What businesses can learn from OpenSource?

I have been running various OpenSource projects under the banner of WizTools.org for more than 8 years now. By virtue of this association, I have learned some amazing insight into working as a team, being inspired, and building and delivering awesome products with literally zero budget. Some facts are strange: The team doesn't see each other's face. Nevertheless we are a team, and we deliver more than a team put together in a room. We don't have any monetary incentive to perform. But we perform better than a employee at Microsoft. By understanding these seemingly irrational culture of productivity, businesses around the world can learn few tips:

• We like to scratch our itch. Most OpenSource projects start as a solution to a existing problem. Businesses must focus on identifying existing problems and providing solutions for them.


• The developers are inspired by higher motive than money. It may be changing the world with a better software, getting the recognition of expertise from our peers, or just the satisfaction of programming a great piece of software that I personally can use. Money is a basic need of all in our economy. As Maslow said, once the basic needs are satisfied, Great Programmers look for satisfaction beyond what money can buy. Businesses must be able to identify these self-actualisation needs of Great Programmers and provide them a platform for pursuing it.


• Physical proximity does not mean much. With tools like chat, IRC, version control systems, bug trackers, mailing lists, emails, voip and others, physical proximity does not matter. For example, I have in the past worked with people from the US, China and Bahrain. I have never seen them. But we have worked as a team to build some great pieces of software. The concept of physical offices do not mean much to me. Being in office does not ensure I deliver great work. It just means I submit my presence reluctantly. Great work is done when in Flow, with zero distraction. Office rarely provides such environment. Business must provide maximum flexibility for workers to work anytime, anywhere.


• The OpenSource developers are always in touch with the customers (users of the product). We have mailing lists and issue trackers to get immediate feedback from the actual users. This keeps us in touch with the ground realities. It is imperative for businesses to understand their customers and build tools and services which solve their real problems. And provide simple-accessible-tools for the clients to give feedback.


• OpenSource projects don't have managers, supervisors, or people who do nothing other than managing. All contributors dirty their hands with ground work. This minimises the risk of over-eager managers who are disconnected with reality running the show. Businesses should always aim at hiring leaders who are in touch with Engineering reality.

We at PatchSchools aim at building a culture of OpenSource within our organisation.