Forking From the Future: How an Interorganizational Network Learned Its Way to New Software Business

Abstract

Technological disruptions call for new capabilities beyond the reach of a single firm. How does a large interorganizational network learn its way to new Cloud software business while leveraging forking—that is, copying and branching of code common to software development? Such forking promotes commitment and innovation but may compromise joint learning in the network required for developing new capabilities under technological disruption. Elaborating a seminal learning theory in an interorganizational network context, we demonstrate how forking was about to sacrifice long-term aspirations to short-term interests early on. We contribute a new type of forking—forking from the future—and describe how this type of forking harnesses future aspirations and builds collaborative capabilities in the network while reducing tendencies for shortsightedness. Forking from the future consists of the introduction of external perspectives, the implementation of new rules, the use of integrative tools, and generally accelerating collaboration among the network participants from the future back (not from the present forward). As software becomes increasingly important across industries, forking from the future becomes foundational for future competitiveness.