The Open Source Way

“The Open Source Way” is a new concept for the majority of the corporate world. Prior to the “open source idea”, business processes, ideas and projects were kept top secret and behind closed doors. Ideas were not shared, collaboration between businesses or competitors was unheard of and the idea of community didn’t leave your street or neighbourhood.

Common among the web and software development world for the past few years now, the open source idea or mind set is starting to move out into the rest of the world. Areas such as law, education and health care are starting to adapt the open source way (and I think, this is only for the best).

The common definition of open source is “the practice of production and development that promote or provide access to the end product’s source materials.” Meaning, there are no secrets. Recipes, web code, successes and failures are shared within a community.

The principles of “The Open Source Way” (according to OpenSource.com) are:

Transparency

• Being transparent means there is an open exchange of information so that we can learn from each other’s mistakes and use existing information to create new and improved ideas or products.

Participation

• Taking part in the open source way means that we actively work together to solve problems or issues. Without participation the open source community would fall apart.

Collaboration & Community

• Open source is a community. Collaborating, sharing ideas and working together creates a community that has the capabilities beyond any one individual.

I truly believe that the more we start to work with the open source mentally, (sharing ideas, successes and failures) the quicker we will be able to succeed in all aspects of business and life.

What does “open source” mean to you? Do you believe in “the open source way”?