Take the FOSS Challenge
PerceivedPerceived
Usefulness and Adoption in the
Public & Business SectorPresenter
Gary Campbell
The FOSS Challenge
• Free and Open Source Software
(FOSS) reduces Software Cost and is
a credible alternative to proprietary
softwaresoftware
What is Open Source?
• Open source describes a broad and general
type of software that makes source code
available to the general public with relaxed or
no copyright restrictions. no copyright restrictions.
What is Open Source?
• So what does that mean?
• “…software that is collectively developed by a community of technologists with an interest in a particular application or tool and then a particular application or tool and then distributed at no cost to the broader community of individuals who can find a use for it…” From open stacks to open source Joe Lucia, Villanova University, February 5, 2008
http://pln.palinet.org/wiki/index.php/From_open_stacks_to_open_source
What is Open Source? Really?
• Free to use
• Free to change
• Free to distribute
• An alternative to proprietary commercial • An alternative to proprietary commercial
software
FOSS vs Proprietary Software
Examples
FOSS
Operating System
LINUX
Proprietary
Operating System
Windows
ApplicationApplication
Open Office
Application
Microsoft Office
Why FOSS
• New Technologies are increasingly becoming
the subject of studies evaluating the impact of
ICTs on economic growth and business
performanceperformance
• At the same time, global developments and
competitive forces are increasingly driving
firms in many countries towards adopting new
ICT-based strategies and business practices.
Why FOSS
• Open Source Software (OSS) is increasingly
gaining public sector attention around the
world.
• Roger’s Innovation Theory and Davis’ • Roger’s Innovation Theory and Davis’
Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) have
been used to identify and test the factors
influencing new technology adoption.
Why FOSS
• In recent years, a number of IT firms or firms
notable for their intensive use of information
technology have been increasingly using free
and open-source software (FOSS), in part
because of perceived security benefits.because of perceived security benefits.
• (FOSS) it is hoped will be more secure because
its source code has been inspected and
corrected by thousands of users and
programmers.
Why FOSS
• However, neither FOSS nor proprietary
software provides any guarantees, much like a
car manufacturer that cannot guarantee
against car accidents.against car accidents.
Why FOSS
• The software used is often for infrastructural
computing tasks, such as operating systems,
web servers or database applications.
• When assessing competing proprietary and • When assessing competing proprietary and
FOSS applications for security, technical
experts and decision makers will need to
appreciate the various quantitative and
qualitative issues that make comparisons
between software difficult.
Why FOSS
• Free and open code allows users to inspect and fix
bugs, including security vulnerabilities, should they
have the resources and competencies.
• Certain FOSS applications are less likely to be targets • Certain FOSS applications are less likely to be targets
of attacks because of either design principles or their
still relatively small install base.
• Ever increasing automation should make FOSS even
more attractive because of Cost Savings from
Licences Fees.
Factors driving FOSS Adoption1. Satisfaction with OSS products
2. Perceived usefulness
3. Organisational fit
4. Availability of support
5. Reusability5. Reusability
6. Better software characteristics
7. Community involvement
8. Freedom associated with OSS
9. Testing of OSS products
10. User impacts
ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION
• Free/Open Source Software is radically
transforming how software is being developed
by different communities in diverse
disciplines. disciplines.
• However, FOSS still has a low market share
when compared to proprietary software such
as Microsoft products.
Concerns about FOSS Adoption
1. Economic value
2. Environmental constructs
3. Legal issues
4. Compatibility4. Compatibility
5. Product quality
6. Documentation
7. User Impacts
Concerns about FOSS Adoption
• One of the continuing issues of FOSS adoption
is identifying factors that cause people to
accept and make use of systems developed
and implemented by others.and implemented by others.
Open Source Alternatives to
Microsoft Office
• Open Office (Windows, Linux)
http://www.openoffice.org/
• Neo Office (Mac)• Neo Office (Mac)
http://www.neooffice.org/
Open Office
Leading open-source office software suite
• for word processing
• spreadsheets
• presentations
• graphics
• databases • databases
Other features:
Available in many languages
Stores all your data in an international open standard format
Compatibility with MS Office
You can download and use it completely free of charge for any purpose.
Neo Office
Most popular open source office application for Mac OS X.
• Word Processing
• Spreadsheet
• Presentation• Presentation
• Drawing
• Database
Based on the OpenOffice.org office suite, NeoOffice has integrated dozens of native Mac features and can import, edit, and exchange files with other popular office programs such as Microsoft Office.
Experience of using FOSS
1.National economic development
2.Reduces IT spend by modifying source code
3.Reduces reliance on proprietary standards and 3.Reduces reliance on proprietary standards and
products – open innovation
4.Detailed FOSS guidelines may help to improve
OSS usage
Linux
• Linux, the flagship of open source software
(OSS) (Applewhite, 2003), is a significant force
in strengthening the positions of some
developing countries on the global technology developing countries on the global technology
map (Wilburn, 1997; UNCTAD, 2002).
• It is touted to be ideal for accelerating the
growth of the IT industry in some low–income
countries and is expected to increase their
propensity to innovate.
Linux
• Linux has been the primary source of major
technological innovations originated for and
used in developing countries. For instance,
Encore Software of India has designed a
handheld Internet appliance, Simputer, based handheld Internet appliance, Simputer, based
on Linux. At a cost of below US$200, Simputer
provides Internet and e–mail access in local
languages; microbanking applications; speech
recognition; and, text–to–speech conversion.
What of SMEs?
• The development of the SME segment
has been identified as a significant
contributor to economic growth. contributor to economic growth.
• In the adoption of technology SMEs face
constraints related to access to finance,
availability of skills and know-how, and
international exposure.
What of SMEs?
• Unless there is clear evidence that the use of
ICTs will increase business profits, there is
little incentive for small companies to invest in
the new technologies and the skills necessary the new technologies and the skills necessary
for exploiting them effectively (OECD, 2004).
• It is clear that SMEs will benefit from potential
cost savings and increased profitability from
the use of FOSS.
Conclusion
1. Need for greater OSS supportability
2. Requirement for OSS guidelines
3. Creation of local Open Innovation Centre/Community
THE END
QUESTIONS?