Monday, June 4, 2012
Epiphany: Free Software = Lower Entry Barrier = Greater Risk of Project Failure
Discussing with a friend lead me to this epiphany: the reason why Free/Libre/OpenSource software is not used enough in traditional companies is that they invest too little in it. Not in money, but in time, thought and human resources.
Since FLOSS has a very low entry barrier (starting from just zero, up to prime class paying service from companies such as IBM), it tends to attract people and companies that want to invest very little in it. That's why they fail to make a great use of it.
Mem: I think there's a business model in just selling GPL software, without any added value, with the argument that the buyer will be more motivated to implement it well ;-)
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That's totally right.
ReplyDeleteConcerning your memo, that would be right if it wasn't totally contrary to the buyer's reflexes : buying what he could have freely ? Bah !
If you're selling the service (design, help, installation, etc.), no problem.
Except for the many cases when there isn't a complete alignment of opinions within the buying company. Say the CIO wants free software and the CEO doesn't, the CIO might "disguise" free software as paying software, for the benefit of all ;-)
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