Open Source Development - Assignment Example

Evaluation of Open Source Development Introduction Open source software development has becoming famous nowadays. Big and famous IT companies such as IBM and Novell are investing in open source development. Open Source as defined by Dan Woods (2005) refers to software that is released with source code under a license that ensures that derivative works will also be available as source code, protects certain rights of the original authors, and prohibits restrictions on how the software can be used or who can use it. Although Open Source software has existed since the 1960's only in the last few years has it gotten much attention In 1983 the Free Software Foundation was founded by Richard Stallman. The term Open Source was introduced in 1998. Since then more and more companies have taken an interest in Open Source Software. Recently Novell acquired Suse Linux, one of the distributions of the Linux operating system, taking Open Source a step further and with this expanding the enterprise market for Linux. This is a research proposal for the evaluation of the Open Source Development. This proposal includes the literature review of the use of the Open Source and the methodology includes the gathering of the available data and software for Open Source. A work a plan and timetable is included indicating when the various activities or stages will be undertaken. This dissertation will show the importance of Open Source in the businesses and universities. The objective of the study is to show the importance of the Open Source Development in the increasing number of businesses and universities who are using the internet. The aim of this study is to evaluate the Open Source whether the said software is genuine or not. The use of this causes uncertainty with the IT managers that have to make the decisions about the company's IT policy and the software they use. The most famous and widely used Open Source Software is the Linux, the study will focus on this software to show the importance and the effects of using this software in business and education. Aims and Objectives Objectives The primary objective of this study is to be able to evaluate the Open Source development. The software has become famous because of its usefulness to the industry and education as well. In this proposal a presentation of the success in industry using the Open Source Software will be presented in the literature review. It is also the objective of this study to update and check the development of the software from it's origin up to the present. This research proposal will show the importance of using the Linux Open Source Software. Several IT managers of famous computer companies focus in the formation of the software because of its increasing demand. The project proposal will show the time table on the said project. Aims The aim of this proposal is to be able to evaluate the useful feature of the software. The project will show the effectiveness and accuracy of the software. Since Linux is widely use because of its several characteristics it is best to analyze and evaluate first to present evidence and proof that the said subject is as effective as what the founder described it. Scope and Definition The internet will not be functioning without the Open Source Software. Operating system which is widely used is the Linux - the most used Unix-like operating system on the planet. Versions have been run on anything from a handheld computers and regular PCs,to the world's most powerful supercomputers (Postma, W., 2007). This research will cover the usefulness and the advantages of using the Linux open source software. Since Linux is the most famous Open Source we will find out what features making Linux famous. Literature Review This study has been evaluating how useful these open source development in the business and in the universities. There are some researches that may have prove its importance but there are still that needs to be done to show how useful the software. Open Source development has been helping several institution and organization in their business. Several researches have been done to show how useful the open source in business and education. In the study done by the Dravis group (2003), the Simputer developers believed writing an operating system from scratch would make their project infeasible. Based on this study the Linux kernel would minimize the cost of both the development and the Simputer units themselves. On the Dravis study the use of Linux open source has achieved the 3 factors: cost, control and flexibility. According to Dravis cost saving was achieved because there is no impact from per-unit licensing fees and the firms was able to avoid the cumbersome task of software licensing management. Business control is increased because of its access to business code thus reducing the dependence on technology providers. Flexibility, because Linux is supporting a wide range of microprocessors, TiVo has the flexibility to examine the cost/performance/utility trade offs when choosing microprocessors for each generation of product. In the study done by the Bart Decrem in 2003, he concluded that the Desktop Linux is no longer a technical challenge - it's a marketing challenge. The Linux software has been improving and is now the most users friendly, elegant and interoperable with other competing desktops. Based on this study also, if the public sector continues to promote the open source, Linux will have a market share of as much as 10% over the next four years. Methodology The evaluation of the Linux open source development will be done using the quantitative and qualitative analysis. Since the study will be evaluating how useful the software is, it is best to use this method to analyze the numbers of organization using such software. Research will be done using a survey form or a questionnaire to be conducted by a member of the research team to a group of people from different organization. From the survey form the team will start its brainstorming and deliberation on the adaptation of the linux software. Upon agreeing into something, the IT team will then make the necessary design needed for the analysis. After final evaluation and presentation of the team, the group will then present the final report including the cost of the research and the needed manpower. The result presented by the team will be the basis of the organization whether to accept the proposal or not. The team should clearly show the aim and objectives of this research to be able to convince the organization that the research should be taken into consideration. Proper evaluation and survey form or questionnaire should be constructed very well, since this will be the basis of the start of the research. The team should be working closely to be able to follow the given time frame. Work Plan Below is the chart of the possible movement of the research. This will serve as a guide for the action to be taken by the group. The research will last tentatively for 3 months (if no problems or obstacle occur). The group will be working in accordance to the plan agreed upon. Any sudden change of plan should have a proper advice, in order not to destroy or delay the given time frame. The team will be headed by the IT manager. Proper presentation of the plan is needed to be able to show the evaluation done in the usefulness of the Linux software. APRIL MAY JUNE TASK Duration Person to conduct 1 3 8 10 16 17 22 24 29 1 6 8 13 15 20 22 27 29 3 6 9 11 MARKET RESEARCH interview 10-20 customers 2 weeks staff members internet survey 2 weeks IT team CONCEPT DESIGN brain storming session 1 week all LINUX DESIGN structural analysis 2 weeks IT team mechanism design 2 weeks IT team REVIEW OF THE DESIGN Plan 2 weeks all create overhead 7 days PRESENTATION 1 day all REPORT result of evaluation 2 weeks management team write draft 9 days edit draft 2 days produce final report 2 days Work Plan for the evaluation of the Linux software The budgeting is not included in the work plan since this will be presented during the final report. The cost of this research will be as low as possible without altering the outcome of the research. The cost team will be headed by the company's financial manager and will be composed of analyzer from the business field. The success of every research will depend on the presentation and evidenced that will be presented. The main concern of this research should be very well focused as to not confuse the analyzing team of the organization. Resources The main character in this research is the computer. Since the team will be conducting a lot of the analysis of the software it is best to use the most advance and updated windows. It is a computer thing and will mainly spend money on the purchases of the software and the hiring of the needed personnel. A good working location is also needed to be able to have a convenient working atmosphere. Sometimes it is costly to purchase several software for analysis, it is therefore advised to try to collect data first on the needed software before purchasing one. Sometimes the needed software is not available in the location of the research an additional expense on travel should be considered (although this may not be necessary). Like several team conducting the research about Linux the cost of the processing will vary depending on the needed resources. Ethics Since this is a survey research a careful selection of the group of people who will answer the survey form should be done. The research should be done without harming or destroying someone else work. The survey form or questionnaire should be done carefully without causing confusion or wrong allegations from others. The team should respect each ones opinion. Careful analysis of the steps should be done. Confidentiality The work or research should be discussed or done only inside the given premises. Any data that needs to be consider confidential should be treated with confidentiality. Linux software deals with the databases and internal functions of the company and should not be open for anyone who is not involved. The outcome of the research should be made available is only needed to be done so. Conclusion Open source software is important in the business and education. The success of the research proposal will depend on how the research will be presented. On the Dravis study they were able to analyze that the Linux software is cost effective and flexible. The same analysis maybe achieved if the proposal will be presented in a proper manner. Reference: Decrem, B. (2003), Desktop Linux Technology and market overview; http://www.osafoundation.org/desktop-linux-overview.pdf Postma, W. (2007) Open Source Initiative; open source software license 2.1 http://www.freesoft.org/mirrors/www.opensource.org/docs/products.html , June 7, 2007 The Dravis group, Open Source Software Case Studies Examining its use, April 2003, The Dravis Group , http://www.pgsql.com/pdf/OpenSourceSoftware_Dravis_.pdf June 7, 2007 Woods, D. (2005) What is Open Source O'Reilly Media, Inc. 2000-2006, http://www.onlamp.com/pub/a/onlamp/2005/09/15/what-is-opensource.html, June 6, 2007 http://www.utexas.edu/academic/mec/publication/pdf/fulltext/Evaluating%20Technology-Literature%20Review.pdf Read More