"Companies spread falsehoods about Open Source methods of development out of fear that it threatens their revenue stream. I saw this first hand in a Senate committee meeting when a member of the BSA testified against a Bill I supported. Others simply conjure up images of wild-eyed hackers breaking into computer systems and writing bugs. Simply put, anyone under that impression suffers from hysterical propaganda.
"I learned my stock and trade when we wore expensive suits and polished our lace-up shoes. Anyone who has seen my computer labs knows that we manage them professionally, securely and properly. We also deploy Open Source and Standards-based methodology. We put out quality products and do so using quality management and continuous improvement. None of this should seem strange to professional business people.
"This article intends to clear up some misconceptions and can help people transition from a closed development environment into an open one that shortens time to market while cutting costs. I would like you to walk away from reading this article with the notion that Open Source Software bears a mark of professionalism..."
