Has the creation of software that can be freely used, modified, and redistributed transformed industry and society, as some predicted, or is this transformation still a work in progress? Perspectives on Free and Open Source Software brings together leading analysts and researchers to address this question, examining specific aspects of F/OSS in a way that is both scientifically rigorous and highly relevant to real-life managerial and technical concerns.The book analyzes a number of key topics: the motivation behind F/OSS—why highly skilled software developers devote large amounts of time to the creation of "free" products and services; the objective, empirically grounded evaluation of software—necessary to counter what one chapter author calls the "steamroller" of F/OSS hype; the software engineering processes and tools used in specific projects, including Apache, GNOME, and Mozilla; the economic and business models that reflect the changing relationships between users and firms, technical communities and firms, and between competitors; and legal, cultural, and social issues, including one contribution that suggests parallels between "open code" and "open society" and another that points to the need for understanding the movement's social causes and consequences.

In biological ecosystems, "keystone" species maintain the healthy functioning of the entire system because their own survival depends on it. In the Keystone Advantage, Marco Iansiti and Roy Levien argue that business ecosystems work in much the same way--one company's success depends on the success of its partners. Based on more than 10 years of research and practical experience within industries from retail to automotive to software, The Keystone Advantage outlines a framework that goes beyond maximizing internal competencies to leveraging the collective competencies of one's entire network for competitive advantage.