This online document discusses the benefits of open source software for civil society and non-profit organisations. It provides an introduction to the topic, tackling questions like 'what is open source?' and 'how will it benefit my organisation?' It also includes practical, down to earth advice on how to review open source software packages and select the right ones for the job at hand.

Open source software - software that can be freely redistributed, analysed and modified by anyone - "holds a great deal of potential for civil society organizations. The most obvious benefit of open source software is free to use, something that is attractive to organizations on a tight budget. However, it also offers much more: better security, increased flexibility and the ability to adapt software to meet local and organizational needs. And, open source software is based on the kind of collaborative and cooperative principles that many civil society organizations embrace."

This document is written for civil society managers who are responsible for the implementation of IT systems - whether they are IT specialists or not. This document is not a detailed technical manual, but rather an organisational planning and decision making tool.

Table of Contents

• What is open source?
• The open source landscape
• The benefits and challenges of open source
• Open source questions and answers
• Choosing the Right Software
• Beyond Decision Making: Costing, Migration and Training
• Appendix A - Annotated Worksheets
• Appendix B - Useful Online Resources
• Appendix C - Glossary

Click here to read this document online or download it in PDF format.