Risk Management in Open Source Procurement

Workshop Presentation

There are many popular and successful open source products that provide real solutions to closed source products for your institution. However, engaging with open source brings a new set of issues. This workshop is designed to help IT Directors and IT Managers in Higher and Further Education to make fully informed decisions regarding the procurement and support of open source solutions.

The workshop will highlight frameworks for evaluating open source against comparable closed source solutions, and illustrate various techniques for appreciating and managing the both the perceived and real risks of adopting open source software. Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on the differences between procuring and supporting open and closed source solutions, either using an in-house team or outsourcing to specialist providers by engaging directly with successful IT and educational practitioners who extensively use open source solutions in their businesses.