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◂ Business & Product Strategy guidelines

5.28 Use Open Source Tools

Business & Product Strategy

The organization has clear policies about using open source tools, including how it gives back to the community and responsibly manages code repositories to reduce waste.

Criteria

  • Open Source Policy: The organization has a clear open source policy in place that outlines how it uses open source tools and the practices it supports surrounding open source development.
  • Collaboration: The organization has a track record of collaboration and community-building around open source principles.
  • Contribution: The organization regularly contributes to open source community-based projects.

Impact

High

Effort

High

Benefits

  • Operations:
    Collaboration and community-building around open source practices engender trust and help to reduce inequalities.
  • Economic:
    If managed properly, open source tools can significantly reduce development time.

GRI

  • materials: Medium
  • energy: Medium
  • water: Medium
  • emissions: Medium

Example

  • GitLab discloses its open source policy publicly.

Resources

  • Choose an open source license
  • Creative Commons License
  • FreeCodeCamp: How to Contribute to Open Source
  • [GPFEDS] 1.8 – Strategy (Open Source) (PDF)
  • [GPFEDS] 2.9 – Specifications (Off-The-Shelf Components) (PDF)
  • [GPFEDS] 2.10 – Specifications (Third-Party Services) (PDF)
  • [GR491] 2-7034 – Open Source Availability
  • [GR491] 3-5018 – Open Source API
  • [GR491] 3-5022 – Open Source Alternative
  • How to Contribute to an Open Source Project
  • How to Contribute to Open Source
  • How to Contribute to Open Source Projects: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Open Source Employee Handbook
  • The open source way
  • Todo: Open Source Community
  • United Nations [SDGS] Goal 4 (Education)
  • United Nations [SDGS] Goal 8 (Economics & Work)
  • United Nations [SDGS] Goal 9 (Infrastructure)
  • United Nations [SDGS] Goal 12 (Consumption & Production)
  • United Nations [SDGS] Goal 17 (Global Partnership)

View the Guideline

Tags

Social EquityIdeationSoftwareUIAssets

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More business & product strategy guidelines

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5.2 Assign a Sustainability Representative

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5.3 Raise Awareness and Inform

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