Open Source Software has spent the last 10 years sneaking its way into businesses.  Most people associate open source software with the Linux operating system - but this is just the tip of the iceburg. OSS ranges from operating systems to office suites and can be used in applications ranging from cellular telephones to business intelligence.

The point of open source software is to capture the various perspectives on how to solve a specific challenge - using knowledge from all over the world. When two groups of people can not agree on the exact solution to a problem; they separate and work both of their ideas for a solution. Sometimes they come back together based on the best of the solutions - other times they are both valuable and the develop separately.

OSS's major strength is in the ability to leverage the talents and brainpower of a group of people from all over the world and continue to benefit from it as time goes on. Dont be fooled by the image of the OSS developer wearing flip flops and working from their garage; this style of programing is now championed by some of the largest technology companies on the planet.

Their are two paths for businesses to benefit from Open Source Software; the innovators and the strategists.

The innovators are those companies who are willing to take a risk to achieve a benefit. They include companies such as Google, who use open source technologies to lower the costs of doing business and acknowledge that they will be responsible for the problems that result from pushing the envelope.  As these companies become more established and grow they tend to blend their risks with conversative options so that they focus their innovation talents.

The strategists are those companies that recognize that certain OSS projects represent the best of breed in terms of creativity and knowledge. They develop a strategy to leverage this  innovation while optimizing their IT spending. This group looks for those OSS technologies that have matured enough that commercial concerns now make available enterprise support options. By mixing the lower cost product with the typical support costs of similar systems these businesses save money and adopt tools faster than their competitors.

Let Mavenspire work with you to define which OSS technologies will propell your organization along its business plan.

Mavenspire supported Enterprise Open Source Products and Technologies