Open and Free

We are all aware of the proliferation of new web 2.0 tools and open source software of virtually every description that is now available.  You can actually do any job using open source as opposed to licensed software except for the most high end specialized enterprise systems like ERP and ETRM software. I have had several conversations with colleagues recently who have stressed to me that free software is not the same as “almost” free software or really cheap software.

I personally think that really cheap software can sometimes be better than free software but that probably depends on how well it’s supported and how responsive the developer community is.  Moodle has such a good support community that it’s almost as good as licensed software from the support perspective.

Getting back to topic, I see Enterprise software and Enterprise 2.0 systems converging in that they are both trending towards free (or really cheap) and open. I think the convergence will help to fuel the way that work gets done in many organizations.  I have several examples just in my own sphere.

1. A Non profit that uses a Web 2.0 oriented CMS to automate much of it’s business processes integrated with Google Apps, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

2. A revenue driven training department that uses open source learning CMS (Moodle) and enterprise wiki Atlassian Confluence.

None of the functionality and business processes for either of these two examples could have been enabled without access to both free and open software.

So what do you think?  Are you into using free, open or cheap software? What kind?

Operating systems?

Productivity?

Social Tools?

Project Management?

Workflow?

Learning?

Collaboration?

Sales and marketing?

Content management?

Media?

Finance?