Open Source in Government / Graham Taylor
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The document discusses the challenges and opportunities of adopting open source software (OSS) in European government procurement, highlighting that while there is political support for OSS, it is not yet widely implemented due to various barriers such as legacy contracts and perceived risks. Research indicates that OSS can offer significant benefits, including reduced costs and increased flexibility, but organizations often struggle with the transition due to misconceptions and a lack of understanding. Overall, fostering an ecosystem around OSS adoption could lead to enhanced collaboration, cost-sharing, and innovation among government entities.
![What is holding your organisation back from
using open source?
OS related issues
Understanding Licences and license compliance
Availability of specific apps
Some OSS is very immature, inferior user interfaces
Sometimes proprietary alternatives are simply better
Feature completeness
[Lack of a] community backing the open source project
Product related issues
Poor coverage in ERP arena ; Lack of availability of open source software for our industry
Incomplete implementations; Not working correctly
Very complex code bases (and communities)](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/gtaylor230914h30-15h-110930091901-phpapp02/85/Open-Source-in-Government-Graham-Taylor-16-320.jpg)
Open Source in Government / Graham Taylor
- 2. Open Source in Government Graham Taylor CEO, OpenForum Europe
- 3. European Government is Failing to Effectively Utilise OSS ........ But why? ........ And what can we do about it?
- 4. Some Relevant Facts ● European Public Procurement is worth €2200 B, representing 19.4% GDP ● ICT accounted for approx €600Billion ● Software and Services approx €400Billion ● Approx 18% can be monitored via OJEU procedure ● Actual OSS value ????? ● 13% still illegally include trade marks/product names ● Use of 'negotiated procedures' on increase
- 5. Governments are adopting a level playing field strategy...... ● Even the UK........... “Where appropriate, government will procure open source solutions. When used in conjunction with compulsory open standards, open source presents significant opportunities for the design and delivery of interoperable solutions. " ● But the Strategy is not yet being turned into Practice ● This is not due to lack of Political will ● And it is European wide ● Albeit with notable exceptions ● BUT WHY?
- 6. Why Strategy Doesn't Equal Practice - Results of an OFE Analysis ● Culture ● Legacy Contracts ● Financial Targets ● Perceived Risks and Myths ● Network Effects ● Inertia ● Audit plus ● The SME Effect ● Skills? ● Understanding of TCO
- 7. Cost is an Issue for all Governments, but not all are convinced it is part of the solution ● OFE and the UKG Cabinet Office jointly sponsored LSE Research ● Nothing revolutionary in results but drove some interesting conclusions ● Research to be published shortly ● So this is only an appetiser! ● 'Total Cost of Ownership' ● Interviews were with existing users of OSS ● Only 23% can used a formal TCO assessment ● So results had to identify where benefits made
- 9. Building our Cost Categories
- 11. Software Life Cycle Software Specific: Search Cost of up-front evaluation study Cost of up-front proof of concept implementation Acquisition Cost of Software Cost of Customisation for business needs Cost of Integration (to current platform) Integration Cost of Migration (data and users) Cost of Training Cost of Process and Best Practice change Use Cost of Support services - in house Cost of Support services - contracted Cost of Maintenance and Upgrades Software scaling (for change in user or transaction volumes) Retire Exit costs (in relation to hardware and software) Exit costs (in relation to changeover, re-training)
- 12. Software-related Benefits of OSS Adoption - OSS helps the organization to better manage risk during the selection process – procurement decisions do not need to be made in one action, but instead can be ‘worked up to’ - Useful negotiation tool in making deals with proprietary vendors - Builds a stronger, and more expert local IT/IS industry by encouraging regional developers, SMEs - Migration costs between OSS products is lower as OSS is often based on open standards
- 13. Broader Benefits of OSS Adoption - Greater flexibility, freedom and control over the code - Reliability, transparency and greater security of code – many countries are using OSS to create, and hold details of their national ID cards - Building of in-house expertise and skills – making you less reliant on external support - Allows pooling of resources, expertise and code for reuse, customization, and change
- 14. Organizational Benefits Organization Specific: Strategic lever Open source software has been used as a cheaper option to help stimulate competition. Dependence Open source helps prevent against upgrade lock-in by a particular vendor. Empowerment Open source software encourages empowerment and the ability to change software as needed through access to the source code and reliance on open standards. Innovation driver Open source can inspire and drive innovation because it is accessible to view and change – but at the same time, it creates an atmosphere conducive to making mistakes and learning from them.
- 15. Benefits through Creation of an Ecosystem Software Eco-System Specific: Platform co-creation Open source software can be pooled, shared and built upon to create a platform which encourages reuse and co-creation. Collaborative competition The adoption of open source software helps to nurture the local IT industry by levelling the playing field, and encourage collaborative competition. Building in-house expertise Open source software can help to empower the organisation and help develop in-house expertise through access to a knowledgeable community, source code, and an environment which implies sharing and reciprocity. Principle of mutuality The use, adoption and development of open source software can create experts which can then be used as a shared resource across local authorities and central government.
- 16. What is holding your organisation back from using open source? OS related issues Understanding Licences and license compliance Availability of specific apps Some OSS is very immature, inferior user interfaces Sometimes proprietary alternatives are simply better Feature completeness [Lack of a] community backing the open source project Product related issues Poor coverage in ERP arena ; Lack of availability of open source software for our industry Incomplete implementations; Not working correctly Very complex code bases (and communities)
- 17. What is holding your organisation back from using open source? Organisation related issues Unclear Procurement policy Value for money Misinformation among upper level management; Lack of knowledge of key technical decision makers; Time availability Support issues Lack of in-house support; lack of in-house knowledge; Understanding by staff; Poor support of open standards by our business partners; Support worries; Requirements for external support contracts Environment issues Desire to have specific software; SAP Legacy Compatibility with Microsoft proprietary file formats Perceived Lack of acceptance of OSS for Public sector solutions Proprietary standards used by environment (govt & clients)
- 18. Lessons for the Public Sector • Pragmatism needs to guide open source adoption and not ideology • Open source is not just or only or always about ‘cheap’. But it can bring a number of distinct and enduring benefits when contrasted to strategies based around proprietary software • Migrating to open source is more likely to be successful if it is done when there is a real and present need for change, rather than simply on the basis of finding open source attractive on infrastructure cost arguments • Adoption and development of open source can support the sharing of both expertise and expense between government bodies, for example among local authorities forming a flexible route to collaboration
- 19. Lessons for Us ● The Benefits are real, but maybe we need to be better at explaining them ● Political 'need' and ownership is a must ● TCO is fundamental but we have to be prepared to explain and justify the wider benefits ● Procurement policy and practice will be the single largest challenge ● Just because it is OS doesn't automatically make it better than alternatives – we have to be as professional, as complete as competitors ● Relationships will be important, confidence building will be essential