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9 - Open Source in the Public Sector

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 January 2010

Fadi P. Deek  and
James A. M. McHugh
Fadi P. Deek
Affiliation:
New Jersey Institute of Technology
James A. M. McHugh
Affiliation:
New Jersey Institute of Technology
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Summary

The public sector is uniquely important to the success of open source for a number of reasons. It offers well-suited opportunities for open development, in domains ranging from technological infrastructure, science, and innovation to national security and education. Furthermore, not only do public agencies and society benefit from the use of open products, the public sector, through its role in policy formulation, also provides a vehicle for advocating the expanded use of open software in society. To appreciate the opportunities, consider some of the roles the public sector plays. It has a central position in supporting the maintenance and evolution of technological infrastructure for society, an area where open software has proven extremely successful. It has also historically played an extensive role in promoting innovation in science and technology. For example, the government was the leader in funding the development of the Internet with its myriad of underlying open software components. Thus, clearly, public investment in open development has paid dramatic dividends in the past and can be expected to continue to do so in the future. The public sector is also where decisions on national economic objectives and strategy are made. These decisions, whether of a legal, legislative, or policy-driven character, can significantly affect the expansion of open source use within the government or by the public at large. The public sector is broadly charged with responsibilities from education to national security, domains that are particularly compatible with the characteristics of open source.

Type
Chapter
Information
Open Source
Technology and Policy
 , pp. 309 - 324
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2007

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