too much responsibility (VPC)

It’s usually a single person who takes care of a task, until she or he explodes and has to be replaced by another (Dani)

Sometimes it’s very frustrating (...). You are loaded with lots of work and the distribution is uneven (Sara)

...

● I feel stressed and overloaded● I need help/substitute with my tasks

Role 1%

Role 1%: Characterization

● Highlighted Motivations○ Need to ensure the project growth & sustainability ○ Feel fulfilled with the realization of [their / the community’s] vision

● Burning Process○ [passion] -> Desire to increase the involvement of the community○ [dedication] -> Need to share responsibilities○ [overload] -> Need help/substitute with their task

Role 1%: Characterization

● Virtuous working cycle?○ Feel conscious of the work to be done○ Need community to be conscious about the tasks to be done○ Need those responsible to carry out their tasks○ Want tasks to be done correctly

Role 1%: Characterization

● Their Problems○ Want to know the problems & needs of the community○ Feel consumed by communication

■ -> Want streamlined communication ● (accessible, concise, updated)

○ Need to manage accountability■ but found embarrassing & difficult

○ Feel uncomfortable that some contributions are not properly recognized

Role 9%

Role 9%: Characterization

● Intrinsic Motivations○ Want to collaborate to keep community running○ Want to contribute to the realization of the community vision

● Extrinsic Motivations○ Learning new things (personal growth)○ Gaining external reputation

Role 9%: Characterization

● Problems in Participation○ Insecurity on how to participate○ Lack of delegation/trust by 1%

● Frustrations?○ Need to belong & feel integrated in the community ○ Want contributions to be useful & meaningful○ Feel guilty for not participating more

Role 9%: Characterization

● Inclusive Communities○ Want their opinions to be listened○ Want the community to be more inclusive○ Want to feel valued within the community

Role 90%

Role 90%: Characterization

● Pragmatism?○ Need good & accessible common resource

■ Dependence on the resource○ Feel love / joy / appreciation for the community○ Want to support the community / common resource○ Want to be aware of what the community offers

Role 90%: Characterization

● Social Component○ Want to meet other people○ Enjoy feeling part of the community○ Admire some community members

● But they may○ Feel frustration because community’s lack of coherence with its values

/ processes / behaviors

Role 90%: Characterization

● Barriers to Participation○ Feel lack of experience/knowledge/skills to participate○ Ignore how to get started○ Need time to get started○ Ignore who to ask○ Ignore how to find info

● Limits○ Don’t care about many community details○ Want tailored & updated info

Open Questions

1. General Impression

● Do these findings resonate?

● Anything shocking, unexpected, unbelievable?

● Any serious omissions? ○ Why didn’t it come up?

● Can they be generic enough to persist across CBPP communities? ○ digitally-based (e.g. FLOSS, Wikia)○ digitally-supported (e.g. Fablabs, Makerspaces)

● Contradictory with other research?

● Reinforce/overlap work I'm not aware of?

● Beyond CBPP?

○ E.g. collaborative economy, social movements

2. Consistency

● What are the aspects of this research you find most interesting?

● Any problems is it solving?

● Interesting implications?

● Interesting applications?

3. Storytelling

● Can we classify these findings better?

● Any existing framework to help?○ Axis to order findings○ Motivations vs feelings, needs, desires○ Comparisons

4. Classification

Thanks!Samer Hassan

@samerP2P

Berkman Center at HarvardUniversidad Complutense de Madrid

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