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Promoting Open Source Software in Government: The Challenges of Motivation and Follow-Through

ABSTRACT Open source software has long been used by government agencies, and prospects for increased use have been greeted enthusiastically by knowledgeable government employees who understand open source's contribution to the core responsibilities that the government has toward the public: access for all, vendor independence, archiving, special government needs, and security. But mobilizing the necessary forces in government to procure open source software has proven difficult. This article highlights the factors that instigate and carry through the adoption of open source in government: an external trigger; an emphasis on strategic goals; an information technology staff with sufficient dedication, technical sophistication, and creativity to make the transition; and high-level support at the policy-making level. The article reports on the attempt to introduce OpenOffice.org in the mid-2000 decade into agencies of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and compares that case to cases in Peru, Brazil, and Munich, Germany.