The hackathon format: an analysis of its possible interpretations under a service design perspective

This paper intends to explore the hackathon phenomenon by reflecting over the experience of the authors as participants or organizers of 5 hackathons that took place between 2011 and 2017. The paper will analyse the way in which these hackathons were prepared and run and how their different formats affected both the selection of participants and the outcomes of the hackathons. Related issues such as self-organization vs. top-driven governance will also be investigated to propose some considerations on the creative serendipity one would expect from such events.