CREATING VALUE WITH OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE

Abstract

The open source process of creation is quickly becoming a threat and also an opportunity to businesses of all kinds. Based on a model of software development where the underlying programming code is open to inspection, modification and redistribution, some new business practices have emerged which several companies have been successfully using in the information systems market. These companies have shifted from a traditional paradigm of software development to a new paradigm where the massive collaboration is the center of the whole process. In this paper, six successful business models that have already been introduced in the market are presented and it is described how they can be embraced by willing software companies.