[ubuntu-uk] Update 2012- Re: Fwd: [Ossg-announcements] Adoption of Open Source across HM Government – London 22/02/11 and 01/03/11]]

[alan c]

On 04/02/11 11:14, gazz wrote:
> This might be of interest, there's clearly already a consultancy
> project assessing barriers to adoption of OSS in the civil service - as
> I thought, these aren't trivial. It could make sense to talk to the
> OSSG about any projected event? Anyway, I'm going to attend one of
> these meetings. 
> 
> Barry - I'd like to go to the first one on 22 Feb - which is the day
> you arrive in London. Need to organise something as it starts half an
> hour after your train arrives! 
> 
> Paula
> 
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: *Mark Elkins* <markelkinsmsc at yahoo.co.uk
> <mailto:markelkinsmsc at yahoo.co.uk>>
> Date: 2011/2/3
> Subject: [Ossg-announcements] Adoption of Open Source across HM
> Government – London 22/02/11 and 01/03/11
> To: ossg-announcements at ossg.bcs.org <mailto:ossg-announcements at ossg.bcs.org>
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Two events are being hosted by the Open Source Specialist Group (OSSG)
> http://ossg.bcs.org that considers adoption of Open Source across HM
> Government. These will be held at the BCS Central London Offices, First
> Floor, The Davidson Building, 5 Southampton Street, London WC2E 7HA
> (http://www.bcs.org/upload/pdf/london-office-guide.pdf)) on Tuesday 22nd
> February 2011, and Tuesday 1st March 2011 both from 1800 to 2100.
> 
> 
> These bookable events are *free and open* to all with buffet and
> refreshments. To book a place to attend please contact Mark Elkins via
> mark_elkins at bcs.org <mailto:mark_elkins at bcs.org>
> 
> 
> A member of the Home Office IT Team is undertaking research in
> conjunction with the Cabinet Office to:
> 
> (1) try and understand why Open Source is not represented better across
> HMG and the wider public sector, and
> 
> (2) identify and address barriers to adoption of Open Source across HMG
> and the wider public sector.
> 
> *
> *
> 
> *Context*
> 
> 1. The Coalition Government believes Open Source Software can deliver
> significant short and long term cost savings across Government IT.
> 
> 2. Typical benefits of Open Source include lower procurement prices, no
> license costs, interoperability, easier integration and customisation,
> compliance with open technology and data standards giving autonomy over
> your own information and freedom from vendor lock in.
> 
> 3. OSS is not currently widely used in Government IT, and the leading
> systems integrators for Government Departments do not routinely consider
> open source software for IT solution options, as required by existing
> HMG ICT policy.
> 
> 4. There are significant and wide ranging obstacles to Open Source in
> Government. Some of these are lack of procurement guidance, resistance
> from suppliers, concerns about license obligations and patent issues,
> and a lack of understanding of open source maturity and its development
> ecosystem.
> 
> *
> *
> 
> *Debates*
> 
> The debates will focus on (1) understanding the barriers to wider
> adoption of Open Source across HMG, and (2) potential solutions to these
> barriers.
> 
> We will aim to have representatives from major IT suppliers to HMG to
> help us understand the barriers from their perspective, and to help us
> understand how well any proposed solutions might work. The debates
> should be more a dialogue with the IT suppliers than amongst OSS supporters.
> 
> *
> *
> 
> *Evening Debate 1 – Tuesday 22nd January*
> 
> 1. Supplier Challenge – how can we incentivize the traditional IT
> suppliers to consider OSS when evaluation software options?
> 
>     * Suitable OSS is not currently being considered equally – why?
>     * What are the disincentives for IT suppliers? In-house skills. New
>       support relationships with OSS vendors and support companies. Any
>       others?
>     * If they do work with OSS, how can we be sure the cost benefits are
>       passed onto customers?
> 
> 2. Procurement – how can it be better?
> 
>     * What are the current obstacles? Do the existing contracts and
>       frameworks discourage OSS – if so, how?
> 
> 3. OSS Assessment Model – working with IT suppliers
> 
>     * IT suppliers aren’t very open with how they select software as
>       candidates for evaluation – not sustainable when spending
>       taxpayers money.
>     * We can help make this more transparent by working with them to
>       build an assessment model they can sign up to. What would
>       suppliers like to include in this assessment ? I have started a
>       model to de developed.
>     * List of top software per category (virtualisation, monitoring,
>       email, collaboration, etc) – needs to be maintained to be useful,
>       but will get the ball rolling in current lack of knowledge.
> 
> 4. Case Studies – evidence of short and long term value for money. Where
> are these? Also proven examples of OSS use in high demand, volume or
> availability applications.
> 
> 5. Other Ideas – especially for the next debate.
> 
> *
> *
> 
> *Evening Debate 2 – Tuesday 1st March*
> 
> 1. Security. OSS is insecure compared to commercial software?
> 
>     * By what criteria can we select software to minimise security risks?
>     * Does OSS need a different approach to patching?
>     * Can we simply use empirical evidence when comparing OSS with
>       closed software? Statistics for internet browsers are common –
>       published vulnerabilities, known exploits, time to fix
>     * Key question for HMG is – all things being equal, open code means
>       vulnerabilities can be discovered and exploited before there is
>       time to fix
> 
> 2. Buy-not-Build. Can OSS actually benefit HMG because HMG doesn’t want
> custom or re-engineered software?
> 
>     * HMG generally asks IT suppliers to build systems from COTS
>       components and minimise customisation and re-engineering – it
>       wasn’t want to maintain special code because of cost and risk. So
>       does a significant benefit of OSS not apply to HMG?
> 
> 3. Legal advice for OSS
> 
>     * OSS has some unique legal aspects compared with commercial
>       software – where to get advice? Myths around legal obstacles and
>       obligations are going unchallenged.
>     * Patents and liability issues are often raised – resolved by major
>       OSS suppliers who will shield customers?
> 
> 4. Long Term Strategy
> 
>     * OSS won’t happen overnight.
>     * Should we work backwards from insisting on open information
>       formats for HMG interactions with the public and other sectors?
>       This way the use of open standards compliant software filters back
>       into HMG organisations.
> 
> 5. Other Ideas
> 
> _______________________________________________
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Update 2012:

Proprietary lobby triumphs in first open standards showdown
http://www.computerweekly.com/blogs/public-sector/2012/04/proprietary-lobby-triumphs-in.html
-- 
alan cocks