Do theories of strategic alliances adequately explain open-source technological collaborations?

Open source software technological collaborations (OSSTCs) are conceptualized as a phenomenon disconnected from conventional strategic-technological alliances. Past research has investigated them through the lens of open innovation - a phenomenon still in search of a theory. Following a case study research design and forty interviews with OSS experts, we observe that the rationale to engage in OSSTCs bears important similarities with conventional alliances. Therefore, we critically review five major theories of strategic alliances to identify the boundaries of their explanatory power of OSSTCs. Further, using a constant comparative method, we organized our findings into first-order categories, and second-order themes that characterize OSSTCs. We conclude that borrowing from the alliance literature and contrasting the two forms of collaborations on a set of dimensions can provide a theoretical basis to enhance our understanding of OSSTCs. Thus, an eclectic approach to theorizing can enrich our understanding of OSSTCs, open innovation and strategic alliances.