Recent advances in information technologies and subsequent explosive growth of computer software use in practically all aspects of everyday life provide tremendous opportunities and benefits for improving people's lives. However, significant proportion of software projects represents cancelled, abandoned or otherwise failed projects. This situation exists not only in commercial software products or government information systems, but also in an increasingly popular and important domain of free/libre and open source software (FLOSS). The problem of failures in software development projects requires identification and understanding of the factors of success and their interrelationships. Practice and previous research suggest that governance of software development projects plays crucial role in their success. Increasing adoption and sponsorship of FLOSS by commercial firms and government organizations present additional challenges; such sponsorship may also interact with governance in FLOSS projects and play a role in determining their success. This dissertation focused on analyzing the role and significance of governance and organizational sponsorship in the success of FLOSS development. This study used both conceptual analysis and empirical methods. The conceptual analysis phase, a preliminary study based on the review of existing literature, produced a partial model of success in FLOSS development. This model was verified in an empirical phase, which statistically analyzed data from multiple FLOSS repositories and other public sources. The statistical analysis was based on structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. Results of this study did not confirm hypothesized effects of the main two factors (governance and organizational sponsorship) on FLOSS success, but confirmed a positive effect of project maturity on the success. The likely reason of the lack of support for the main factors is unavailability of sufficient and correct data for proper operationalization. This and other uncovered issues are planned to be addressed in the future research on the topic, for which this dissertation formed a solid conceptual and data analysis framework.

Thesis (LLD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The rationale for the legal protection of copyright works is based on the perceived need to encourage the creation of works which are considered to be socially beneficial. By awarding authors proprietary rights in their creations, copyright law allows authors the ability to earn direct financial returns from their efforts, and, thus, copyright law provides the required incentives for authors to create copyright works. Since the early days of commercial software development, copyright protection has been extended to computer programs; thus, by providing such protection it was assumed that their production should be encouraged, and that without such protection they will not be produced to the extent required by society. Comparatively recently, we have witnessed large-scale production of open-source software, which is licensed on generous terms, giving users the right to freely use, modify and redistribute such software. By adopting such licensing terms, the authors of open-source software are unable to charge licensees a fee for permission to use their software, which is the reward which copyright assumes authors seek to create such software. This development has made it necessary to re-evaluate the rationale for copyright protection of computer programs, and determine whether the continued protection of computer programs is justifiable. This study seeks to first establish a coherent theoretical justification for copyright protection, which it is submitted should be an economic justification, rather than a moral justification. The legal analysis in this work seeks to establish whether the copyright protection of computer programs is consistent with the economic justification for copyright protection. In particular, the analysis focuses on the current scope of copyright protection, and seeks to establish whether such protection is excessive, stifling creativity and innovation, and, thus, imposing too high a social cost. It is contended that copyright doctrine has generally sought to minimise these costs, and that current scope of copyright protection of computer programs leaves enough creative room for the production of new software. Despite the fact that the effect of open-source software licences is that authors are unable to earn the direct financial rewards which copyright enables authors to earn as an incentive to create such software, their authors continue to have financial incentives to create such software. Commercial firms who invest in open-source software do so because they seek to provide financially-rewarding related services in respect of software, or because it serves to promote sales in their complementary products. Similarly, the participation of individual computer programmers is largely consistent with the standard economic theories relating to labour markets and the private provision of public goods. Individuals are principally motivated by economic motives, such as career concerns. Copyright protection gives participants the choice to opt for the direct financial rewards which its proprietary protection enables, or the more indirect financial rewards of open-source software development. It is submitted within this research that rather than undermining the rationale for copyright protection of computer programs, the development of open-source software has illustrated that copyright protection allows for the emergence of alternative business models, which may be more economically advantageous to authors. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die rasionaal agter outeursregbeskerming wat deur die reg verleen word is gebasseer op 'n behoefte om die skepping van werke wat sosiaal voordelig geag word te bevorder. Outeursreg verleen aan outeurs direkte finansiële vergoeding vir hul inspanning deur die vestiging van eiendomsreg oor hul werke. Dus, outeursreg voorsien outeurs van die nodige insentiewe om sulke werke te skep. Sedert die begindae van kommersiële sagteware ontwikkeling, is outeursregbeskerming uitgebrei om aan rekenaarprogramme sulke beskerming te bied. Deur die bied van outeursregbeskerming word daar aangeneem dat die ontwikkeling van rekenaarprogramme aangemoedig word en dat sonder die genoemde beskerming programme nie geproduseer sal word tot in 'n mate benodig deur die samelewing nie. Onlangs egter, is daar 'n grootskaalse ontwikkeling van oopbronsagteware opgemerk. Hierdie sagteware word onder ruime terme gelisensieer en gee aan gebruikers die reg om die genoemde sagteware te gebruik, te wysig en vrylik te versprei. Deur sulke terme van lisensiëring aan te neem word outeurs verhoed om vanaf lisensiehouers 'n fooi te vorder vir die toestemming om die sagteware te gebruik. Outeursreg neem aan dat hierdie vergoeding die basis vorm waarom outeurs sulke sagteware ontwikkel. Hierdie ontwikkeling maak dit nodig om die rasionaal agter outeursregbeskerming van rekenaarprogramme te her-evalueer en ook om vas te stel of die volgehoue beskerming van rekenaarprogramme regverdigbaar is. Hierdie studie poog om, eerstens, 'n samehangende teoretiese regverdiging vir outeursreg te vestig. Daar word aan die hand gedoen dat hierdie beskerming 'n ekonomiese, eerder as 'n morele regverdiging as grondslag moet hê. Die regsontleding vervat in hierdie werk poog om vas te stel of die outeursregbeskerming wat aan rekenaarprogramme verleen word in lyn is met die ekonomiese regverdiging van outeursregbeskerming. Die analise fokus in besonder op die huidige bestek van outeursregbeskerming en poog om vas te stel of sodanige beskerming oormatig is, of dit kreatiwiteit en innovasie onderdruk en derhalwe te hoë sosiale koste tot gevolg het. Daar word geargumenteer dat outeursreg in die algemeen poog om sosiale koste te verlaag en dat die huidige omvang van outeursregbeskerming van rekenaarprogramme voldoende kreatiewe ruimte vir die ontwikkeling van nuwe sagteware laat. Die effek van oopbronsagteware is dat outeurs nie in staat is om direkte finansiële vergoeding te verdien, wat as insentief gesien word vir die ontwikkeling van sagteware, nie. Ten spyte hiervan is daar steeds voldoende finansiële insentiewe om sodanige sagteware te ontwikkel. Kommersiële firmas belê in oopbronsagteware om finansiëel lonende verwante dienste ten opsigte van sagteware te voorsien. Dit kan ook dien om verkope in hul onderskeie aanvullende produkte te bevorder. Eweweens is die deelname van individuele rekenaarprogrameerders oorwegend in lyn met die standaard ekonomiese teoriëe ten opsigte van die arbeidsmark en die privaat voorsiening van openbare goedere. Individue word gemotiveer deur ekonomiese motiewe, soos byvoorbeeld oorwegings wat verband hou met hul loopbane. Outeursregbeskerming bied aan deelnemers die keuse om voordeel te trek uit die direkte finansiële vergoeding wat moontlik gemaak word deur outeursregbeskerming of uit die meer indirekte finansiële vergoeding gebied deur die ontwikkeling van oopbronsagteware. In hierdie navorsing word daar geargumenteer dat die ontwikkeling van oopbronsagteware geillustreer het dat outeursregbeskerming die onstaan van alternatiewe besigheidsmodelle toelaat wat ekonomies meer voordelig is vir outeurs in plaas daarvan dat dit die rasionaal vir die outeursregbeskerming van rekenaarprogramme ondermyn.

The Open Source Software Development (OSSD) model has launched products in rapid succession and with high quality, without following traditional quality practices of accepted software development models (Raymond 1999). Some OSSD projects challenge established quality assurance approaches, claiming to be successful through partial contrary techniques of standard software development. However, empirical studies of quality assurance practices for Open Source Software (OSS) are rare (Glass 2001). Therefore, further research is required to evaluate the quality assurance processes and methods within the OSSD model. The aim of this research is to improve the understanding of quality assurance practices under the OSSD model. The OSSD model is characterised by a collaborative, distributed development approach with public communication, free participation, free entry to the project for newcomers and unlimited access to the source code. The research examines applied quality assurance practices from a process view rather than from a product view. The research follows ideographic and nomothetic methodologies and adopts an antipositivist epistemological approach. An empirical research of applied quality assurance practices in OSS projects is conducted through the literature research. The survey research method is used to gain empirical evidence about applied practices. The findings are used to validate the theoretical knowledge and to obtain further expertise about practical approaches. The findings contribute to the development of a quality assurance framework for standard OSSD approaches. The result is an appropriate quality model with metrics that the requirements of the OSSD support. An ideographic approach with case studies is used to extend the body of knowledge and to assess the feasibility and applicability of the quality assurance framework. In conclusion, the study provides further understanding of the applied quality assurance processes under the OSSD model and shows how a quality assurance framework can support the development processes with guidelines and measurements.

This study evaluates the adoption of Open Source Software (OSS) by IT Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the UK. The growing popularity and acceptance of OSS continues to draw much attention in research and practice. However, researchers and IT practitioners within the UK SME sector still face challenges in understanding the issues that influence the acceptance, adoption, and diffusion of OSS. While previous research studies have focused mainly on the software development model and the unique characteristics of OSS, the area of OSS adoption by UK SMEs has largely been ignored. Furthermore, there is a lack of widely-acceptable theories that explain the adoption of OSS, implying that there is limited understanding of OSS adoption by UK SMEs. This gap in research has led this thesis to evaluate existing adoption theories and then apply the 'Decomposed Theory of Planned Behaviour' to model the adoption of OSS by SMEs. Based on the emerged conceptual model, an innovative and structured qualitative research design that uses a case study strategy was developed to evaluate the adoption of OSS across 10 UK SMEs in the IT industry. The analysis of the standardised data from the case study interviews led to the definition of the 16 factors of an emergent theory of OSS adoption by IT SMEs. The analysis of that empirical model has led to important conclusions including the following five issues, summarily. (1) The participant IT SMEs were drawn to different benefits, and experienced different challenges, in using OSS, suggesting that there is subjectivity and complexity in the factors influencing OSS adoption. (2) As in most Information and Communication Technology (ICT) adoption, ITcapability was identified to be essential for successful adoption of OSS, and therefore, it presents potential for important cooperative and collaborative support with OSS communities. (3) The emergent theory from this research study provide researchers and practitioners with variables for surveying critical-success-factors and a reference model for understanding the adoption of OSS. (4) The emergent theory and other general findings from this study are likely to have relevance in other areas of Information Systems research and practice, owing to the factors and theoretical framework that are common to OSS and general ICT acceptance, adoption, and diffusion. (5) This study appears to be the first that has focused on developing a widely-acceptable theory of OSS adoption by IT SMEs in the UK, suggesting that this innovative research study is a novel contribution that has important implications for theory and practice in OSS and general ICT acceptance, adoption, and diffusion.

The aim of this research is to investigate the extent to which Open Source Software (OSS) adoption behaviour can empirically be shown to be governed by a set of self-reported (driving and inhibiting) salient beliefs of key informants in a sample of organisations. Traditional IS adoption/usage theory, methodology and practice are drawn on. These are then augmented with theoretical constructs derived from IT governance and organisational diagnostics to propose an artefact that aids the understanding of organisational OSS adoption behaviour, stimulates debate and aids operational management interventions. For this research, a combination of quantitative methods (via Fisher's Exact Test) and complimentary qualitative method (via Content Analysis) were used using self-selection sampling techniques. In addition, a combination of data and methods were used to establish a set of mixed-methods results (or meta-inferences). From a dataset of 32 completed questionnaires in the pilot study, and 45 in the main study, a relatively parsimonious set of statistically significant driving and inhibiting factors were successfully established (ranging from 95% to 99.5% confidence levels) for a variety for organisational OSS adoption behaviours (i.e. by year, by software category and by stage of adoption). In addition, in terms of mixed-methods, combined quantitative and qualitative data yielded a number of factors limited to a relatively small number of organisational OSS adoption behaviour. The findings of this research are that a relatively small set of driving and inhibiting salient beliefs (e.g. Security, Perpetuity, Unsustainable Business Model, Second Best Perception, Colleagues in IT Dept., Ease of Implementation and Organisation is an Active User) have proven very accurate in predicting certain organisational OSS adoption behaviour (e.g. self-reported Intention to Adopt OSS in 2014) via Binomial Logistic Regression Analysis.

One of the cornerstones of the R system for statistical computing is the multitude of contributed packages making an extremely broad range of statistical techniques and other quantitative methods freely available. This study investigates which factors are the crucial determinants responsible for the participation of the package authors in the R project. For this purpose a survey was conducted among R package authors, collecting data on different types of participation in the R project, three psychometric scales (hybrid forms of motivation, work design characteristics, and values), as well as various specie-demographic factors. These data are analyzed using item response theory and generalized linear models, showing that the most important determinants for participation are a hybrid form of motivation and the knowledge characteristics of the work design. Other factors are found to have less impact or influence only specific aspects of participation. (authors' abstract) / Series: Research Report Series / Department of Statistics and Mathematics

Abstract Developing countries are net importers of intellectual property products and open source software (OSS) production is one way in which local socio-economic development can take place. The public goods characteristics of OSS are contested and this study investigates whether in a developing country context OSS is a pure public good that can be locally appropriated and not exclude any users or producers from doing so. This case study of an OSS public good finds that it does not have all the characteristics of a pure good, that there is a role for a sponsor, and in particular the importance of copyright protection of derivatives in order to ensure that the source code does not fall out of fashion and use. Having explored that, however, there is further evidence that OSS collaborative learning is both publically and personally beneficial for developing country computer programmers. Furthermore, the state benefits from the improved benefits of health information systems made possible through the appropriation of this model of learning.

A presente pesquisa teve como objetivos desenvolver o processo de compostagem dos resíduos sólidos, previamente separados na origem e, propor um software livre para o gerenciamento municipal de resíduos sólidos domiciliares. O processo de compostagem se desenvolveu em uma unidade descentralizada experimental, localizada no município de São Carlos, com capacidade para tratar 4 t/mês de resíduos orgânicos. A análise da qualidade do composto foi realizada segundo parâmetros físicos, químicos e microbiológicos. Os resultados indicaram que o composto atende à maioria dos limites estabelecidos pela legislação brasileira, principalmente, com relação à concentração de metais pesados (Cd < 0.5, Pb = 1.3, Cr = 17.4, As < 0.5, Hg < 0.5, Se < 0.5 e Ni = 0.8, em mg/kg) e presença de organismos patogênicos. No entanto, quando esse composto foi submetido a ensaio ecotoxicológico teste agudo em minhocas da espécie Eisenia andrei - constatou-se toxicidade do mesmo, com taxas de mortalidade significativas (P<0.05) a partir da concentração de 16% de composto em solo artificial tropical(TAS), o que significa uma dose de 60 t/ha. A alta condutividade elétrica do composto (CE = 7,48 mS/cm) foi considerada a responsável pela toxicidade do mesmo, uma vez que os teores de metais pesados estiveram muito abaixo dos limites estabelecidos pela legislação. O software livre desenvolvido nesta pesquisa foi denominado SIMGERE - simulação para a gestão de resíduos sólidos - que permite ao usuário simular a vida útil do aterro sanitário a partir da proposição de diferentes cenários de gerenciamento de resíduos sólidos domiciliares. Como estudo de caso aplicou-se o SIMGERE para estimar a vida útil do novo aterro sanitário de São Carlos/SP a partir da simulação de 27 cenários, nos quais foram alteradas as taxas de produção per capita de resíduos (0; 0,5 e 1,0% a.a.), a eficiência da central de triagem (0,5 e 10% a.a) e da unidade compostagem (0,5 e 10% a.a). Os resultados das simulações apontaram uma vida útil variando entre 17 (pior cenário) e 20 anos (melhor cenário). Pode-se inferir pelas simulações que a variação na produção per capita teve maior influência na vida útil do aterro do que a variação na eficiência da central de triagem e da unidade de compostagem. Esse resultado reforça a importância de se realizar investimentos em campanhas de conscientização da população para reduzir a geração de resíduos. / This research aims to develop a household waste composting in a decentralized composting plant and propose open source software for the municipal solid waste management. The composting process was developed in an experimental decentralized plant in São Carlos, with a 4 tons/month capacity. The output compost quality analysis was made according to physical, chemical and microbiological parameters. Result showed that the compost fulfills most of the safety limits required by the brazilian law (IN 27/2006, MAPA), especially in respect with heavy metal concentrations (Cd < 0.5, Pb = 1.3, Cr = 17.4, As < 0.5, Hg < 0.5, Se < 0.5 e Ni = 0.8, em mg/kg) and the presence of pathogens. However, when this compost was submitted to an ecotoxicological test acute test with Eisenia andrei earthworms one verified toxicity in samples with significant mortality (p<0.05) on compost concentrations over 16% in a tropical artificial soil, meaning a 60 ton/ha dose. High electrical conductivity (CE = 7,48 mS/cm) was considered responsible for the compost toxicity. An open source software called SIMGERE - simulation for solid waste management - was developed and allows the user to simulate landfill lifespan from the suggestion of different solid waste scenarios. The software was used to estimate the lifespan of the new landfill in São Carlos/SP from 27 scenarios where waste production rate per capita were changed (0; 0,5 and 1% per year). It was also changed the efficiency of sorting facilities (0,5 e 10%) and composting plants (0,5 e 10%). The results of these simulations showed that the lifespan can range from 17 years (worst case scenario) to 20 years (best case scenario). One can infer by the simulations that changes in the production per capita had a greater influence on the landfill lifespan than changes in efficiency of sorting facilities and of composting plants. This result shows the importance to invest in awareness campaigns to reduce waste.

臺北市多目標地籍圖系統可提供查尋定位功能，惟並無分析、統計等一般地理資訊系統(GIS)具有的功能，使得地籍資料無法發揮更大功效，同時筆者服務機關既有之『縣市圖根管理系統』因開發較早，受限於原開發程式限制，無法與需高記體之其他軟體相容，另一方面，民眾申請多目標地籍圖，目前仍以紙本方式供應，亦無法發揮與其他政府機關或民間開發建置之地理資訊系統(GIS)圖資整合應用之功能，若能提供符合開放地理資訊編碼標準之地籍圖資，民眾可自行加值應用，將可大幅提升政府為民服務品質。由於臺北市多目標地籍圖系統功能不足，以及既有之『縣市圖根管理系統』無法正常使用，亟需開發新系統，然而，當欲增加功能時，又常受限於原開發廠商、預算編列及招標程序，導致緩不濟急。 開放式地理資訊系統聯盟製定了開放式地理資料跨平台規格書，依此規格書開發之開放源碼軟體常具有免費、跨平台、資料模組化、資料交換方便等優點，讓使用者能免費的取得軟體；同時中央研究院亦提供了許多GIS應用軟體工具供人下載使用，因此若能藉由開放源碼軟體之輔助，將地籍圖資加值應用，提供地籍圖查詢定位、套圖展示以及產製符合開放地理資訊編碼標準之地籍圖、圖根點檔，將可提高地籍資料於GIS之應用。 本研究蒐集臺北市信義區之地籍圖、圖根點及都市計畫中心樁位坐標成果，以開放源碼GIS (Quantum GIS)進行地籍資料加值之建置及處理，建置完成後之成果，可於Quantum GIS中進行定位查詢、套圖展示等操作，並可依需求製作客製化地籍圖，產製地籍圖及圖根點成果KML檔，供民眾下載後加值應用，對提升為民服務有極大助益。 / The “Taipei City Multi-purpose Cadastral Map System” can be used to search and identify location. However, it lacks of functions provided by GIS (Geographic Information Systems) such as analysis and statistics, hence its utility is limited. Since the “Supplementary Control Point Management System for City and County Government” of the researcher's institute was developed in a very early year, due to its limitation, the software is incompatible with the other software which needs large memory. In addition, multi-purpose cadastral map is currently provided to the public in paper copy, thus it cannot be integrated with other GIS data established by government or private institutions. If the cadastral map conforms to the Open Geodata Interoperability Specification (OpenGIS), it can improve the quality of service provided by the government to the public because value-added applications can be developed. As both the aforementioned systems are not sufficient to meet the needs, there is great demand for developing a new system. However, the development of new functions or systems is often restricted by the original developer, budget, and procurement procedure, hence it is not efficient for the urgent need. The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) has defined a set of open interfaces based on the OpenGIS. Most of the open source software that conforms to OpenGIS has the advantages of free of charge, cross platform, modulized data, and data interchangeability. It is free and easy for users to obtain open source software. Academia Sinica also provides several GIS application software for free download. By using open source GIS software to provide functions such as searching, identification, overlaying, and producing maps for cadastral maps and supplementary control points, it will enhance the value of cadastral map data in GIS applications. This research collected data of the Xinyi District of Taipei City, including cadastral maps, supplementary control points, and central piles’ coordinates for urban planning. An open source GIS (Quantum GIS) was used to process cadastral maps, and the results can be used for location searching, and overlaying maps. Moreover, customized cadastral maps can be produced on demand, and the cadastral maps and supplementary control points can be converted to KML (Keyhole Markup Language) file format, which can be downloaded by the public for value-added applications. The results is expected to greatly improve services for the public.

<p>This thesis will look into what kind of solutions a company or a private person can use if they want to create a dynamic website using only free software. To do this we divided our work in two parts. In the first part, we developed a dynamic website for a Swedish company. On the server side we used exclusively free software with open source code. There are different meanings in how the term “free” should be used when referring to software, which we will explain in the thesis. We have also chosen to work with the XMLtechnology to see if it lives up to its expectations and to see if we could benefit from the technology. Alongside with the development of our site, another company developed a site for the same company as us, by using non-free software. We have described both implementations and compared them to see if it is possible to do the same thing with both free and non-free software. </p><p>The investigating part of our work consisted of getting information about what other people think about the free software phenomenon. To do so we created an online questionnaire where we randomly picked 100 Swedish web agencies and asked them to answer 8 questions about what kind of software they used in their company, and what they thought about free software. To get some more opinions we also interviewed two persons involved in these kinds of topics. Jan Sandred, who is a well known expert advisor in topics concerning the Information Technology area and Richard Stallman, the founder of GNU and the Free Software Movement. </p><p>The reason for dividing the thesis in two parts was to get an overall picture on the subject. We did not only want to base our results on other people’s thoughts. We wanted to make our own conclusions based on the implementation we did. This approach showed out to be very good. We got to try working with free software ourselves to see its pros and cons and build our own opinions about it. We could then proceed to compare our impressions to other people’s impressions about free software.</p>