It may seem controversial that open-source software (OSS), i.e. software created by voluntary contributions that is available to use, change, and distribute for free, can be utilized for business purposes. Yet, for some firms, commercial OSS software products are the primary source of revenue. In this thesis, these companies are referred to as OSS vendors. Although some OSS vendors have existed for more than thirty years, how they conduct their business has not been extensively studied. Business models as a concept has been widely used in the information and communications technology (ICT) industry, often when describing firms working with OSS. In that context business models often refer to the offering, i.e. the products the firm offers to its customers and how revenues are collected. However, in academia the business model concept has evolved in a broader sense encompassing several fields and into a rich theoretical field itself. This thesis aims to further the understanding on how OSS vendors conduct their business, by using a business model framework, which has been constructed from business model and management theories. This framework was used to study OSS vendors to investigate the configurations of their business models. A cross-case analysis of four carefully selected OSS vendors searched for generic patterns in these configurations. Furthermore, the cases were also studied regarding sustainability and profitability. Two generic business model configurations were found, community immersion and community utilization. OSS vendors found configured according to the community immersion business model are deeply involved with, but also dependent on, the main community project that provides the software for the offering. OSS vendors found configured according to the community utilization business model are not dependent on the OSS project to provide their commercial offerings. Rather, the communities are used in marketing providing brand benefits, a base for recruitment, and in lesser degree functioned as quality assurance. Two of the four studied companies were found to be profitable and sustainable; one operating according to the community immersion business model and the other according to the community utilization business model. The other two companies studied, observed to operate according to the community utilization business model, did not achieve profitability during the time of the study. The findings should further the understanding of how profitable OSS vendors’ business models could be configured, and thus provide practitioners with an understanding on how different business model configurations can affect their strategies and overall business.

The purpose of this thesis is to extract and provide practical knowledge and examples from both theory and practice in order to clarify some practices that can be used in the implementation of open innovation. It can be of interest for whomever willing to gain an insight into the practical features of open innovation and for companies considering, or struggling with the implementation of open innovation. The study was approached with a qualitative and interpretive method. Secondary sources were used exclusively to review the practical aspects of open innovation in theory and practice. Open innovation practice at Nokia Corp. and the Procter & Gamble Company were researched and reported using studies of other authors as well as the companies’ own publications. The classification of open innovation practices in contemporary literature is not sufficient to provide an understanding for the various types of open innovation practices that can be applied and used in practice. A classification based on types of activities is presented by the authors, and practical suggestions regarding design and implementation concludes the thesis.

Thesis (M.U.D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 77-78).

The UBC Library along with many other research libraries is beginning to develop a range of publishing support services for faculty and students. This presentation focuses on cIRcle, the Library's institutional repository, and was delivered as part of a graduate seminar in the Dept of English on April 2, 2009.

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität, Erlangen-Nürnberg, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [241]-255).

Habil.-Schr. Univ. München, 2004.

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1988. / Also available in print.

Thesis (M.U.D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 77-78) Also available in print.

Since 2000, digital technology and other technological advances such as 3D printing have improved non-traditional scientists’ participation in biotechnology and life science research and development. Non-traditional scientists, including amateur scientists, students and graduates from the life sciences, artists, programmers, engineers, and entrepreneurs, have rapidly increased under the Do-It-Yourself biotechnology (DIY bio) movement. These DIY biotechnologists or DIYers increase biotechnology research and life science inventions in society by encouraging open and cooperative development. Biotechnology research and development (R&D), especially in healthcare and agricultural biotechnology, suffers from patent proliferation with fragmented and overlapping rights that cover upstream research resources and research tools which can enable downstream developments. The proliferation of patents and related rights protecting upstream research can be detrimental to progress and citizens’ welfare because they can increase the cost of R&D, interfere with access to upstream research tools, and allow R&D to be concentrated around the issues found in developed nations. Many DIYers depend on self-funding and community resources to experiment with biotechnology. Proprietary research tools and equipment are harder to access. Some of them operate alongside proprietary R&D in a research area by building on off-patent technologies and inventing around patents. Some DIYers have made significant contributions in science that benefit other biotechnology researchers and developers, such as developing and manufacturing open source versions of proprietary research tools and equipment. Nonetheless, they can risk inadvertent patent infringement by working in competitive biotechnology research areas with heavy patent coverage. The presence of patent thickets in biotechnology can also discourage volunteers’ initial participation in open R&D. When third party patents develop around open and cumulative development, the risk of patent infringement increases for downstream development and commercial activities based on upstream open R&D. Alternative knowledge management strategies, such as open source patent licensing, clearinghouses and contract-based compensatory liability regimes, allow open innovation communities to create a protected commons of shared resources. However, these do not resolve problems in biotechnology patent law, such as fragmented and overlapping rights on cumulative technologies and strategic patent use. Government actions can address these problems, such as broadening outdated patent law exceptions, which can discourage unnecessary patenting and reduce the risk of infringement in alternative innovation environments.

As part of its quest to become the first digital African city, in 2014 the City of Cape Town adopted an open data policy, which was later coupled with an open data portal to make government data available for public access. This was touted as a novelty initiative as the City of Cape Town was the first African city to implement a policy of this nature. This open data initiative aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability as well as promoting inclusive economic participation for its citizens. Open data project managers from the city and external industry experts working on open data initiatives were interviewed to understand the current the state of open data within the city and how it worked with other stakeholders. The study draws on these interviews to present the current challenges experienced by the city from the city’s official point of view as well as from open data experts working closely with the city. To understand the practical experiences of how the city publishes data in its platforms, the study also extensively explored the city’s open data portal, as well as examining and commenting on the documented open data policy guidelines contrasted and compared to current practical experiences. To guide the objectives and analysis of the study, four key themes were adopted from literature; context, use, data and impact. Context focused on the overall context or environment at which open data in the city is provided as a public service, while use focused challenges on the uses of open data as well as it is users, data focused on the types of datasets published on the portal as well as the technical challenges in publishing them. Lastly impact looked at the expected benefits and goals of the city’s open data policy. The study through the themes highlighted the ongoing challenges at various levels that the city experience as they implement and develop the open data policy. Overall it was noted that open data was not a goal but continuous challenges were arising daily while implementing and developing the policy- while it was noted that various stakeholders within and outside government had to collaborate to effectively meet the required open data standards.