8.9: Conclusion

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“I’ve got a way to get us in there, and you’re gonna lead us”. – Scarecrow, The Wizard of Oz (Langley, 1939)

Ultimately, no one can tell you that open source or free software is better for you than your current proprietary and/or commercial products. Just like the journey to Oz, your journey to Os should be one of self-discovery. If you do hire a consultant, don’t imagine you can hand-off the work and expect someone else to make a decision. People in your group or institution need to participate actively in that process. Open source and free software are constructivist theory in action, with the spirit of collaboration, and trickle-up thinking. If you want to adopt freely sourced software, if you want it embedded in your organizational culture, that culture may need to shift to embrace these values. You’ve already taken the first step: you’ve begun to educate yourself about your options. If you have a colleague or two with a similar interest, share this information with them. Like Dorothy, only you can find your way to Os and back, but remember that Dorothy had the Lion, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow to help. There are lots of people out there ready and willing to help you—many of them for free! Imagine that.