K--Open Source, Standards & Interoperability
MCE - Open Source ReportThere is little doubt that the economic down turn is affecting local authorities
across Europe and it is arguable that this is more acutely felt in ICT
departments than elsewhere. As ICT budgets contract the work expected of
us paradoxically grows. ICT strategies for the immediate future will be
characterised by new models of working and of different models of licensing,
developing and supporting software.
In short we are expected to do more with less and that means cutting costs.
The cost of software licensing and support is obviously one attractive target.
But can this be achieved with Open Source Software (OSS)? There was
some evidence from Gartner at the workshop that this has passed from being
a choice for some Government Agencies where the only option is to license
“free” Open Source. This raises an interesting misconception - That Open
Source is “Free”, whereas its proponents perhaps would say that it is “Free”
as in Freedom. Clearly, irrespective of licensing of some products, there is an
implementation and support cost, all be it hidden in internal ICT staff costs in
some organisations. This topic under the heading of Total Cost of Ownership
was discussed at the workshop.
One approach, beyond the use of license free Open Source, is the
collaborative development, support and cost sharing of an Open Source
Community or forge. Two examples of this discussed at the workshop are the
Danish Software Exchange example Softwareborsen and the French Adullact
Forge. However, there are many other national communities with different
impacts, including an EU community called OSOR. This is said to have three
effects. One, reduce the TCO and dependence on proprietary software
vendors. Two promote local economic development in Open Source
Communities. Three provide better value for money for a sector through a
shared development and ownership of open source software or what Gartner
refer to as the emergence of the Community Source. How true this is needs to
be examined.
UK Cabinet office - Open Source, Open Standards and Re-Use: Government Action PlanOver the past five years many government departments have shown that Open Source can be best for the taxpayer – in our web services, in the NHS and in other vital public services. But we need to increase the pace: (1) We want to ensure that we continue to use the best possible solutions for public services at the best value for money; and that we pay a fair price for what we have to buy. (2) We want to share and re-use what the taxpayer has already purchased across the public sector – not just to avoid paying twice, but to reduce risks and to drive common, joined up solutions to the common needs of government. (3) We want to encourage innovation and innovators - inside Government by encouraging open source thinking, and outside Government by helping to develop a vibrant market. (4) We want to give leadership to the IT industry and to the wider economy to benefit from the information we generate and the software we develop in Government
IBM - Innovation, Open Standards and DemocracyThis paper explores new dimensions of how open standards in ICT can have not only an economic impact through driving new innovation models and creating new business ecosystems but also a social impact through influencing the way European citizens are able to interact in social communities as well as with government. While there has been quite significant research and publications on open standards and innovation, the relation between open standards and democracy and the idea of “ICT civil rights” is still unexplored in a European context. Open standards policies in Europe need to take the democratic effect of open standards into account in the same way as economic effects.
Accenture - Interoperability: Enabling public-safety agencies to achieve high performanceOne of the greatest tests for any government is crafting an effective, coordinated response to emergencies. With lives often at stake, effective emergency response requires multiple government and non-government agencies working together in a coordinated, collaborative environment. That makes achieving interoperability between their communication systems vital. The variety of personnel and communications equipment involved makes a high performance solution mandatory and yet, an extremely difficult goal to achieve.