What Social Networks Can Learn from Opensource Communities and Projects

When a company commits to some aspect of opensource software (OSS), the organization also is committing to a online community that (if managed properly) will lead to system improvements and upgrades; advancements in technology; a dedication to technology; along with the opportunity to network with other technologists and possibly create recruiting venues that will produce continued interest in your organization and the technical advancements the organization is involved in. These OSS communities are not only technical support avenues, but can also be ideal fields to grow an employer brand that is linked with an opensource community and a specific technology.

After years of people wondering how companies were going to make money off of opensource (basically – free software), it seems that opensource applications have become an important part of many organizations enterprise and information systems. Enterprise developers and company decision makers have embraced opensource applications as valid resource options (especially during tight economic times and decreasing IT budgets.) When an organization selects an opensource resource, it is also selecting the right components and must interact positively with the opensource community involved in creating and supporting the application.

When an organization decides to go with opensource software (OSS) applications, resources need to be allocated to contribute to the opensource community and contribute to new opensource code development. Often this involved the company contributing to online discussions; code generation and review; performing browser and operating system testing; and a commitment to the technology involved. Microsoft helped found the Outercurve Foundation (formerly the Codeplex Foundation) to help organizations navigate through the issues associated with working within these online communities. The Linux Foundation recently launched the Open Compliance Program to help companies understand the license governance and software inventory management of opensource software (Sarrel, 2010.)

These same principles apply to social networking and recruiting strategies. As the use of opensource software components become an even more important contribution to a company’s enterprise, there is a point where project participation goes beyond bug reporting and forum interaction. The cost associated with new code generation can be minimized within one organization by sharing the code development with other software engineers and users in the project group.

If a hiring employer is dedicated to a specific recruiting strategy, the human resources department and hiring management needs to understand what is involved in this social networking recruiting strategy, but also be willing to contribute and be part of it as well. Hiring managers are attending MeetUp and LinkedIn events - and are standing up at these meetings to announce their hiring needs and employment prospects. Showing up at a Selenium or Ruby-on-Rails MeetUp event demonstrates that your organization is using and dedicated to these type of technologies, but also that your organization is dedicated to these technology as much as the hardcore geek-oids are. When a passive candidate is informed of an organization that is as dedicated to a particular technology as they are – the next logical question from the attendees is “Is your company hiring?”….

Reference:
Sarrel, M., Open-source Software in the Enterprise, eWeek Magazine. November 1, 2010, pg 16 – 20. Can be viewed online via: http://www.tinyurl.com/32k535v