Take the FOSS Challenge

PerceivedPerceived

Usefulness and Adoption in the

Public & Business SectorPresenter

Gary Campbell

gcampbelljm@yahoo.com

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?