This document discusses how different institutional logics shape open data ecosystems and how these logics can be mediated. It analyzes the UK open data ecosystem through interviews and defines two main logics: a "digital commons logic" that focuses on openness and sharing, and a "commercial-efficiency logic" that emphasizes economic growth. These logics are mediated in hybrid organizations that combine elements of both. The document also proposes future research on open data ecosystems at the municipal level and the role of triadic hybrids.

1. ORGANIZING AND
ORGANIZATIONS IN
OPEN DATA
ECOSYSTEMS
Maximilian Heimstädt
Fredric Saunderson
Tom Heath

2. “THE EFFECTS OF OPENING UP
DATA ARE INNOVATION,
TRANSPARENCY,
ACCOUNTABILITY, BETTER
GOVERNANCE AND ECONOMIC
GROWTH.” (TBL)

3. 3
THE HOLY GRAIL?

4. 4

5. 5
DATA, DATA EVERYWHERE!

6. DEFINITIONS EVOLVE
Definition / Framework Release Affiliation
Open Definition 10/2005 NGO
Sebastopol Principles 12/2007 Individual
Sunlight Principles 08/2010 NGO
5* Linked Open Data 05/2010 Individual
OPQUAST Checklist 04/2011 Private Sector
Open Data Whitepaper 06/2012 Government
Open Data Certificates 06/2013 Hybrid

7. 7
QUESTIONS
• Which institutional logics shape the field?
• How can these logics be mediated?
“INSTITUTIONAL LOGICS ARE DEFINED AS TAKEN-
FOR-GRANTED BELIEFS AND PRACTICES THAT
GUIDE ACTORS’ BEHAVIOR IN FIELDS OF ACTIVITY “
!
(BATTILANA & LEE, 2014)

8. UK OPEN DATA ECOSYSTEM
• Longitudinal case study
• Built on existing CC0 timeline
• 15 interviews & observation

9. DIGITAL COMMONS LOGIC
“I think the logic for us was kind of like Apache. Apache came along
when Free or Open Source Software already existed. Like Apache
we tried to facilitate this thing [Open Knowledge, Open Data].”
!
OKF-130719-Int
!
!
“All logic is, we’re not a lobbying organisation, we are seeking to
make change in the world. We don't go and look at the legislation, I
don’t even call it policy making. We call it evangelising, telling how
great stuff is.”
!
OKF-130719-Int

10. COMMERCIAL-EFFICIENCY LOGIC
!
“$3 Trillion approximate potential annual value can be enabled by open data.”
!
McKinsey Global Institute Report (2013)
!
!
!
“We should realise that there is a difference between a commitment to
transparency and a true National Data Strategy for economic growth.”
!
Shakespeare Review (2013)
!
!

11. IN THE FIELD OF OPEN DATA, LOGICS
ARE MEDIATED IN HYBRID
ORGANIZATIONS
“HYBRIDITY AS THE COMBINATION OF MULTIPLE
INSTITUTIONAL LOGICS.“
!
(BATTILANA & LEE, 2014)

12. Organiza5onal
Ac5vi5es
Commercial
services
as
a
tool
Commercial
services
as
necessary
condi5on
Workforce
Composi5on Accquire
domain
experts Grow
allrounders
Organiza5onal
Design
Commercial
and
societal
units
rather
intertwined
Commercial
and
societal
units
rather
separated
Culture
(Declared)
“Openness
as
a
Culture”,
top
down
Culture
develops
through
working
groups,
boNom
up
Inter-­‐Organiza5onal
Rela5onships
Embracing
private
sector
Sceptcism
towards
private
sector
Hybridiza)on
Approach:
Media)on-­‐by-­‐Religion
Rituals
&
Believing
Media)on-­‐by-­‐Distribu)on
Cri5cs,
but
no
direct
frontline

13. FUTURE RESEARCH
FROM NATIONAL…TO MUNICIPAL ECOSYSTEMS
FROM DYADIC… TO TRIADIC HYBRIDS

14. MAXIMILIAN HEIMSTÄDT
M.HEIMSTAEDT@FU-BERLIN.DE
@HEIMSTAEDT
WWW.HEIMSTAEDT.COM