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To remain sustainable, open source software (OSS) projects must attract new members—or newcomers—who make contributions. In this paper, the authors develop a set of hypotheses based on the knowledge barriers framework that examines how OSS communities can encourage contributions from newcomers.

Employing longitudinal data from the source code repositories of 232 OSS projects over a two-year period, the authors employ a Poisson-based mixed model to test how community characteristics, such as the main drivers of knowledge-based costs, relate to newcomers' contributions.

The results indicate that community characteristics, such as programming language choice, documentation effort and code structure instability, are the main drivers of knowledge-based contribution costs. The findings also suggest that managing these costs can result in more inclusive OSS communities, as evidenced by the number of contributing newcomers; the authors highlight the importance of maintaining documentation efforts for OSS communities.

This paper assumes that motivational factors are a necessary but insufficient condition for newcomer participation in OSS projects and that the cost to participation should be considered. Using the knowledge barriers framework, this paper identifies the main knowledge-based costs that hinder newcomer participation. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first empirical study that does not limit data collection to a single hosting platform (e.g., SourceForge), which improves the generalizability of the findings.

Entrepreneurial practice often relies on the minimum viable product (MVP) to test business model hypotheses, yet the conceptualization of its makeup remains inadequately defined, particularly in uncertain startup contexts. This paper aims to clarify how entrepreneurs should think about MVPs in terms of their uses, goals and essential components to enhance their effectiveness as a tool for navigating uncertainty.

Existing literature on MVPs is broad and often overlapping, leading to confusion regarding essential components and best practices for MVP development. Through a systematic analysis of existing published definitions, this paper offers clarity by proposing a framework that breaks the MVP concept up into process, goals and the fundamental elements necessary to launch an MVP. By doing so, it provides actionable guidance for entrepreneurs seeking to utilize MVPs in their business model testing endeavors.

This conceptual paper critically examines the lean startup approach, seeking to disentangle the complexities surrounding MVP development. Drawing on existing literature and practical insights, the study identifies and articulates a framework that clarifies the MVP concept along with the core elements required for creating a viable MVP, including (a) artistic elements, (b) a robust distribution channel and (c) an effective user feedback mechanism.

This paper contributes to theory development and pedagogical practices by providing a structured framework for understanding and implementing MVPs in entrepreneurial contexts. By identifying the minimal category elements of an MVP, it offers practical insights into entrepreneurs and educators alike, facilitating effective business model hypothesis testing in varied and uncertain environments.