| title | What's this book about? |
|---|---|
| status | Completed |
| weight | 20 |
Open source is a reality for all organizations that work with software — not just for software companies. Because of this, actively managing open source is becoming increasingly important for many organizations.
One way to do open source management operations is by setting up an Open Source Program Office (OSPO). Many companies and organizations have adopted this approach, and there is now a lot of shared experience and knowledge about how to do it successfully. In the open source spirit, much of this knowledge is openly available in the community.
This book provides a clear introduction for anyone who wants to understand how OSPOs help organizations manage open source. It's also a helpful resource for people already working in OSPOs who want to strengthen their role in shaping and managing open source strategy and operations. The book offers practical advice on topics such as:
- Building an open source strategy.
- Setting up an OSPO.
- Managing day-to-day operations.
- Collaborating effectively with external open source communities.
This book doesn't focus on how to develop open source software or explain technical details in depth.
It also doesn't provide step-by-step instructions for using, deploying, or contributing to specific open source software projects.
This book is for readers who need clear, actionable guidance on how open source governance, risk management, and community engagement can be developed, integrated, and scaled within an organization—and who benefit from a structure that works both as a cover-to-cover reference and as targeted, chapter-based learning paths.
More specifically, it will be useful for:
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Executives, policymakers, and decision-makers who are responsible for setting up, supporting, or funding an OSPO.
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Open Source Program Managers and team leads who coordinate open source activities and build relationships with open source communities.
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Legal and compliance professionals who handle legal matters related to open source, such as licensing and intellectual property.
In the second edition of this book, we aim to also make it useful for:
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Leaders and practitioners who are establishing or refining open-source-related processes, aligning them with existing management, compliance, and risk frameworks, or evaluating how an OSPO contributes to broader organizational objectives.
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Educators and trainers who need “pre-101” to intermediate material for students and professionals across fields such as computer science, business, law, and engineering, including those designing modular curricula or standalone teaching units.
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New and experienced contributors to open source programs who require a structured pathway—assembled from focused chapters and supported with bridging material—to build organizational capability, upstream engagement, and supply-chain awareness.