This document discusses how companies can benefit from open source communities. It argues that open source is not just for geeks or moochers, but is a model for innovation. Open source communities provide feedback, testing, content and development assistance. Companies should build communities by starting small, being welcoming and inclusive, listening to members, and having an open development process. While challenging, community can set companies apart, redefine markets, and inspire loyalty if made a core part of the business.

1. @ale_fattorini
WHAT COMPANIES CAN LEARN FROM
OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITIES
OPEN INNOVATION
Alessio Fattorini

2. @ale_fattorini
OPEN SOURCE IS FOR GEEKS

3. @ale_fattorini
OPEN SOURCE IS FOR MOOCHERS

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OPEN SOURCE IS COMPLEX

5. @ale_fattorini

6. COULD BE WRONG
EVERYTHING YOU KNOW ABOUT OPEN SOURCE
COMMUNITIES

7. @ale_fattorini
BOOST INNOVATION
OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITIES CAN

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OPEN INNOVATION FROM OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITIES
ALESSIO FATTORINI
▸ Work at Nethesis (Italy)
▸ NethServer Community Leader
▸ Linux Sysadmin and Project manager
▸ Build Welcoming Communities
▸ Connect People and work with Open
Source
▸ Prosecco Evangelist

9. @ale_fattorini
OPEN INNOVATION, WHAT COMPANIES CAN LEARN FROM OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITIES
OPEN SOURCE ISN’T FOR GEEKS
▸ It’s literally everywhere
▸ Open Source is completely
eating the world
▸ A de facto model for innovation

11. @ale_fattorini
OPEN INNOVATION, WHAT COMPANIES CAN LEARN FROM OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITIES
OPEN SOURCE ISN’T FOR MOOCHERS
▸ It will surprise you

15. COMMITMENT TO THE OPEN SOURCE
COMMUNITY AND OPEN SOURCE
DEVELOPMENT IS THE KEY TO OUR
SUCCESS
Jim Whitehurst
OPEN INNOVATION, WHAT COMPANIES CAN LEARN FROM OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITIES

16. @ale_fattorini
OPEN INNOVATION FROM OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITIES
IS OPEN SOURCE COMPLEX?
NOT AT ALL

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OPEN INNOVATION, WHAT COMPANIES CAN LEARN FROM OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITIES
▸ Free, Open Source, CentOS based,
all-one Linux Server distribution.
▸ It’s accessible, easier to adopt and
simpler to understand.
▸ Helps sysadmin have success in IT
space by leveraging the power of
a Linux server without complexity

18. @ale_fattorini
HOW CAN I IMPROVE MY BUSINESS?
IF I RELEASE MY CODE FOR FREE

19. @ale_fattorini
OPEN INNOVATION FROM OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITIES
COMMUNITY IS THE KEY HERE
▸ Open Source is about more
than just code, it’s about
community and process
▸ Bringing people together and
encourage them to use
contribute and evangelize your
product

20. TO GO FAST, GO ALONE.
TO GO FAR, GO TOGETHER.
African Proverb
OPEN INNOVATION, WHAT COMPANIES CAN LEARN FROM OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITIES

21. @ale_fattorini
THE BEST WAY TO HAVE A GOOD IDEA IS
TO HAVE A LOT OF IDEAS
INNOVATION

22. @ale_fattorini
OPEN INNOVATION, WHAT COMPANIES CAN LEARN FROM OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITIES
INNOVATION
▸ Having different point of view
on your product is essential
▸ How many disrupting ideas can
a company like Nethesis create?
▸ Ability to invite the entire world
to continuously improve the
product

23. @ale_fattorini
OPEN INNOVATION, WHAT COMPANIES CAN LEARN FROM OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITIES
COMMUNITY = IDEAS FACTORY
▸ No matter who you are, most of
the smartest people work for
someone else.
▸ Don’t just look at the crowd.
We innovate in, with and
through communities

24. @ale_fattorini
OPEN INNOVATION FROM OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITIES
FROM THE OUTSIDE
▸ Enable the company to look at
itself from the outside
▸ Catch your strengths and
weaknesses
▸ Who the product audience is

25. NETHSERVER IS AN OPERATING SYSTEM
FOR LINUX ENTHUSIASTS, DESIGNED FOR
SMALL OFFICES AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISE

27. NETHSERVER IS AN OPERATING SYSTEM
FOR LINUX ENTHUSIASTS, DESIGNED FOR
SMALL OFFICES AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISE

28. NETHSERVER IS AN OPERATING SYSTEM
FOR LINUX ENTHUSIASTS, DESIGNED FOR
SMALL OFFICES AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISE

29. @ale_fattorini
OPEN INNOVATION FROM OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITIES
OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITY BENEFITS

30. @ale_fattorini
OPEN INNOVATION FROM OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITIES
OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITY BENEFITS
▸ Feedback

31. @ale_fattorini
OPEN INNOVATION FROM OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITIES
OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITY BENEFITS
▸ Feedback
▸ Comparisons

32. @ale_fattorini
OPEN INNOVATION FROM OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITIES
OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITY BENEFITS
▸ Feedback
▸ Comparisons
▸ Testing and bugs

33. @ale_fattorini
OPEN INNOVATION FROM OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITIES
OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITY BENEFITS
▸ Feedback
▸ Comparisons
▸ Testing and bugs
▸ Content

34. @ale_fattorini
OPEN INNOVATION FROM OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITIES
OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITY BENEFITS
▸ Feedback
▸ Comparisons
▸ Testing and bugs
▸ Content
▸ Development

35. @ale_fattorini
OPEN INNOVATION FROM OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITIES
OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITY BENEFITS
▸ Feedback
▸ Comparisons
▸ Testing and bugs
▸ Content
▸ Development
▸ Translations

36. @ale_fattorini
HOW TO BUILD A COMMUNITY?

37. @ale_fattorini
START SMALL AND
GROW ORGANICALLY
DON’T LAUNCH A
COMMUNITY

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CREATE A FOUNDERS GROUP

39. @ale_fattorini
BRING EVERYONE THERE
CREATE A UNIQUE PLACE TO CONGREGATE

41. @ale_fattorini
OPEN INNOVATION FROM OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITIES
CREATE ACTIVITY
▸ You may need to manufacture
the first interactions
▸ Don’t invite people to an
empty place

42. @ale_fattorini
OPEN INNOVATION FROM OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITIES
BE WELCOMING
▸ First experience is critical
▸ Feel acknowledged
▸ Know what to do first
▸ First post -> prompt response

44. @ale_fattorini
OPEN INNOVATION FROM OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITIES
BE INCLUSIVE
▸ Create an environment where
people feel safe
▸ It doesn’t matter how fun and
amazing your project is. If people
don’t feel safe they wont’
contribute.
▸ Create some rules and lead by
example

46. @ale_fattorini
OPEN INNOVATION FROM OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITIES
LISTEN TO YOUR COMMUNITY
▸ You will tempted to steer the
discussion too much
▸ Be open-minded and be ready
to change your mind
▸ Be ready to discuss and ask
people to do the same

47. WHEN WE’RE CLOSE TO IDEAS, WE HEAR
CRITICISM. WHEN WE’RE OPEN TO
CRITICISM WHAT WE GET IS ADVICE.
Simon Sinek
OPEN INNOVATION, WHAT COMPANIES CAN LEARN FROM OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITIES

48. @ale_fattorini
OPEN INNOVATION FROM OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITIES
BE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT
▸ Introducing open innovation is
a huge cultural shift
▸ You will tempted to keep your
discussions private. Tell your
people to stop doing that.
▸ Try to work out loud

49. @ale_fattorini
OPENESS?
HOW DO YOU PRACTICE THAT

50. @ale_fattorini
HOW WE’RE TAKING CLSX EVENTS TO THE NEXT LEVEL
OPEN DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
▸ All bugs, roadmap and development planning are completely public on
our github (Input from others to reproduce the problem)
▸ All feature requests are collected on our community platform
▸ Refine proposal, members can start working on ideas
▸ Make beta and Rc versions of NethServer regularly available.
▸ Follow development
▸ Early feedback

51. @ale_fattorini
DRAWBACKS

52. @ale_fattorini
DEFINITELY TAKES SOME
TIME AND RESOURCES
SUPPORTING YOUR MEMBERS
AND LEADING THE DISCUSSIONS

53. WHEN THEY LOOK AT IT AS A TACTIC
COMPANIES FAIL AT COMMUNITY

54. @ale_fattorini
A CORE PART OF THE BUSINESS
PHILOSOPHY
INSTEAD OF MAKING IT

55. @ale_fattorini
OPEN INNOVATION FROM OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITIES
COMMUNITY IS NOT
▸ Marketing
▸ An efficient short-term strategy
▸ Very small representation of
the full potential value

56. @ale_fattorini
OPEN INNOVATION, WHAT COMPANIES CAN LEARN FROM OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITIES
IT CAN DO SO MUCH MORE
▸ Completely set your business apart
from every company in the field
▸ Redefine markets
▸ Inspire milions of people
▸ Give them a sense of belonging
▸ Make them feel an incredible bond

57. A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY
IT CAN MAKE YOU

58. @ale_fattorini
WILL ALWAYS WIN
COMMUNITY-DRIVEN COMPANIES

59. @ale_fattorini
THANK YOU
@ale_fattorini
nethserver.org
nethesis.it