What is this book about?

What is this book about?

Open source is a reality for all organizations dealing with software in some way, not only for software vendors, but also for any organization addressing digital transformation. So managing open source becomes a requirement for most businesses.

One well established way to manage open source is the pattern of the Open Source Program Office (OSPO). Many companies and other organizations have adopted this pattern and there is a wealth of knowledge and experience on how to do this well. Following the spirit of open source a lot of that is shared openly in the community. This book follows this spirit.

This book serves as a source of knowledge for any person that wants to better understand how OSPOs can address the need to manage open source in an organization. It also aids people working at Open Source Program Offices (OSPOs) in gaining a better understanding of their key role to establish and managing open source strategy and operations. It offers practical recommendations on various aspects, ranging from building an open source strategy, to effectively engaging with external open source communities.

Additionally, the book includes an introduction to getting started with implementing an OSPO.

What’s not in this book

This book does not aim to provide guidance on open source software development or delve deeply into its technical aspects.

Additionally, it does not intend to offer guidance on the deployment, usage, and contribution to specific open source software projects, as this falls outside the scope of the book.

Who should read this book?

This book is intended for any person that wants to better understand the role of OSPOs within an organization. More specific examples include:

• Executives, policy-makers and decision-makers who are responsible for establishing, overseeing, funding or sponsoring an OSPO within an organization.
• Open source program managers and leaders who are responsible for coordinating and managing an organization’s open source activities and engagement with open source communities.
• Legal and compliance professionals who are responsible for managing legal issues related to open source software, including licensing and intellectual property.