"The open source community-based software development model
provides industry, government, and academia with significant
opportunities to leverage IT investments and increase
organizational effectiveness and efficiency by using and
continually improving high quality Open Source software. The Open
Source community ecosystem provides important software, services
and support components that span virtually all commercial markets
as well as governmental and educational domains. While Linux,
Apache, and SendMail are well known examples of Open Source
software, these solutions constitute only a very small fraction of
the Open Source software available. Open Source software solutions
exist for virtually all types of business applications. Open Source
solutions integrating these and other business functions into
powerful applications like ERP and CRM suites are also available.
Additionally, Open Source software exists for a variety of vertical
markets and is being widely used. These solutions, as well as many
more, are available at various levels of functionality, stability,
and both commercial and non- commercial support. There are many
advantages to the adoption of Open Source software. The extent to
which a given enterprise benefits from these advantages depends in
large measure upon how it engages with the Open Source community.
Part I briefly outlines the benefits of Open Source software and
development processes. Part II will describe the rationale for, and
benefits of, engaging with the Open Source community, as well as
suggest a high level process for deciding to deploy Open Source and
how to engage with the community..."