[Atlassian][1] has a concept they refer to as [ShipIt Days][2], where 

> where software developers can spend 24 hours tackling any problem they like.

I've also heard this referred to as _Innovation days_ in a different case.

I've been encouraged to work on a plan for something similar at my current workplace, and as much as I would like this to happen, I'm not sure where to start.

So I'm wondering, has there been any research done on this area, which I've called 'self-directed time' in the title, about what benefits and pitfalls there are? And if no "real" research is available, are there other, less formal, sources of information available?


   [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlassian
   [2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlassian#Motivation