[ossig] OSS adoption in SME

[Hanxue Lee]

>  Talking about Open Source, I believe many of us are agreeable to
>  promote and push Open Source into every business. We encourage usage.
>  We feel bad if it is not used. We feel proud if everything is "Open
>  Source First". Do you feel that way?

Absolutely. Can even say I used to be a Linux fanatic ;) One day it
dawned on me that yelling at others to convince them how much better
Open Source is will not help much. Just need to find opportunities and
let the software speak for itself. For example, it is through
"underground" projects that Trac and a Wiki was set up.

>From most Big Company's point of view, they need IT solution which
they can use, without spending additional resources to manage them.
For that simple reason, many companies will opt for proprietary
software when they can be assured the vendor will take full
responsibility, and pay a hefty sum over it.

That said, I am of the view that the IT managers in those companies do
not have the courage to leverage the power of open source (especially
the community and ideology, not just the software) to add more value
to their business.

What I have been doing is to try to understand their concerns, and
hopefully to be able to convince them of the value for open source
software.

>  But what do you feel if The Prominent North America Linux Company is
>  slowing down the Open Source adoption by refusing to make their price
>  affordable? What would you do?
>

Some people don't want to take responsibility, and sees the Linux
Company as a cheaper option compared to other proprietary software
company's offering. This Linux Company is simply very good in
marketing and understanding the business' concerns ;) Hence, my
current employer is using their product/service as well. Oh well.....

Best regards,

Lee Hanxue

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