Based on research by Tommy Pan Fang, Andy Wu (Harvard) and David R. Clough (University of British Columbia)

Key findings:

• Companies like Spotify and IBM need developers to build apps for their platforms.
• Developers often struggle to determine which platforms they should prioritize when creating software or applications.
• The platforms developers ultimately focus on are influenced by the types of in-person events and meetups they attend.

Companies like Amazon, Microsoft and Apple depend on third-party developers to create applications that improve the user experience on their platforms. However, given the many options available, developers face a daunting task in deciding which platform to focus their efforts on.

“Developers are faced with imperfect information,” says Rice Business assistant professor Tommy Pan Fang. “They don’t have an overview of the entire technology landscape.”

A team of researchers, consisting of Pan Fang, Andy Wu (Harvard University) and David Clough (University of British Columbia), set out to investigate how temporary gatherings like “hackathons” — in-person software development competitions — might influence a developer’s choice of software platform.

Hackathons like Rice University’s annual HackRice draw developers looking to pick up new skills and create applications with teammates. Many of these events are sponsored by software platform companies.

The research team conjectured that hackathon attendees are more likely to adopt a particular platform if any of the following conditions are true:

• A high number of fellow attendees have already embraced it.
• A fellow attendee has built an award-winning hackathon project on it.
• The platform that sponsors the hackathon is already popular.

To test their theories, the researchers followed 1,302 software developers participating in 167 hackathons from January 2014 to May 2017. Twenty-nine different platforms sponsored the hackathons. Pan Fang and his colleagues tracked developers’ platform choices before and after the in-person events.

The researchers found that temporary gatherings — like hackathons, conferences and trade fairs — make a difference.

Developers with greater technical expertise were more likely to use a platform widely embraced by fellow hackathon attendees. And with every 10% increase in the number of hackathon attendees already using a given platform, other attendees were 1.2% more likely to try out that platform themselves the following year.

“The take-home message is, go out there and sponsor these events.”

They also found that platforms benefit from sponsoring temporary gatherings, like hackathons.

Developers who attended a hackathon sponsored by a particular platform were 20.4% more likely to adopt that platform in the following year, compared to developers who either did not attend any hackathon or attended one without a sponsor.

Part of the reason for the findings is that developers at hackathons exert social influence on each other, both during organized hackathon events like competitions and workshops, as well as informal ones including ping pong tournaments or nights playing video games.

“The social interaction and seeing their peers be successful with the tools and what’s fashionable impacts the tools they decide to adopt,” says Pan Fang. “For developers trying to figure out what technology to adopt in a world with imperfect information and uncertainty, having a gathering can be a beacon.”

Interviews with hackathon organizers, sponsors and developers in the U.S. and Canada backed up the researchers’ findings. Interviewees shared how they learned from their interactions with fellow developers during hackathons.

“When I’m walking around, it becomes noticeable what technologies people are using,” said a veteran of 15 hackathons. Another noted that if more people use a certain application programming interface, “it’s lower risk because it will be usable.” They added, “Most people just follow others.”

The study has implications for both developers and software platform companies alike. Results suggest hackathons can be a valuable venue for developers, not only to pick up new skills, but also to help them identify which platforms to use in the first place. For software companies, the lesson is simple: Sponsoring hackathons can be good for business.

Future research could look at how other types of events like conferences, tournaments and world’s fairs might impact how people end up adopting technologies, especially emerging ones, Pan Fang says. For example, a company like OpenAI could use these types of in-person events to garner support and build momentum for its products.

“Companies that may have taken a step back during Covid should reevaluate in-person events to get people excited and regain momentum for their platforms,” Pan Fang says. “The take-home message is, go out there and sponsor these events.”

Pan Fang, Wu and Clough. “Platform diffusion at temporary gatherings: Social coordination and ecosystem emergence.” Strategic Management Journal 42.2 (2021): 233-272. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.3230.

Online and flexible learning formats have surged in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic, transforming the higher education landscape. As demand for them grows, schools are investing in cutting-edge technologies to enrich the learning journey and combine the convenience of virtual learning with the power of in-person networking.

It’s great news for those who want to pursue an MBA while balancing life and work responsibilities. Online and hybrid programs make the degree more accessible and adaptable than ever before. As these MBA formats are relatively new, it’s natural to wonder about their pros and cons. Here we provide an overview of these program options and share a few strategies for success.

Should you choose an online MBA or a hybrid MBA? There are pros and cons.

For students seeking to advance their careers, online and hybrid MBAs maximize flexibility and minimize travel. Some of these programs, like ours, are taught by the same world-renowned faculty as in-person MBA programs. They also provide access to the entire university alumni network.

These formats may not be the best fit for students seeking to switch careers through an internship program. They also may not offer as many in-person networking opportunities as fully in-person programs. (Note: At Rice, we have an open-door policy for all our online and hybrid MBA students to visit campus at any time they wish.)

Here’s what you need to know about online and hybrid programs, including their potential advantages and drawbacks.

Online MBA

In fully online MBA programs, courses and lectures are delivered virtually, either in real-time (synchronous) or as recordings (asynchronous). Students can attend classes from anywhere in the world, often on their own schedule.

Pros

• Unmatched flexibility in location and learning schedule
• No commuting time or costs
• Join a diverse, global community
• Access to universities not located where you live and work

Cons

• Potential technical difficulties
• High demand for self-discipline
• Limited hands-on learning
• Limited peer socialization (although our learning management systems and virtual study groups can foster a strong sense of community)

Note: Students of Rice’s Online MBA can still benefit from in-person learning. Our program includes two week-long immersive experiences — one on campus and one global field experience — to facilitate networking and collaboration.

Strategies for success:

• Create a dedicated study space to establish a routine and minimize distractions.
• Use tools like calendars and task managers to keep track of deadlines and class schedules.
• Engage actively with classmates and faculty through online forums and study groups.
• Join student clubs and find other ways to engage in the school’s community.

Hybrid MBA

What is a hybrid MBA? In hybrid programs, courses and lectures blend both in-person and online sessions. At Rice, for example, classes are 70% in-person and 30% remote. Students attend in-person classes one weekend a month — three per semester. The rest of the program takes place remotely.

Pros

• Access to multiple learning experiences
• More networking opportunities, both online and face-to-face
• In-person benefits such as libraries, coffee chats, office hours, and career consultations
• Ability to join a program that is not in your hometown while also benefitting from significant in-person class time

Cons

• Balancing online and in-person schedule
• Travel and associated costs

Strategies for success:

• Block your work and personal calendars in advance of online and in-person sessions.
• Organize travel and accommodation well in advance.
• Create both remote and in-person communities.

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