Flashline Publishes Pattern Book for Open Source Initiatives
Executive guide of best practices assists with adoption and governance of open source software
CLEVELAND, May 17, 2004 - Flashline(r), the leading provider of software asset management solutions, today announced the release of Flashline Pattern Book for Open Source in the Enterprise. The Flashline Pattern Book offers a collection of documents based on best practices that address various aspects of the creation, launch and ongoing management of an open source software initiative, from building a business case to budget, staffing, and licensing issues. The Flashline Pattern Book provides guidance for IT managers interested in capitalizing on the quality, reliability, and cost savings benefits of open source software.
Flashline developed the Pattern Book based on best practices gained through multiple engagements with Fortune 500 organizations and federal agencies incorporating open source projects into their software asset management initiatives. The Flashline Pattern Book provides resources to help organizations address the business processes that support successful open source programs, such as effective governance strategies and implementation procedures.
"If organizations do not adopt procedures and standards supporting the acquisition and ongoing management of open source software, their initiatives will fail. Incorporating open source into a software asset management strategy is the only way companies will quickly realize the cost savings, collaborative and quality benefits of open source," states Mark Driver, vice president of Gartner, Inc. "This approach will take open source beyond isolated, project-focused efforts into enterprise-wide success."
Flashline Pattern Book for Open Source in the Enterprise is published under a Creative Commons open license. This license permits the free use, modification, and non-commercial redistribution of the Pattern Book so it can evolve through the same process that has produced open source software. The Flashline Pattern Book is available as Wiki content, allowing access to and collaborative modification of the material.
"A growing number of IT organizations today treat open source as a strategic initiative and are extending their software asset management programs to support open source assets. But enterprise-wide management and control of open source assets and the associated risks are significant issues, as is the calculation of related savings. Flashline Pattern Book for Open Source helps IT managers address these very issues so they can deploy open source software assets across a wide range of initiatives, including application development, enterprise application integration and enterprise architecture," states Charles Stack, CEO of Flashline. "By releasing the Flashline Pattern Book as a community-driven open source project, it is our hope that organizations will continually modify and refine the documents to reflect their particular expertise in dealing effectively with open source in the enterprise."
The Flashline Pattern Book consists of nearly 20 templates for project plans, presentations and worksheets addressing key issues, requirements, and milestones, including:
Business case - an executive overview and business-oriented rationale for incorporating open source into the enterprise.
Project plan - a roadmap for the initiative. Includes timelines and milestones, worksheets, communications plans, budgets and benefits to various roles throughout the organization.
Implementation - includes worksheets for calculating total cost of ownership for open source assets, key phases and activities for selecting, managing and tracking open source assets.
Staffing - overview of roles and qualifications required to support open source, including the role of a "steward" acting as liaison between the open source community and the enterprise.
Legal issues - summary of the various open source licensing strategies.
Flashline Pattern Book for Open Source in the Enterprise is available at http://wiki.flashline.com/wiki . Senior executives can review an executive summary. Flashline also offers a FlashPack for Open Source that extends the Flashline Registry to accelerate the adoption and management of open source software assets throughout the enterprise.
About Flashline, Inc.
Flashline delivers Software Asset Management solutions to improve the governance of enterprise-wide IT programs. Using Flashline analytics, senior managers can monitor the cost reduction and consolidation benefits of key IT initiatives such as reuse, enterprise architecture, outsourcing, and legacy modernization. By increasing visibility into how teams are creating and using software assets, Flashline allows project and program managers to quickly determine if they are in compliance with corporate and architectural mandates and to reduce duplicate efforts. Flashline is a privately held company headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. For more information visit http://www.flashline.com . # # # Flashline, Flashline Registry, FlashPacks and Return on Software are registered or pending trademarks of Flashline, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.