Adoption and Use of Open Source Infrastructure Software by Large Corporations

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
RadhaKanta Mahapatra ◽  
Rashid Manzar ◽  
Vikram S. Bhadauria
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Open Source Software ◽  
Source Model ◽  
Early Adopter ◽  
Business Organizations ◽  
Adoption Decision ◽  
Software Adoption ◽  
Continued Use ◽  
Large Corporations ◽  
Proprietary Product

Adoption and continuance of use of open source infrastructure software by large business organizations is not well understood. This study fills this gap in research by conducting a longitudinal investigation of the adoption and use of MySQL by two large corporations. One organization, an early adopter, adopted and used MySQL for several years before reverting back to a proprietary product. The other, a late adopter, made an initial adoption decision but didn't deploy it in mission critical applications. Interestingly, free software and freedom to access and modify the source code, the hallmark of the open source model, were not found to be significant in promoting adoption. In contrast, high quality maintenance support and timely product enhancement to keep up with user needs were considered critical for initial adoption and continued use of software. The study also demonstrates the need to investigate continuance of use to get a complete picture of open source software adoption and use by organizations.

scholarly journals Trust and Community in Open Source Software Production

2004 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Margit Osterloh ◽  
Sandra Rota
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Open Source Software ◽  
Extrinsic Motivation ◽  
Source Model ◽  
Private Ownership ◽  
Complex Interplay ◽  
Software Production ◽  
Innovation Model ◽  
The Commons ◽  
Low Costs

AbstractOpen source software production is a successful new innovation model which disproves that only private ownership of intellectual property rights fosters innovations. It is analyzed here under which conditions the open source model may be successful in general. We show that a complex interplay of situational, motivational, and institutional factors have to be taken into account to understand how to manage the ‘tragedy of the commons’ as well as the ‘tragedy of the anticommons’. It is argued that the success of this new innovation model is greatly facilitated by a well balanced portfolio of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, low costs for contributors and governance mechanisms that do not crowd out intrinsic motivation.

Open Source Software Adoption

2009 ◽  
pp. 1675-1698 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Fitzgerald
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Open Source ◽  
Open Source Software ◽  
Longitudinal Case Study ◽  
Software Adoption ◽  
Public Sector Organization ◽  
Desktop Application ◽  
Depth Study ◽  
Over Time

Current estimates suggest widespread adoption of open source software (OSS) in organizations worldwide. However, the problematic nature of OSS adoption is readily evidenced in the fairly frequent reports of problems, unforeseen hold-ups, and outright abandonment of OSS implementation over time. Hibernia Hospital, an Irish public sector organization, have embarked on the adoption of a range of OSS applications over several years, some of which have been successfully deployed and remain in live use within the organisation, whereas others, despite achieving high levels of assimilation over a number of years, have not been ultimately retained in live use in the organization. Using a longitudinal case study, we discuss in depth the deployment process for two OSS applications – the desktop application suite whose deployment was unsuccessful ultimately, and the email application which was successfully deployed. To our knowledge, this is the first such in-depth study into successful and unsuccessful OSS implementation.

Embedded Real-Time Linux for Cable Robot Control

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick M. Proctor ◽  
William P. Shackleford
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Open Source Software ◽  
Hard Disk Drives ◽  
Source Model ◽  
Disk Drives ◽  
Deterministic Scheduling ◽  
Cable Robot ◽  
Real Time Computing ◽  
Embedded Applications

Linux is a version of the Unix operating system distributed according to the open source model. Programmers are free to adapt the source code for their purposes, but are required to make their modifications or enhancements available as open source software as well. This model has fostered the widespread adoption of Linux for typical Unix server and workstation roles, and also in more arcane applications such as embedded or real-time computing. Embedded applications typically run in small physical and computing footprints, usually without fragile peripherals like hard disk drives. Special configurations are required to support these limited environments. Real-time applications require guarantees that tasks will execute within their deadlines, something not possible in general with the normal Linux scheduler. Real-time extensions to Linux enable deterministic scheduling, at task periods at tens of microseconds. This paper describes embedded and real-time Linux, and an application for distributed control of a Stewart Platform cable robot. Special Linux configuration requirements are detailed, and the architecture for teleoperated control of the cable robot is presented, with emphasis on the resolved-rate control of the suspended platform.

The context and state of open source software adoption in US academic libraries

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 641-659
Author(s):  
Namjoo Choi ◽  
Joseph A. Pruett
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Open Source Software ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Chief Information Officers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Software Adoption ◽  
Current State ◽  
Funding Agencies ◽  
Low Levels

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify barriers and drivers to open source software (OSS) adoption, and measures awareness and adoption stages of OSS in US academic libraries. Design/methodology/approach An online survey of chief information officers, chief technology officers or heads for IT in US academic libraries was conducted. A total number of 179 responses were used for data analysis. Findings From the survey, the authors identify significant barriers and drivers that US academic libraries may consider before adopting OSS and found that awareness itself is not a barrier. While about half of respondents confirmed using OSS, the authors found surprisingly low levels of intent to adopt from current non-adopters. Practical implications This research offers insights for promoting OSS adoption. Also, it provides funding agencies and administrators with guidelines to encourage successful deployment of OSS in higher education. Originality/value While extant research is mostly anecdotal, this research draws from an online survey to snap-shot the current state of OSS adoption in US academic libraries and provides a baseline for practice and research.

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