Promotion of open source software by governement
Name
Promotion of open source software by governments
Description
With its 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, 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 are able to invest more in research and development of creation of software. This can result in increased number of software “owned” by government as well as in increased number of open source software created by larger number of programmers.
- 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 influencing government’s actions.
Inhibitors
All the forces acting as enablers of promotion of open source software by governments can act as disablers too, under certain condition. For example:
- Economy
In the times of economic slowdown governments might not put funds in research and development of creation of software, which can result in lower amount of educated programmers and lower amount of open source 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
Experts
Timing
The forces affecting economy continuously change.