Contradicting Motivations in Civic Tech Software Development: Analysis of a Grassroots Project

Grassroots civic tech, or software for social change, is an emerging practice where people create and then use software to create positive change in their community. In this interpretive case study, we apply Engeström’s expanded activity theory as a theoretical lens to analyze motivations, how they relate to for example group goals or development tool supported processes, and what contradictions emerge. Participants agreed on big picture motivations, such as learning new skills or improving the community. The main contradictions occurred inside activity systems on details of implementation or between system motives, instead of big picture motivations. Two most significant contradictions involved planning, and converging on design and technical approaches. These findings demonstrate the value of examining civic tech development processes as evolving activity systems.