To get the ball rolling there are several areas which I think would be
interesting to pursue:
- traditional business planning processes and paradigms are not capable of
capturing some of the more valuable nuances of OSS both in terms of product
and a business model, my belief is that adapting ecological, complex
adaptive systems theory and general systems theory are where we should look
(my academic background in environmental planning and quantitative
ecology....so I am slightly biased....but after 20 years of thinking am
convinced this will be useful)
- what are the economic models etc. that apply
- what are the implications to technology strategy
- what are the implications to the people who use the applications
- will OSS accelerate the realization of second, third etc. order benefits,
i.e. the really interesting stuff will happen when everyone is connected and
using applications in a way that has become second nature... then the
unpredictable benefits from random acts of creativity will take place.
While we discuss these and other earth shattering, paradigm shifting
questions ;-) I suggest we start compiling a reading list of articles.
books, presentations etc. In fact why not a virtual library with an
annotated index.....
By the way, before we go much further, I think it is very important to keep
this discussion going amongst the other more technical threads in the
listserver...it will encourage cross pollination and stimulate ideas.
Joseph Dal Molin
