Open Source A-Z for Strategists, Managers, & Analysts from Udemy

Who needs this course?

Entrepreneurs, project managers, lawyers, VCs and other business types who need to understand the business opportunities, legal risks, licensing strategies, and key terminology of Open Source Software (OSS).

What will I be able to do after studying this?

Make money with an Open Source strategy
Figure out when going Open Source is a better idea than selling proprietary software
Select the best Open Source license for a particular use-case
Know how and when an open source software audit may be required

What are some of the topics covered?

Why do developers contribute to Open Source?
How do companies generate sustainable revenue from open source software? What are the best business models?
How does open source software compete with proprietary software, and vice versa?
How have proprietary software vendors coopted open source software into their products without running into licensing challenges?
What are the main open source license categories? What are the most controversial licenses and why?
What are the risks in using or distributing open source software? How do you identify such risks?
What are the biggest open source projects? What led to their dominance?
...and much more.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Understand the three major categories of open source licenses and the diversity of license types
Understand the four main open source revenue models and when to apply them
Identify the business advantages of open source
Identify the legal risks of using open source software from a business perspective

Answer "why open source?" from both a developer's and an entrepreneur's perspective
Understand how open source competes with proprietary closed source software and vice-versa
Understand key open source terminology and be able to engage in strategic discussions
Understand why open source audits are an increasingly important element of m&a and partnerships

Understand the three major categories of open source licenses and the diversity of license types
Understand the four main open source revenue models and when to apply them
Identify the business advantages of open source
Identify the legal risks of using open source software from a business perspective
Answer "why open source?" from both a developer's and an entrepreneur's perspective
Understand how open source competes with proprietary closed source software and vice-versa
Understand key open source terminology and be able to engage in strategic discussions
Understand why open source audits are an increasingly important element of m&a and partnerships

Syllabus

Understand why developers and businesses contribute to Open Source Projects

Why does Open Source exist at all? How did it come about? Why do developers care? Why should your business care?

In the previous lecture we focused on the benefits of Open Source to developers. Here we look at the benefits from a business/entrepreneur's perspective.

Predict likely winners in a proprietary vs OSS scenario, and understand the pros and cons of different license regimes.

Open Source at core is a license type. Here you learn about the opportunities/risks inherent in different licensing types and the copyleft spectrum that we use to classify over 80 OSS licenses currently in existence.

Apply a competitive framework to determine how an open source offering will fare against a proprietary offering.

Understand the 5 core OSS revenue models

We get an overview of the 5 revenue models and take a close look at the first two - the Consulting model and the Support model.

We complete our review of the 5 OSS business models with a review of the Embedding, Dual License, and SaaS models.

Open Source Audits are now a core part of mergers and acquisitions, and are also relevant when a company is about to distribute software. We review the types of audits, audit processes, and leading vendors.

All the good stuff :-)

More links to very useful resources.

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Open Source A-Z for Strategists, Managers, & Analysts with these activities:

Review Software Licensing Basics

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Reinforce your understanding of software licensing principles to better grasp the nuances of open source licenses discussed in the course.

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Review different types of software licenses.
Understand the key terms and conditions of each license type.
Identify the rights and obligations of licensors and licensees.

Read 'The Cathedral and the Bazaar'

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Gain a deeper understanding of the open source philosophy and development methodologies by reading this influential book.

View Art of UNIX Programming, The (Addison-Wesley... on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'The Cathedral and the Bazaar'.
Read the book, paying attention to the key concepts and arguments.
Reflect on how the ideas presented in the book relate to the course material.

Analyze Open Source Business Models

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Apply your knowledge of open source revenue models by analyzing real-world examples and identifying their strengths and weaknesses.

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Select three different open source projects or companies.
Research their business models and revenue streams.
Analyze the effectiveness of each model.
Present your findings in a short report or presentation.

Four other activities

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Create a Glossary of Open Source Terms

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Solidify your understanding of key open source terminology by creating a comprehensive glossary.

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Identify key terms and concepts from the course.
Research and define each term clearly and concisely.
Organize the terms alphabetically or by category.
Share your glossary with other students for feedback.

Read 'Understanding Open Source and Free Software Licensing'

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Deepen your understanding of open source licensing by studying this comprehensive guide.

View Melania on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Understanding Open Source and Free Software Licensing'.
Read the book, focusing on the different license types and their implications.
Take notes on the key differences between the licenses.

Contribute to an Open Source Project

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Gain practical experience with open source development and licensing by contributing to a real-world project.

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Find an open source project that interests you.
Review the project's licensing terms and contribution guidelines.
Identify a task or issue that you can contribute to.
Submit your contribution and participate in the project's community.

Develop an Open Source Risk Assessment Checklist

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Apply your knowledge of open source risks by creating a checklist that businesses can use to assess their exposure.

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Research the common legal and business risks associated with open source software.
Develop a checklist of questions and considerations for assessing these risks.
Organize the checklist into categories such as licensing, security, and compliance.
Share your checklist with other students or professionals for feedback.

Career center

Learners who complete Open Source A-Z for Strategists, Managers, & Analysts will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Mergers and Acquisitions Analyst

The role of a mergers and acquisitions analyst is to assess the value and risks of potential mergers or acquisitions. This course is particularly relevant because it covers open source audits, now a core part of mergers and acquisitions. You'll learn about the different types of audits, audit processes, and leading vendors. This course is useful for an analyst who wants to understand how to identify risks associated with open source software. Understanding open source licensing and compliance can help you provide a more comprehensive assessment during due diligence.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mergers and Acquisitions Analyst

Venture Capital Analyst

As a venture capital analyst, you'll need to evaluate the potential of companies seeking funding. This course is beneficial as it provides insight into the business opportunities, legal risks, and licensing strategies associated with open source software. Understanding how companies generate revenue from open source and identifying the advantages of this software can help you assess the viability of open source based startups. Knowing the risks involved in distributing open source software empowers you to make informed investment decisions. The course explores why developers contribute to open source projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Venture Capital Analyst

Intellectual Property Lawyer

An intellectual property lawyer advises clients on legal rights and protections for their innovations. This course may be useful as it covers the significant legal risks, licensing strategies, and key terminology of open source software. You'll gain a solid understanding of the main open source license categories, including the more controversial ones and why they cause debate. Understanding when an open source software audit may be required is another essential skill for those looking to be an intellectual property lawyer. By gaining a firm comprehension of open source licenses, you will be better able to advise clients on IP matters.

See salaries and explore the career path for Intellectual Property Lawyer

Software Asset Manager

Software asset managers are responsible for managing and optimizing an organization's software assets. This course may be useful because it covers open source licensing and compliance, which are critical aspects of software asset management. You'll learn about the different types of open source licenses and the risks associated with using or distributing open source software. The course also discusses open source audits, which can help ensure compliance and mitigate legal risks. A software asset manager needs to evaluate the software choices of a firm.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Asset Manager

Compliance Officer

A compliance officer ensures that a company adheres to relevant laws and regulations. This course is highly applicable, as it explores the legal risks and licensing strategies associated with Open Source Software. You'll understand the nuances of different open source licenses, identify potential risks in using or distributing open source software, and know when open source audits are necessary. This knowledge helps a compliance officer establish policies and procedures that minimize legal exposure related to software usage.

See salaries and explore the career path for Compliance Officer

Startup Founder

A startup founder needs to understand all aspects of their business, including technology and legal considerations. This course is valuable for a startup founder as it covers the business opportunities, legal risks, and licensing strategies of open source software. You'll learn when to choose open source over proprietary software and how to generate revenue using open source business models. The course also addresses the legal risks and the importance of open source audits. You can use the insights gained in the course to guide strategic decisions about your tech stack and business model.

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Chief Technology Officer

A chief technology officer aligns technology vision with business strategy, which is something this course can greatly assist with. This course may be useful for a CTO because it helps with understanding the strategic implications of open source software. It teaches how to determine when going open source is a better decision than selling proprietary software. The discussion around different open source licenses, their opportunities and risks, is significant. Also, understanding the need for open source audits is particularly relevant from a leadership perspective.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Technology Officer

Technology Consultant

As a technology consultant, you will advise businesses on how to best use technology to meet their goals. This course may be useful as it specifically addresses how companies generate revenue from open source software. It explores multiple business models that a consultant could recommend, such as the consulting, support, embedding, dual license, and software as a service models. Knowing when going open source is preferable to proprietary software is crucial for a technology consultant, as is understanding the risks inherent in different licensing types. You'll also learn why open source audits are an increasingly important consideration for mergers, acquisitions, and software distribution.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technology Consultant

Business Development Manager

A business development manager focuses on creating strategic partnerships and identifying new market opportunities. With this course, you'll learn how companies generate sustainable revenue from this software and explore the best business models associated with it. The ability to understand and articulate the business advantages of open source can be a significant asset when forging partnerships. This role requires a keen understanding of how open source competes with proprietary software and you may be able to identify new opportunities for collaboration or market entry.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Development Manager

Data Governance Manager

Data governance managers are responsible for establishing and enforcing policies related to data management and usage. This course may be useful as it addresses the legal risks and licensing considerations around open source software. Understanding these risks is crucial for ensuring data governance policies comply with relevant licenses. You'll learn about open source audits, which can help assess compliance. As a data governance manager, this knowledge can help you mitigate risks associated with open source software.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Governance Manager

Software Architect

Software architects are responsible for making high-level design choices and setting technical standards. This course is useful as it covers the strategic implications of open source software. You'll gain insights into when open source is preferable to proprietary software and how to navigate the various open source licenses. Understanding how proprietary vendors co-opt open source software can also inform architectural decisions. You'll be better equipped to design systems that leverage open source technologies effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Architect

Product Manager

A product manager is responsible for the strategy, roadmap, and feature definition of a product. This course may be useful because it can help you determine when going open source is a better idea than selling proprietary software. Knowing how open source software competes with proprietary software is crucial for making informed decisions about product development and licensing. Additionally, understanding the business advantages of open source can inform product strategy and potentially open up new revenue streams. You'll explore various open source revenue models, helping you make strategic product decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Innovation Manager

Innovation managers oversee the process of creating and implementing new ideas within an organization. This course may be useful because it covers the business advantages of open source. Innovation managers can use this information to explore if there are opportunities to use it to build new and wonderful things. This course will help those managers understand how open source competes with proprietary software, and how the two can even be used in tandem. They'll also explore why companies like yours might wish to contribute to open source.

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Data Analyst

Data analysts examine data to draw conclusions about the information. This course may be useful as it discusses how companies handle open source software, which involves handling open source software related data. Since this course also helps one understand the business advantages and legal risks of open source software, a data analyst who has taken this course will be better able to conduct data oriented studies that will lead them to actionable results. The course explains key open source terminology and encourages engaging in strategic discussions.

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Technical Writer

Technical writers create documentation to help people use technology effectively. This course may be useful because it covers open source terminology and key concepts around open source. You'll need to translate technical information into clear and concise language. The course introduces different licenses which can empower you in how to best write software that utilizes open source. You may be tasked with explaining these choices if you are employed as a technical writer for that project.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Open Source A-Z for Strategists, Managers, & Analysts

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