Unlikely bedfellows - open source initiatives and commercial vendors in the education market (Review Report)

Published by: Datamonitor

Published: Dec. 26, 2007 - 54 Pages

Table of Contents

Overview

Catalyst

Summary

Executive Summary

Introduction

Understanding the Market for Open Source Initiatives in the Education Industry (Market Focus)

Implementing a successful open source solution in Education (Strategy Focus)

Understanding the potential technical pitfalls of open source in the education market (Technology Focus)

Future Spending on Open Source Initiatives in the European Education Market 2007 - 2012 (Databook)

Future Spending on Open Source Initiatives in the US and Asia-Pac Education Market 2007 - 2012 (Databook)

Table of Contents

Table of figures

Table of tables

Understanding the Market for Open Source Initiatives in the Education Industry (Market Focus)

Summary

Open source has an increasingly important roll to play within the education community

Open source software is the chameleon of the technology industry

A note on open standards

Certain solutions areas are more suited to open source software than others

Multiple drivers are compelling institutions to adopt open source software

Lack of control over solutions is prompting institutions to look towards open source

Disenchantment with proprietary vendors is pushing some institutions to open source solutions

Some institutions believe that they get a higher ROI from open source software

The collaborative culture of education is particularly amenable to the adoption of OSS

Government mandates are compelling some educators to implement open source solutions

Open source software is not the answer for all institutions

Open source solutions rarely save money - as is often perceived

Institutions can struggle with the resources necessary for an open source solution

Not all open source applications are suitable for all types of institutions

K12 institutions ventures into open source will mainly be limited to operating systems

ERP and open source solutions are not easy bedfellows

ACTIONS

Vendors should seek to support institutions that choose open source

Many of the issues institutions currently have can be solved by proprietary software

Increased investment in developing solutions is critical

Implementing a successful open source solution in EDUCation (Strategy Focus)

SUMMARY

Institutions need to evaluate open source on multiple levels prior to its implementation

Institutions should carefully consider the benefits of an OSS

Open source is a risky option - Institutions should not take the decision of implementing an OSS lightly

Certain applications and types of institution are more suited to open source than others

Operating systems - above all other applications - are likely to provide the most value for K12 institutions

Open source LMS will fit well with institutions wishing to have increased control

Institutions entering into an ERP OSS should proceed with caution

Education institutions should ensure their solutions can be integrated

Real value from open source can be achieved by ensuring it functions with other solutions

Institutions should look towards vendors to see how they are enabling interoperability

Using an external company with an OSS can simplify issues for institutions

Institutions should mitigate risk as much as possible when implementing an OSS

Many institutions will find they have insufficient in-house experience to maintain an OSS

ACTIONS

Systems integrators should not attempt to recommend open source for all institutions

There are opportunities for vendors to maximize on institutions implementing open source

Proprietary vendors can bring some of the benefits of open source through their solutions

Understanding the potential technical pitfalls of open source in the education market (Technology Focus)

SUMMARY

Adopting an OSS can bring a number of technological advantages and disadvantages

Open code enables institutions to have more direction in the formation of their product

OSS comes under increased scrutiny compared to proprietary software

Institutions can not always be aware of the technological due diligence that takes place

The technological advantages of open source differ between applications

Sakai and Moodle offer real technological advantages for institutions

ERP applications are complex and mission critical and not yet sufficiently advanced in open source

Vendors should take the weakness of open source ERP as a reason not to sit on their laurels

OSS is not just about the product - there are other important issues

Interoperability is key to ensuring the success of OSS

The community behind an OSS is as important as the product

The nature of open source demands that vendors assist institutions with implementation

The success of One Laptop per Child could have an impact upon the education industry

ACTIONS

Vendors need to consider the potential impact of OLPC on the education market

Some vendors can help bring the advantages of open source to institutions

As institutions adopt OSS vendors should ensure the interoperability of their solutions

Future Spending on Open Source Initiatives in the European Education Market 2007 - 2012 (Databook)

Introduction

Open source market size in France, 2006-2012

Open source market size in Germany, 2006-2012

Open source market size in Italy, 2006-2012

Open source market size in Nordics, 2006-2012

Open source market size in Spain, 2006-2012

Open source market size in The Netherlands, 2006-2012

Open source market size in the UK, 2006-2012

Future Spending on Open Source Initiatives in the US and Asia-Pac Education Market 2007 - 2012 (Databook)

Introduction

Open source market size in Australia, 2006-2012

Open source market size in Canada, 2006-2012

Open source market size in India, 2006-2012

Open source market size in the United States, 2006-2012

APPENDIX

Definitions

Methodology

Further reading

Ask the analyst

Datamonitor consulting

Disclaimer

List of Tables

Table 1: Open source market size in France, 2006-2012

Table 2: Open source market size in Germany, 2006-2012

Table 3: Open source market size in Italy, 2006-2012

Table 4: Open source market size in Nordics, 2006-2012

Table 5: Open source market size in Spain, 2006-2012

Table 6: Open source market size in the Netherlands, 2006-2012

Table 7: Open source market size in the UK, 2006-2012

Table 8: Open source market size in Australia, 2006-2012

Table 9: Open source market size in Canada, 2006-2012

Table 10: Open source market size in India, 2006-2012

Table 11: Open source market size in the United States, 2006-2012

List of Figures

Figure 1: With 56% of education institutions using an OSS, open source is clearly making headway into the education market

Figure 2: Open source LMS market size for software and services in Education, 2006-2012

Figure 3: Some countries have a clear propensity towards open source over others - though there are different drivers across the geographies

Figure 4: Enabling further control is a key motivator for institutions exploring OSS

Figure 5: Open source Education market size (LMS and OS) for France, 2006-2012

Figure 6: Institutions with small IT budgets feel intimidated by the prospect of adopting OSS

Figure 7: Global open source operating systems market in K12, 2006 - 2012

Figure 8: Evaluating the merits of different types of software

Figure 9: Open source is most dominant in student facing products

Figure 10: The LMS market for open source is showing strong growth

Figure 11: Opportunities exist for vendors to help education institutions implement open source solutions

Figure 12: It might be an uphill struggle for an institution with open source - but they are in control of where they are going

Figure 13: There are multiple factors to evaluate when implementing OSS

Figure 14: Survey Results August 2007 - Higher Education institutions open source strategy

Figure 15: Open source market size in France, 2006-2012

Figure 16: Open source market size in Germany, 2006-2012

Figure 17: Open source market size in Italy, 2006-2012

Figure 18: Open source market size in Nordics, 2006-2012

Figure 19: Open source market size in Spain, 2006-2012

Figure 20: Open source market size in The Netherlands, 2006-2012

Figure 21: Open source market size in the UK, 2006-2012

Figure 22: Open source market size in Australia, 2006-2012

Figure 23: Open source market size in Canada, 2006-2012

Figure 24: Open source market size in India, 2006-2012

Figure 25: Open source market size in the United States, 2006-2012

Abstract

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