Digital Technologies and Patterns of Distributed Innovation

In this conceptual essay we develop a framework for comparing different forms of organizational structures for distributed, innovative work. To develop this framework we identify two dimensions. The first distinguishes between organizational arrangements that are structured either in relation to a “container” organization, or those arrangements that are structured by the digital platforms upon which their ecosystems are based. The second dimension considers the degree to which the boundary spanning activity is more or less opaque, in terms of the degree to which collaborators interact in either an arm’s length or a tightly coupled fashion. In developing and reflecting on this framework, we characterize four ideal types of organizational structures for distributed innovation: agent relationships; work teams; managed crowds; or open projects. We further utilize the framework to theorize about processes that might lead to transitions between structures.