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The Open Source Good Governance Initiative "GGI"

HomeUsage GoalTrust GoalCulture GoalEngagement GoalStrategy GoalAbout

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Welcome to the Good Governance initiative

The Open Source Good Governance Handbook collaboratively developed in the framework of the OW2 Open Source Good Governance initiative was announced at the Paris Open Source Experience 2021 by the OSPO Alliance. Discover the handbook online, download it, or purchase a paperback version (also available at global bookstores like Amazon, Barnes & Noble or LSI).
It is also possible to purchase a German version of the handbook.

The Open Source Good Governance Initiative is a joint effort between OW2 members and non-members to grow awareness and expertise on how to properly use and contribute to open source software with the objective to improve competitiveness and enhance the sustainability of the European OSS ecosystem.

The Good Governance initiative develops a blueprint to help implement corporate-wide open source policies.

  The Good Governance initiative is based on the following assets

 OSPO_Alliance_Logo_wide_596x256.png The Good Governance initiative powers the OSPO Alliance launched by leading European open source non-profit organizations, including OW2, Eclipse Foundation, OpenForum Europe, and Foundation for Public Code.
 package.png As an open collaborative platform aiming at facilitating experience sharing, the Good Governance initiative collects available relevant material in its Resource Center. Check out below and the following pages.
 GitLabIcon.png The Good Governance methodology is being developed on the OW2 GitLab instance. This is where open source practitioners collaborate to define the Blueprint to implement OSPOs.
 thumb-GGI-Handbook500.jpg Check out the Good Governance methodology handbook. Published in November 2021 it provides a description of all activities, guidelines and a template to help you get started with an OSPO or to add structure to an existing OSPO.

Check out the latest presentations:  

  • RIOS Italian OSS network by Cedric Thomas, November 2021. See the video or download the slides. 
  • First public introduction of the Good Governance Maturity model presented at OW2online'20, June 2020. See the video or download the slides . 

OSS Good Governance Resource Center

The initiative is developing an OSS Good Governance Resource Center, organized in five main sections.

Usage GoalTrust GoalCulture GoalEngagement GoalStrategy Goal 
 
Technically using OSS.
Technical ability and experience with OSS.
Some OSS awareness.		Securely and responsibly using OSS.
Compliance and dependency management policies.		Implementing best practices.
Developing OSS culture.
Sharing experience. An individual perspective.

Engaging with the OSS ecosystem.
Contributing back. Developing project visibility.
Event participation.
A corporate perspective.

Embracing the full potential of OSS. Proactively using OSS for innovation and competitiveness. OSS as an enabler of digital sovereignty and transformation. C-level open source awareness. 
Go to Usage GoalGo to Trust GoalGo to Culture GoalGo to Engagement GoalGo to Strategy Goal 
      

A Conceptual Model of Good Governance

The Good Governance initiative model is inspired by the popular Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of human needs and motivations as illustrated by the picture below. This model provides a blueprint for the implementation of what is currently called OSPOs (Open Source program Offices or internal organisation entities dedicated to overseeing open source usage within an organisation).

GGI-Intro-Picture.png

The Good Governance initiative approach is complementary to other good practices frameworks focused on IT management. Check out this page for a quick overview of complementary frameworks of IT management best practices.

Compliance and More

Most large end-users and systems integrators already use FOSS either in their information systems or in their product and service divisions. Open source compliance has become an ever growing concern and many large companies have named compliance officers. 

However, while sanitizing a company’s open source production chain – which is what compliance is about – is fundamental, it is essential that users give back to communities and contribute to the open source ecosystem. This takes compliance to the next level, and this is what open source governance is about.  We see open source governance encompassing the whole ecosystem, engaging with local communities, nurturing a healthy relationship with open source software vendors and service specialists.

This initiative goes beyond compliance and liability. It is about building awareness within large end users (who are also often software developers themselves) and systems integrators and developing mutually benefical relationships with the EU OSS ecosystem. 

This is what OSS Good Governance is about. And in this area, especially in Europe, everyone is still learning and innovating, with nobody knowing where they really stand regarding the state of the art in the domain. 

Stay in touch with the OSS Good Governance initiative

Join the conversation! Subscribe to the mailing list and share ideas and information with other participants. 

Please, subscribe here 

Help grow the OSS Good Governance Resource Center

The OSS Good Governance Resource Center is open to all. feel free to add your own resources to it.
Check out the instructions on how to contribute.

Credits

- Attribution: icons by Gregor Cresnar
- Pyramid source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/576249714792150113/
- Paper: Abraham Maslow, 1943 paper "A Theory of Human Motivation" in Psychological Review .