A New Method of Production: Peer Production

This paper presents peer production on the basis of the three industrial revolutions. It briefly introduces the Open Source Software phenomenon and background of peer production, then analyzes the conditions and dynamics which make peer production emerging. The paper points out that internet communication, modularity, and customers as innovators play an important role in peer production. It considers that some external environments such as hacker culture and popularity of knowledge make peer production lasting. Finally the paper summarizes the characteristics of the peer production method, including mass collaboration and customers as innovators.