Open Source Software (OSS) Implementation Strategy from a Fit Perspective: Empirical Evidence of Influence on Productivity

Irrespective of increased implementation of OSS in organizations, its impact on productivity remains a strategic challenge. Influenced by the “creative elements” of OSS, individuals in organizations often forget that the end result of software implementation is to improve productivity, thereby creating a negative impression on OSS implementation strategy as a whole. In this study, we argue that fit between the individual’s task, values and work demands can influence or hinder the sustained use of OSS. We explore how task-technology fit and two dimensions of person-organization fit (value-based fit and demand-ability fit) interact with each other to influence productivity performance. Using survey data, we find that congruence between the organization’s OSS values and the individual user’s OSS values (value-based fit), decreases productivity performance, whereas, fit between an individual’s OSS skills and the organizational task demands (demandability fit), increases productivity performance. We discuss managerial implications and contributions of the findings.