Value co-destruction in online collaborative networks

This paper explores the underlying reasons for and develops a richer understanding of how value may be co-destructed within online collaborative networks (OCNs). Drawing on 36 semistructured interviews with members of two OCNs, Stack Overflow and GitHub, we outline 11 themes, categorized into three sets—pre-existing themes, themes that occur during the collaboration process, and postprocess themes—which lead to value co-destruction (VCD). Our research contributes to the co-destruction literature and illustrates co-destruction perspectives on OCNs. Our findings provide practical implications through raising awareness of the negative facets of actors' collaboration and help to increase value formation by addressing sources of co-destruction.