Open Source Software as Disruptive Innovation

Open Source Software as Disruptive Innovation

The Objectives of the research

Open source software (OSS ) - computer programs whose licenses are designed to make their codes open , alterable and distributable - has been gaining acceptance and market share over the past ten years growing in distribution worldwide . The term `disruptive technology ' was first used by Clayton Christensen in 1997 in his book The Innovator 's Dilemma . Followed by The Innovator 's Solution (2003 , Christensen replaced the term with the term `disruptive innovation ' because he recognized that few technologies are intrinsically disruptive or

br sustaining in character . It is not the technology that creates the disruptive impact but strategy

Hypothesis : OSS is a disruptive innovation in the software industry since it is having a disruptive impact on the mainstream , proprietary software producers

One dictionary definition of disruptive : `to interrupt the normal course or unity of , describes what OSS has been doing . As Christensen stated .disruptive innovations create an entirely new market through the introduction of a new kind of product or service , one that 's actually worse , initially , as judged by the performance metrics that mainstream customers value (Christensen and Overdorf 2000 . OSS has opened new markets , as well as requiring the establishment of new business models

The Specific Research Deliverables Expected

Collaboration

There are numerous examples of collaborative projects based on OSS . For example , OSS /J , founded in September 2000 , began as an effort to take advantage of the promise of 3G (third generation ) infrastructures . By the end of that same year , membership had more than doubled and all members were actively involved in creating technical specifications for numerous APIs . In 2004 , several leading telecommunications service providers called for the OSS /J to create a Service Provider Advisory Council (SPAC ) to set priorities , create demand build an economic model and expanding liaisons . Among the more widely known participants in the SPAC include Vodafone , British Telecommunications , Covad and QinetiQ

Market Share

According to recent statistics , OSS programs power 30 of Internet servers , 40 of e-mail servers and 65 of Web servers , running on the Linux , Sendmail and Apache operating systems , respectively , according to the OSS Institute in Hattiesburg , Mississippi . Additionally , more corporations are making the change from proprietary , commercial software products , such as those offered by Microsoft Corp , Oracle Corp . and others , to OSS programs in to gain flexibility for customers customize software to better suit infrastructure needs and cut Internet technology-related spending . One of the primary weaknesses across almost all OSS market segments is lack of brand recognition , even for companies with a extensive history in the telecom business

Identification of new business models enabled by OSS

Some business models : Both Source (aka Mixed Source Professional Open Source (aka Services Model Dual-License Model ASP Model Managed Source Model Code-Level Service Model

The Relevance of the Research to Researchers and Managers

OSS presents a sizeable potential competitive advantage for hardware and software vendors , in addition to vendors of complementary or substitute services . Linux has been the major contributor to the adoption...