Evaluating Open Source Software for Your Business

Overview

This paper looks at the strange world of open source IT decision making that can get in the way of good decisions. The exuberant IT manager sees open source like found money or a snow day; if it's free and good, why bother with the evaluation? Let's just use it. The cynical IT manager sees open source as a toy or a joke; people get what they pay for, so why bother looking at open source? Both of these attitudes miss the mark. When it comes to open source, people should evaluate it like any other software they are considering for their company.