• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.45-55
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• 2013

Purpose - The development and implementation of OSS (Open Source Software) led to a dramatic change in corporate IT infrastructure, from system server to smart phone, because the performance, reliability, and security functions of OSS are comparable to those of commercial software. Today, OSS has become an indispensable tool to cope with the competitive business environment and the constantly-evolving IT environment. However, the use of OSS is insufficient in small and medium-sized companies and software houses. This study examines the need for OSS Intermediaries in the Software Distribution Channel. It is expected that the role of the OSS Intermediary will be reduced with the improvement of the distribution process. The purpose of this research is to prove that OSS Intermediaries increase the efficiency of the software distribution market. Research design, Data, and Methodology - This study presents the analysis of data gathered online to determine the extent of the impact of the intermediaries on the OSS market. Data was collected using an online survey, conducted by building a personal search robot (web crawler). The survey period lasted 9 days during which a total of 233,021 data points were gathered from sourceforge.net and Apple's App store, the two most popular software intermediaries in the world. The data collected was analyzed using Google's Motion Chart. Results - The study found that, beginning 2006, the production of OSS in the Sourceforge.net increased rapidly across the board, but in the second half of 2009, it dropped sharply. There are many events that can explain this causality; however, we found an appropriate event to explain the effect. It was seen that during the same period of time, the monthly production of OSS in the App store was increasing quickly. The App store showed a contrasting trend to software production. Our follow-up analysis suggests that appropriate intermediaries like App store can enlarge the OSS market. The increase was caused by the appearance of B2C software intermediaries like App store. The results imply that OSS intermediaries can accelerate OSS software distribution, while development of a better online market is critical for corporate users. Conclusion - In this study, we analyzed 233,021 data points on the online software marketplace at Sourceforge.net. It indicates that OSS Intermediaries are needed in the software distribution market for its vitality. It is also critical that OSS intermediaries should satisfy certain qualifications to play a key role as market makers. This study has several interesting implications. One implication of this research is that the OSS intermediary should make an effort to create a complementary relationship between OSS and Proprietary Software. The second implication is that the OSS intermediary must possess a business model that shares the benefits with all the participants (developer, intermediary, and users).The third implication is that the intermediary provides an OSS of high quality like proprietary software with a high level of complexity. Thus, it is worthwhile to examine this study, which proves that the open source software intermediaries are essential in the software distribution channel.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-19
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• 2013

The market for commercial open source software (OSS) has been rapidly growing with the proliferation of OSS. One way to commercialize OSS is the support model, which has been adopted by leading OSS firms such as Red Hat and JBoss. Despite the growing interest in OSS commercialization, little research has provided OSS support providers with a pricing guideline. In this paper, we examine the optimal pricing strategies for OSS support providers. Our benchmark is a monopoly case in which we investigate a startup software vendor's incentive to choose the OSS support regime over the proprietary one. Then we extend the model to a duopoly case in which OSS under the support regime competes against proprietary software. We characterize the conditions under which the OSS support model is viable under competition. We believe that our results offer insights to the OSS vendors who consider commercializing their OSS with a support model.

• Journal of Computing Science and Engineering
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 2014

User satisfaction has always been important in the success of software, regardless of whether it is closed and proprietary or open source software (OSS). OSS users are geographically distributed and include technical as well as novice users. However, it is generally believed that if OSS was more usable, its popularity would increase tremendously. Hence, users and their requirements need to be addressed in the priorities of an OSS environment. Online public forums are a major medium of communication for the OSS community. The research model of this work studies the relationship between user requirements in open source software and online public forums. To conduct this research, we used a dataset consisting of 100 open source software projects in different categories. The results show that online forums play a significant role in identifying user requirements and addressing their requests in open source software.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.48-53
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• 2005

This paper aims to compare open source software (OSS) with proprietary software (PS), and to propose a new business model for OSS. Generally speaking, PS has made negative impact on software industry in various ways. In contrast, OSS may reduce negative aspects of lock-in effect and transaction cost the ways in which software distribution has been utilized. In this regard, OSS makes it possible to create a new business model, which is software customization. Software customization is not to sell software license directly to end-users, but to create values by means of developing and capitalizing software-related industries where value chain is linked. In other words, the new business model of OSS is focusing on software market where the value created by OSS can be enhanced.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.109-139
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• 2013

The objective of this study attempt to examine the prospect whether conventional catch-up theory is also applicable to knowledge intensive industry like Open Source Software(OSS), and the implication from this study can be working as a stepping stone for followers. To do this, we conducted Korean SW firm's interview, and examined U.S. firm's archivings and second source of informations by means of empirical study. We use the inflection point of paradigm shift and difference of technology regime as a framework for empirical study of catch-up process between U.S. and Korean OSS firms. We find that conventional catch-up theory is no more applicable to explain OSS firm's catch-up processes. We also identified the elements that will accelerate the catch-up processes more effectively from the comparison of technology regime between U.S. and Korean OSS firms. As a result, we diagnose the limitation of conventional catch-up theory and discuss the new technology regime which will, ironically, promote the catch-up processes from the condition of low appropriation.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.89-116
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• 2010

The development and accomplishment of Open Source Software(OSS) is one of the hottest, as well as the most recent topics in the software industry. Prior studies with respects to OSS have concentrated on discovering both developers and users' rationales of participating OSS projects, analyzing specific OSS solutions or OSS movement itself. However, the empirical study on identifying determinants that influence organizational adoption of OSS and further diffusion of the technology has been a scant. Thus, the main purpose of this study is to investigate the key determinants affecting organizational adoption of OSS. The proposed research model incorporates organizational needs(Evolutional Leadership, Adaptive performance, Readiness for Change) and technological needs(Job Relevance, Cost Benefits, Software Quality) in order to explain organizational OSS adoption. Further, this study assesses the impact organizational OSS adoption has on the OSS Performance and OSS Diffusion. Results from 366 adopting organizations in various industries show three constructs in organizational needs and two constructs in technological needs with exception of Job Relevance have a significant influence on OSS Adoption; and adoption impacts its performance, and diffusion. The implications of the results suggest not only a new theoretical model for OSS research, but also the important implications for OSS diffusion.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.8 no.spc1
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• pp.297-322
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• 2005

The paper aims to analyze the logic and power of open source software (OSS), and to show the ways in which Korean government and companies support developing countries in the field of software development. Many developing countries are considering software industry to be a strategic industry due to the fact that software industry seems to be labor-intensive, or rather knowledge-intensive industry. In this regard, developing countries without huge financial investment can achieve certain level of economic development while leveraging software industry. Concerning software development tools, among recent trends OSS has been regarded as a viable alternative software development tool for developing countries. In developing countries, OSS is believed to resolve some difficulties caused by proprietary software such as Microsoft Windows, which is too expensive to buy for users and developers in low-income developing countries. In this sense, OSS has been considered as only solution for software developing because OSS is able to reduce the cost of software development and to enhance the technological capabilities of developing countries. In addition to the benefit of low cost, we have to shed light on the business model of OSS that is not to sell software licence, but to provide technical support and services. In order to use OSS as much as they can, developing countries have to invest for educating human resources who can develop and implement software system using OSS. These OSS-related policies can lead developing countries to developed countries.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.74-84
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• 2016

Open Source Software (OSS) is a new paradigm for software development. The system is based on the notion of giving software (including sources) away for free, and making money on services, customizing and maintenance. For these reasons, many software companies have considered adopting and using OSS in Software R&D. A variety of factors may influence the use of decision making of OSS. The objective of this study was to explore the significant factors affecting the use decision of OSS and the job performance of OSS usage in software R&D. A research model was suggested based on the TOE Framework and Information Systems Success Model. These findings show that technical benefits of OSS have significant effects on OSS use. The technical benefits of OSS, and organization context, in turn, have significant effects on the use of OSS. On the other hand, the technical risks of OSS and the environment context have no effects on OSS use. In addition, OSS use and user satisfaction have significant effects on the individual job performance. This research contributes towards advancing the theoretical understanding of the OSS Benefits and Performance in Software Development.

• 한국경영정보학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.17-22
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• 2008

The emergence of open source software (OSS) with its successful projects and its most prominent advantages creates a vast interest among academics and practitioners. However, it has been found that focusing on the developments of OSS to be successful is not adequate and the adoption of OSS by uses is also very important. Although there are a great number of useful and easy to use OSS has been developed, the adoption of OSS and usage in the market is very low. Based on the technology equity implementation model (EIM), this study examines user resistance in the adoption of OSS (i.e., switching from the current system to OSS). A survey has done regarding the adoption of Linux as the case of study. We have found that user resistance to change has negative effect on adoption intention, and switching benefits, switching costs and perceived value have significant relationships with user resistance to change.

• Informatization Policy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.85-109
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• 2013

This study presents a model and its implementation methodology assessing not only maturity but also applicability in order to increase the practical usage of open source software(OSS). Since this model measures applicability which can not be assessed by the previous models, it is able to support users in many ways when they introduce OSS for the first time, replace commercial software with OSS, and compare OSS with commercial software. For the purpose of design and implementation of this model, we presented a methodology with 7 phases and conducted a survey to evaluate the appropriateness and reliability of the model. In addition, we proved the practical usability of the model by providing a practical example assessing maturity and applicability of OSS in the area of the infra category on the basis of the methodology. In the future, not only general users but also officers in charge of informatization will be able to select optimal OSS by using this model for industrial application. Therefore, the result of this research is expected to greatly contribute to OSS promotion policy.