Paper of the Chair accepted for MISQ Virtual Author Development Workshop 2025

How Do Status and Reputation Influence Voluntary Contributions in Online Knowledge Platforms?

This question is addressed in a joint research paper by Prof. Dr. Dennis Steininger (RPTU), Prof. Dr. Michael Zaggl (NEOMA Business School), and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Andrew J. Isaak (WU Vienna), which has been accepted for the MIS Quarterly Virtual Author Development Workshop 2025.

The paper, titled “Motivation by Status vs. Reputation for Voluntary Contributions in Online Knowledge Exchange Communities”, investigates how different forms of performance feedback—specifically status and reputation—affect users’ willingness to contribute, using Stack Overflow as a case study. The key insight: Reputation encourages engagement, while high status may diminish motivation. This helps explain declining participation often observed on online platforms.