This handbook of research is one of the few texts to combine Open Source Software (OSS) in public and private sector activities into a single reference source. It examines how the use of OSS affects practices in society, business, government, education, and law.

"This book bridges the gap between solutions and users' needs pertaining to the most relevant open source cloud technologies available today from a practical perspective"--

Free/Open Source Enterprise Resource Planning systems (FOS-ERP) are gaining popularity and acceptance due to two main factors: their lack of licensing fees and customizability. Given this, organizations are able to easily adopt and manipulate these systems to meet their individual needs. Free and Open Source Enterprise Resource Planning: Systems and Strategies unites research on FOS-ERP, comparing differences with proprietary Enterprise Resource Planning products, and demonstrating key research factors. It includes cases demonstrating how small enterprises have benefited from FOS-ERP in Spain and in Belgium, along with difficulties encountered and solutions developed. This essential reference addresses key issues such as security and legal risks, as well as challenges, opportunities, and barriers to adoption.

The Routledge Handbook of Geospatial Technologies and Society provides a relevant and comprehensive reference point for research and practice in this dynamic field. It offers detailed explanations of geospatial technologies and provides critical reviews and appraisals of their application in society within international and multi-disciplinary contexts as agents of change. The ability of geospatial data to transform knowledge in contemporary and future societies forms an important theme running throughout the entire volume. Contributors reflect on the changing role of geospatial technologies in society and highlight new applications that represent transformative directions in society and point towards new horizons. Furthermore, they encourage dialogue across disciplines to bring new theoretical perspectives on geospatial technologies, from neurology to heritage studies. The international contributions from leading scholars and influential practitioners that constitute the Handbook provide a wealth of critical examples of these technologies as agents of change in societies around the globe. The book will appeal to advanced undergraduates and practitioners interested or engaged in their application worldwide.

"This book reviews open and free software used in e-learning, examines the pedagogy behind FOSS and how it is applied to e-learning, and discusses the best practices for FOSS through real world examples, providing guidelines for e-learning designers and instructors who use FOSS"--Provided by publisher.

Following the development of a "Concept Note" for the World Bank Education Strategy 2020, the World Bank engaged in a series of activities to garner feedback about the strategy. In early 2011, a revised strategy was published, "Learning for All: Investing in People's Knowledge and Skills to Promote Development." This title deals with this topic.

Fifteen years ago software was primarily developed either within an organizational field of voluntary open source software communities or within an organizational field of commercial companies. Within the organizational field of open source software, participants looked upon themselves as programmers and users modifying and sharing codes, making them available to everyone for free. Within the field of commercial companies, managers and employees perceived software as a commodity that could be bought and sold, and the development of the software was wrapped in copyrights and licenses. Today, commercial companies are involved in activities within open source software communities in many different ways. How did people start to co-operate with the enemy on software development is the leading question in the book. The answers are based on in-depth studies of three empirical cases showing different variations of successful co-operation. In all three cases the development has raised serious identity questions like: Who am I? Who are my friends and enemies? And what is the right thing for me to do in the future? The book is for everyone interested in software development and/or open innovation processes and will be of particular interest for organizational scholars as it draws heavily on sociological concepts like institutional logics, institutional work and institutional actors.

The pervasiveness of and universal access to modern Information and Communication Technologies has enabled a popular new paradigm in the dissemination of information, art, and ideas. Now, instead of relying on a finite number of content providers to control the flow of information, users can generate and disseminate their own content for a wider audience. Open Source Technology: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications investigates examples and methodologies in user-generated and freely-accessible content available through electronic and online media. With applications in education, government, entertainment, and more, the technologies explored in these volumes will provide a comprehensive reference for web designers, software developers, and practitioners in a wide variety of fields and disciplines.

"This book shows how partnerships can be cultivated through projects, programming, funding, and extending the library's presence through unique avenues, offering librarians a better understanding of what might be possible for their situational requirements and limitations"--Provided by publisher.

Kerstin Balka focuses on the open source development of tangible objects, so-called open design. To explore the landscape and mechanisms of open design, she presents a comprehensive study of 104 projects and an in-depth case study of six projects.