scholarly journals Democratizing Business Software: Small Business Ecosystems for Open Source Applications

Author(s):  
Jonathan P. Allen
Author(s):  
Pradip Ninan Thomas

This chapter explores the politics and geopolitics of software patents. Beginning with an introduction to patents as intellectual property (IP), it explores its conflictual nature, especially in the context of free and open source software. This chapter deals with the Indian State’s ambivalent attitude towards the patenting of software, the pressure brought by the Business Software Alliance and others to harmonize India’s patent laws with US requirements, and the consequences of ‘patent thickets’ and its impact on creativity and innovation. It highlights the fact that there is growing recognition of the need for software sovereignty in India, illustrated by the fact that the Indian government has invested in a number of organizations that are committed to local solutions in software, although this ethos is contested by the IP and patent lobbies.


2009 ◽  
pp. 603-619
Author(s):  
Walt Scacchi

This study examines the development of open source software supporting e-commerce (EC) or e-business (EB) capabilities. This entails a case study within a virtual organization engaged in an organizational initiative to develop, deploy, and support free/open source software systems for EC or EB services, like those supporting enterprise resource planning. The objective of this study is to identify and characterize the resource-based software product development capabilities that lie at the center of the initiative, rather than the software itself, or the effectiveness of its operation in a business enterprise. By learning what these resources are, and how they are arrayed into product development capabilities, we can provide the knowledge needed to understand what resources are required to realize the potential of free EC and EB software applications. In addition, the resource-based view draws attention to those resources and capabilities that provide potential competitive advantages and disadvantages to the organization in focus.


Author(s):  
Simpson S. Poon

In this day and age, IT applications are no longer just about in-house business software applications or local area networks. Today’s IT issues are invariably linked to the Internet and Internet Commerce applications. Is there any difference between traditional IT applications and e-commerce? Can we apply what we have learned from earlier small business IT experiences to e-commerce? Does the largely external nature of e-commerce systems mean that management needs to play a different role than in the past? These and many other questions need to be properly addressed. The aim of this study was to explore the answers to some of these questions and bridge the knowledge gap between traditional small business IT systems (such as Accounting, Inventory Management, and so forth) and Internet Commerce systems. The results may help management to rethink how they can secure Internet Commerce benefit, and avoid activities that are non-effective.


2009 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 169-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liz Taylor ◽  
Tony Lawson

AbstractThe year 2010 marks the 50th anniversary of the first and only manned visit to the deepest part of the sea. Over the past 50 years, even as technology has advanced with breathtaking speed, there have been very few changes or advances in applying new technology to manned (human-occupied) vehicles for deep sea exploration. Today there are only a handful of deep research submersibles and all, with the exception of the Chinese Harmony 7000, are aging assets. None are capable of exploring all areas of the ocean. Project Deepsearch is being undertaken by a small business working under the premise of a collaborative open source effort. Our goals are to bring innovative solutions to bear in five key areas of engineering and technology while engaging industry contributors and the public, enhancing awareness of the importance of the oceans, marine science and education.


Author(s):  
Dagmar Dirzus

Zusammenfassung Damit Deutschland nachhaltiger Wirtschaftsraum bleibt, muss in Forschung und Entwicklung, Geschäftsmodellinnovation und Kompetenzentwicklung im Bereich hybrider Leistungsbündel sowie der Plattform-Ökosysteme breitflächig investiert werden. Dahinter steht das Ziel, Deutschland wieder zu einer der führenden Technologienationen zu machen, denn diese Position hat Deutschland, als die Digitalisierung Einzug erhielt, in vielen Feldern verloren. Nun gilt es, Boden wieder gut zu machen und nach den Bereichen Daten-Hosting und B2C-Plattformen, die fest in US-amerikanischer und chinesischer Hand sind, jetzt das bedeutende Feld der Plattform-Ökonomie zu gestalten, in denen Prozess-Know-how mit Fertigungs-Wissen kombiniert wird, Expertenwissen im Anlagenbau und Produktionsplanung zusammenkommen sowie die Erfahrungen mit produktionsnahen und produktspezifischen Dienstleistungen die Basis hybrider Leistungsbündel darstellen. Der Wettkampf um dieses weltweit bedeutende, weiße Feld auf der Landkarte der webbasierten und mit Plattformen verbundenen Business Ecosystems und mit diesen den hybriden Leistungsbündel im B2B- sowie B2C-Bereich, hat gerade erst begonnen – und Deutschland startet dazu aus einer hervorragenden Ausgangslage. Damit diese Pole-Position ausgebaut werden kann, müssen die technologischen Enabler (Modularität, Konnektivität, Digitaler Zwilling und Autonomie) sowie die Geschäftsmodell-Enabler (Denken in Geschäftsmodellen, Resilienz sowie Wertschöpfungsnetze und Plattform-Ökonomie) konsequent angegangen werden. Dabei wird die Fähigkeit, Kooperationen einzugehen, zu einer Kernkompetenz, denn nur durch das schnelle, flexible Zusammenbringen von Kompetenzen, schaffen wir den eigentlichen und nicht schnell kopierbaren Mehrwert für hybride Leistungsbündel, in denen physische Produkte und smarte Services verschmelzen und neue Geschäftsmodelle ermöglicht werden. Offene Datennetze, die Bereitschaft, Daten zu teilen und Open-Source-Ansätze werden mit diesen Kooperationen zur kritischen Voraussetzung für die Wertschöpfung von heute und morgen. IT Security und Intellectual Property müssen gewahrt bleiben, doch darf die Angst vor dem Missbrauch von Daten nicht dazu führen, dass ad hoc und für spezielle Produkte zu gestaltende Supply Chains nicht organisiert, den wahrgenommenen Kundennutzen bietende Services zu physischen Produkten nicht erstellt oder freie Produktionskapazitäten nicht genutzt werden. „Mehrwert“ heißt morgen „Kooperation“!


2011 ◽  
pp. 497-513
Author(s):  
Walt Scacchi

This study examines the development of open source software supporting e-commerce (EC) or e-business (EB) capabilities. This entails a case study within a virtual organization engaged in an organizational initiative to develop, deploy, and support free/open source software systems for EC or EB services, like those supporting enterprise resource planning. The objective of this study is to identify and characterize the resource-based software product development capabilities that lie at the center of the initiative, rather than the software itself, or the effectiveness of its operation in a business enterprise. By learning what these resources are, and how they are arrayed into product development capabilities, we can provide the knowledge needed to understand what resources are required to realize the potential of free EC and EB software applications. In addition, the resource-based view draws attention to those resources and capabilities that provide potential competitive advantages and disadvantages to the organization in focus.


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