Open goes beyond software

The values of the open source software movement have inspired other types of social groups and commerical industry.

Open can now translate to any kind of approach that includes:

• Transparency for everyone interested or involved

• A framework for people to get involved and contribute their own ideas

• Protocols that support equal consideration for all contributors and ideas so that the best ideas rise to the top

• Mutual trust that everyone in the group has positive intentions and a desire for the group to succeed

• Leaders that serve and support the group from within rather than staying outside and directing the group on what to do

• A mindset that what we can produce together is better than anything we could produce on our own

For more on what it means to have an “open” mindset from a commercial company perspective, check out The Open Organization by Jim Whitehurst, former CEO of Red Hat and current President of IBM.