OSTM micro-courseOpen Source Business Practices
Students will be challenged to assess traditional organizational practice and measure their capacity to manage reform, in light of the differences presented by open source software in an industry that promotes the production of business-ready, cost effective software, delivering quicker innovation, reduced time to market, freedom from lock-in, enhanced reliability, lower total cost of ownership, and a host of other benefits. This may require rethinking business models, procurement methods, project management methodologies, understandings of total cost of ownership, staffing, management of non-vendor and community relationships, risk assessment, and commercialization.
By the end of this micro-course, students will be able to:
- Explain the impetus, value proposition, community principles, and common practices of Open Source Software, open source development and communities of practice, and some of the implications for engaging within contemporary organizations.
- Differentiate between open source and other forms of software licensing, production, and distribution models related to typical business operations: procurement, HR, marketing and communications, etc.
- Assess the variety of open source business models as compared to traditional proprietary approaches.
- Work collaboratively, to emulate open source communities using open source tools (asynchronous, iterative, etc.).
Visit the Open Source Technology Management program webpage to learn about other program offerings.