Comments on: Hybrid environments – the realm of Open Source http://www.anthonygold.info/2007/10/29/hybrid-environments-%e2%80%93-the-realm-of-open-source/ Health, Technology, And A Better You Thu, 21 Apr 2011 18:18:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: ror http://www.anthonygold.info/2007/10/29/hybrid-environments-%e2%80%93-the-realm-of-open-source/comment-page-1/#comment-33 ror Mon, 12 Nov 2007 19:44:00 +0000 http://www.anthonygold.info/site/2007/10/29/hybrid-environments-%e2%80%93-the-realm-of-open-source/#comment-33 It seems interesting that what you are talking about hits very closely to the old debate over ‘best of breed’ vs ‘super-suite’, without you actually mentioning them. Why do Enterprises buy what they do, when in a choice situation? Legacy environment, skill base, previous experience, these can all be added to the debate. Will this paradigm be changed by the maturity of Open Source in the Enterprise?<br/><br/>The best of breed approach is an Open approach to COTS/OS for find the best product of its type. Organizations often purchase software from different vendors in order to obtain the best-of-breed for each application area; for example, a human resources package from one vendor and an accounting package from another.<br/><br/>On the other hand we have the super-suite approach, which has enabled software industry giants such as Oracle, PeopleSoft, SAP and Microsoft to grow and prosper. Within this approach, individual application module functionality remains the key decision driver but is coupled with a preference for ease of doing business and ongoing support/maintenance with one vendor. Now these vendors are increasing there modular base using Open Source.<br/><br/>Choice x Human Intervention = Hybrid<br/> Time It seems interesting that what you are talking about hits very closely to the old debate over ‘best of breed’ vs ‘super-suite’, without you actually mentioning them. Why do Enterprises buy what they do, when in a choice situation? Legacy environment, skill base, previous experience, these can all be added to the debate. Will this paradigm be changed by the maturity of Open Source in the Enterprise?

The best of breed approach is an Open approach to COTS/OS for find the best product of its type. Organizations often purchase software from different vendors in order to obtain the best-of-breed for each application area; for example, a human resources package from one vendor and an accounting package from another.

On the other hand we have the super-suite approach, which has enabled software industry giants such as Oracle, PeopleSoft, SAP and Microsoft to grow and prosper. Within this approach, individual application module functionality remains the key decision driver but is coupled with a preference for ease of doing business and ongoing support/maintenance with one vendor. Now these vendors are increasing there modular base using Open Source.

Choice x Human Intervention = Hybrid
Time

]]> By: Jim Irwin http://www.anthonygold.info/2007/10/29/hybrid-environments-%e2%80%93-the-realm-of-open-source/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Jim Irwin Wed, 07 Nov 2007 04:09:00 +0000 http://www.anthonygold.info/site/2007/10/29/hybrid-environments-%e2%80%93-the-realm-of-open-source/#comment-32 Open source tends to be very elastic - projects range from whole operating systems to middleware to niche solutions like parsers and loggers that are embedded in applications. This is one reason why Open Source is a natural for hybrid solutions - it fits easily where its needed (and only where its needed). In many cases commercial vendors can not produce and maintain small and portable pieces like this. In fact, many commercial solutions are built using OS software - so even a pure play commercial solution may be a hybrid "under the hood." Open source tends to be very elastic – projects range from whole operating systems to middleware to niche solutions like parsers and loggers that are embedded in applications. This is one reason why Open Source is a natural for hybrid solutions – it fits easily where its needed (and only where its needed). In many cases commercial vendors can not produce and maintain small and portable pieces like this. In fact, many commercial solutions are built using OS software – so even a pure play commercial solution may be a hybrid “under the hood.”

]]> By: michaelfriars http://www.anthonygold.info/2007/10/29/hybrid-environments-%e2%80%93-the-realm-of-open-source/comment-page-1/#comment-31 michaelfriars Sat, 03 Nov 2007 00:20:00 +0000 http://www.anthonygold.info/site/2007/10/29/hybrid-environments-%e2%80%93-the-realm-of-open-source/#comment-31 Thanks for the thoughts. I have asked all my IT team to read the post.<br/><br/>We operate an ever changing hybrid environment and would not still be in business if we didn't. <br/>Michael Thanks for the thoughts. I have asked all my IT team to read the post.

We operate an ever changing hybrid environment and would not still be in business if we didn’t.
Michael

]]> By: Uwe Vieille http://www.anthonygold.info/2007/10/29/hybrid-environments-%e2%80%93-the-realm-of-open-source/comment-page-1/#comment-30 Uwe Vieille Fri, 02 Nov 2007 15:08:00 +0000 http://www.anthonygold.info/site/2007/10/29/hybrid-environments-%e2%80%93-the-realm-of-open-source/#comment-30 Remember the paradigm of "best of breed"? For some IT organizations that used to mean: implement the perceived best product on the market regardless of whether it fit's into the enterprise business and IT architecture (if it even existed), or would support the business/IT strategies. As can be seen, the proliferation of silo best of breed implementations added to the support and maintenence pain, but more importantly to the OPEX cost of IT, leaving precious little resources for new development. And therein lies the problem: the disconnect between business needs and IT implementation. Commercial Open source products finally give IT the tools to implement the best possible solution that actually fits the business, as well as the IT strategy and its supporting architecture and technology frameworks. Resources now can be directed towards creating business value, away from ever increasing maintenance and support cost. As Mike indicated, even if the product does not address all requirements, the user now has the means to close missing functionality gap and customize the implementation to derive at the optimal solution for the enterprise. Remember the paradigm of “best of breed”? For some IT organizations that used to mean: implement the perceived best product on the market regardless of whether it fit’s into the enterprise business and IT architecture (if it even existed), or would support the business/IT strategies. As can be seen, the proliferation of silo best of breed implementations added to the support and maintenence pain, but more importantly to the OPEX cost of IT, leaving precious little resources for new development. And therein lies the problem: the disconnect between business needs and IT implementation. Commercial Open source products finally give IT the tools to implement the best possible solution that actually fits the business, as well as the IT strategy and its supporting architecture and technology frameworks. Resources now can be directed towards creating business value, away from ever increasing maintenance and support cost. As Mike indicated, even if the product does not address all requirements, the user now has the means to close missing functionality gap and customize the implementation to derive at the optimal solution for the enterprise.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.anthonygold.info/2007/10/29/hybrid-environments-%e2%80%93-the-realm-of-open-source/comment-page-1/#comment-29 Anonymous Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:08:00 +0000 http://www.anthonygold.info/site/2007/10/29/hybrid-environments-%e2%80%93-the-realm-of-open-source/#comment-29 It's important to note that because companies chose products that best fits their requirements, which is not always the best product. The advantage that Open Source brings to this part of the equation is that with the source a company has the option to make up the difference of the requirements that were not met, which would not be possible with close source. <br/><br/>Mike Anderson<br/>Unisys Chief Architect Open Source <br/>michael.anderson@unisys.com It’s important to note that because companies chose products that best fits their requirements, which is not always the best product. The advantage that Open Source brings to this part of the equation is that with the source a company has the option to make up the difference of the requirements that were not met, which would not be possible with close source.

Mike Anderson
Unisys Chief Architect Open Source
michael.anderson@unisys.com

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