User Adoption Checklist
- Contents:
- Abstract
- User Adoption Checklist
- Conclusion
- References
Abstract
This article presents an adoption checklist that can be used by a business firm when it is considering open source solutions.
User Adoption Checklist
With the acceptance of open source software as a "good enough" solution and the perception of low costs in relation to its use, more and more decision-makers are considering its adoption. Regardless of the motivations, decision-makers should apply the same rules to open source software as to commercial software. Therefore, the following approaches are recommended to firms when considering open source solutions.
- First of all, the firm should formulate an open source strategy. This strategy should align with the overall long-term IT strategy and objectives of the firm. Decision-makers need to understand the prospects and challenges in the open source arena, and the impact of the adoption of open source software on the organization, particularly with respect to their degree of involvement in the open source movement. If the firm favors open source software because of the freedom to access source code and the possibility of customizing the software to meet its business practices, legal experts need to be consulted to establish a set of strict in-house rules in the IT department to minimize potential legal risks.
- In addition, the firm needs to analyze objectives of the adoption of open source software, and perform financial cost-benefit analysis of the open source strategy. Use of quantitative data, not merely qualitative measures, is recommended to guide and justify decisions. For example, the firm should be able to create metrics and processes to evaluate the IT systems, proprietary and open source software, across the firm, so that objectives of these systems and solutions are measurable, executable, and achievable. Long-term benefits and costs should also be analyzed. Even though there may be short-term savings associated with the adoption of open source software – savings that may make the quarterly earnings of the firm appear more attractive to Wall Street investors – decisions should be based on long-term benefit and cost analysis.
- Finally, it is important to recognize that a firm's IT strategy and solutions are a dynamic ongoing process, as the firm competes in a fast-paced competitive marketplace. The decision-making process is in no way static. It might be prudent, therefore, not to adopt open source solutions at present if costs outweigh benefits. However, as the open source movement continues to gain momentum along the way and the open source solutions become even more mature and robust, the equation could reverse: benefits could outweigh costs. There is no such thing as "too late" for accepting open source solutions into the IT department.
With the accelerating speed and the increasing scale of the open source movement, there is some discussion as to whether open source software will eventually replace proprietary software as the dominant market force. However, it is much more likely that open source and proprietary software will continue to co-exist as two strong market forces across the software stack. Thus, customers are likely to have more and better options over which solutions to adopt to meet specific needs, and consequently, have greater market power over software vendor and services provider.
Conclusion
The following adoption checklist is recommended to a firm when it is considering open source solutions: (1) the firm should stipulate an open source strategy that aligns with the overall long-term IT strategy and objectives of the firm; and (2) the firm should analyze objectives of the adoption of open source software, and perform financial cost-benefit analysis. Finally, it is important to recognize that a firm's IT strategy can change over time, and therefore, that the cost-benefit analysis can also change over time, especially as open source solutions become even more mature and robust.
References
- Day, Brad (June 2004), Firms Plan to Maintain Windows, Add Linux OS, Forrester Research.
- Quandt, Stacey (April 2003), Open Source Threshold Escrow Program: No Protection from Market Dynamics, Forrester Research.
- Rymer, John (November 2004), Business Cases for Using Open Source Software, Forrester Research.
- Schadler, Ted (April 2004), Mastering the Open Source Adoption Funnel, Forrester Research.