The Standard: Open Force

“The open-source model, popularized by the success of the Linux
operating system, isn’t confined to the ones-and-zeros world of
software. With the Internet’s arrival, astute companies can
capitalize on many aspects of the open-source philosophy to gain
competitive advantage in the development of products as solid as a
new car.”

“The potential power of the open-source spirit is enormous,
and for good reason. It is the finest expression of the free
market. Ideas are encouraged to proliferate and the best thinking
wins. By contrast, most corporations today operate in a central
planning straitjacket. Designers – whether of physical goods
(like cars and toothbrushes), technology (like computer software)
or of abstractions (like business strategy) – tend to have a linear
view of the design process. Define your needs, do a high-level
design, then a detailed one. Create a prototype, then the item.
Test before deploying on a large scale. Keep the design team small
and focused to minimize errors.”

“But imagine the open-source spirit moving into the
manufacturing arena. General Motors (GM) could use the process to
help design cars using 3D visual prototypes distributed via the
Web. Participants could include style-conscious customers, fleet
buyers, knowledgeable service technicians, supply-chain partners,
dealers, car buffs and industrial designers. Everyone would
participate because of their self-interest.”

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