Government

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Name

Government

Description

With its policies and regulations government can limit the power of proprietary software and enable development of open-source software. For example, if governments decide that it is too risky to become reliant upon a handful of vendors for their information technologies, governments could shift their purchasing and development to open-source software.

Enablers

• Globalization

Globalization results in increasing interdependence of countries around the globe. Thus, for example, single country’s decision on promoting certain type of software might be based on what was (is) happening in this field in other countries.

• Economy

Economic growth results in higher GDP as well as in higher revenues in national budgets. Consequently, governments could result more in research and development of creation of software.

• Lobbies

Under the claim of trying to prevent dependence on few suppliers of software certain parties might try to influence government to promote use of open source software.

• European Union

European Union has a direct impact on legislation of the member states. Therefore, EU's viewpoint on the topic of creation of software defines the national government’s action regarding the topic.

• United Nations and World Trade Organization

Similarly as EU, UN and WTO have impact on government’s legislation and actions.

• NGOs

NGOs have the power to increase public awareness about specific issue and thus influence government’s actions.

Inhibitors

All the forces acting as enablers for economy can act as disablers too, under certain condition. For example:

• Economy

In the times of economic slowdown governments might not put funds in and deal with the creation of software.

• Lobbies

Manufacturers of proprietary software, perhaps being and important taxpayer or employer in the country, can lobby for preferred treatment of proprietary software by the government.

• European Union

• United Nations and World Trade Organization

• NGOs

Paradigms

Nil

Timing

The forces affecting economy continuously change.