The lack of support for the use of Open Source software is not a real problem for European public administrations, conclude researchers at IT company Unisys and the Maastricht Economic and social Research and training Institute on Innovation and Technology (Merit).
The two surveyed 955 public authorities in thirteen EU member states in 2004. The report titled 'Study on the effect on the development of the information society of European public bodies making their own software available as open source', requested by the European Commission, was finalised this April and recently published on line.
The perceived lack of support for this type of software may be just a perception, is one of the conclusions in the report.
"Though 39 percent of respondents in our surveys considered it problematic to find technical support for Open Source systems, this may be perception rather than fact. Our data shows that this sentiment is strongest among non-users and those who are unaware of Open Source software." Actual Open Source users, bearing the costs of training and technical support, tend to disagree with the statements that training and support are expensive or hard to find.
Cost savings
Adopting Open Source in most cases decreased costs, conclude the Unisys and Merit researchers. "Cost savings are usually the first item that comes to mind to use Open Source. However, it turned out cost issues play a role in only three out of six public authorities analysed."
Cost issues therefore do not play a motivating role for all public instituted when they decided to use Open Source. The cost argument helps motivate civil administrations, note the researchers, for example when budgets are tight or when there is resistance to changes.
© European Communities 2007
Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.
The views expressed are not an official position of the European Commission.
Disclaimer
Further information: