Overview 1
Catalyst 1
Summary 1
Executive Summary 2
Introduction 2
Understanding the Market for Open Source Initiatives in the Education Industry (Market Focus) 2
Implementing a successful open source solution in Education (Strategy Focus) 2
Understanding the potential technical pitfalls of open source in the education market (Technology Focus) 2
Future Spending on Open Source Initiatives in the European Education Market 2007 - 2012 (Databook) 3
Future Spending on Open Source Initiatives in the US and Asia-Pac Education Market 2007 - 2012 (Databook) 3
Table of Contents 4
Table of figures 5
Table of tables 6
Understanding the Market for Open Source Initiatives in the Education Industry (Market Focus) 7
Summary 7
Open source has an increasingly important roll to play within the education community 7
Open source software is the chameleon of the technology industry 8
A note on open standards 9
Certain solutions areas are more suited to open source software than others 9
Multiple drivers are compelling institutions to adopt open source software 10
Lack of control over solutions is prompting institutions to look towards open source 11
Disenchantment with proprietary vendors is pushing some institutions to open source solutions 11
Some institutions believe that they get a higher ROI from open source software 13
The collaborative culture of education is particularly amenable to the adoption of OSS 14
Government mandates are compelling some educators to implement open source solutions 14
Open source software is not the answer for all institutions 15
Open source solutions rarely save money - as is often perceived 16
Institutions can struggle with the resources necessary for an open source solution 16
Not all open source applications are suitable for all types of institutions 17
K12 institutions ventures into open source will mainly be limited to operating systems 17
ERP and open source solutions are not easy bedfellows 18
ACTIONS 19
Vendors should seek to support institutions that choose open source 19
Many of the issues institutions currently have can be solved by proprietary software 19
Increased investment in developing solutions is critical 19
Implementing a successful open source solution in EDUCation (Strategy Focus) 20
SUMMARY 20
Institutions need to evaluate open source on multiple levels prior to its implementation 20
Institutions should carefully consider the benefits of an OSS 20
Open source is a risky option - Institutions should not take the decision of implementing an OSS lightly 21
Certain applications and types of institution are more suited to open source than others 22
Operating systems - above all other applications - are likely to provide the most value for K12 institutions 23
Open source LMS will fit well with institutions wishing to have increased control 23
Institutions entering into an ERP OSS should proceed with caution 24
Education institutions should ensure their solutions can be integrated 25
Real value from open source can be achieved by ensuring it functions with other solutions 25
Institutions should look towards vendors to see how they are enabling interoperability 26
Using an external company with an OSS can simplify issues for institutions 26
Institutions should mitigate risk as much as possible when implementing an OSS 26
Many institutions will find they have insufficient in-house experience to maintain an OSS 27
ACTIONS 28
Systems integrators should not attempt to recommend open source for all institutions 28
There are opportunities for vendors to maximize on institutions implementing open source 28
Proprietary vendors can bring some of the benefits of open source through their solutions 28
Understanding the potential technical pitfalls of open source in the education market (Technology Focus) 29
SUMMARY 29
Adopting an OSS can bring a number of technological advantages and disadvantages 29
Open code enables institutions to have more direction in the formation of their product 29
OSS comes under increased scrutiny compared to proprietary software 30
Institutions can not always be aware of the technological due diligence that takes place 31
The technological advantages of open source differ between applications 31
Sakai and Moodle offer real technological advantages for institutions 31
ERP applications are complex and mission critical and not yet sufficiently advanced in open source 32
Vendors should take the weakness of open source ERP as a reason not to sit on their laurels 32
OSS is not just about the product - there are other important issues 33
Interoperability is key to ensuring the success of OSS 34
The community behind an OSS is as important as the product 34
The nature of open source demands that vendors assist institutions with implementation 35
The success of One Laptop per Child could have an impact upon the education industry 35
ACTIONS 37
Vendors need to consider the potential impact of OLPC on the education market 37
Some vendors can help bring the advantages of open source to institutions 37
As institutions adopt OSS vendors should ensure the interoperability of their solutions 37
Future Spending on Open Source Initiatives in the European Education Market 2007 - 2012 (Databook) 38
Introduction 38
Open source market size in France, 2006-2012 39
Open source market size in Germany, 2006-2012 40
Open source market size in Italy, 2006-2012 41
Open source market size in Nordics, 2006-2012 42
Open source market size in Spain, 2006-2012 43
Open source market size in The Netherlands, 2006-2012 44
Open source market size in the UK, 2006-2012 45
Future Spending on Open Source Initiatives in the US and Asia-Pac Education Market 2007 - 2012 (Databook) 46
Introduction 46
Open source market size in Australia, 2006-2012 47
Open source market size in Canada, 2006-2012 48
Open source market size in India, 2006-2012 49
Open source market size in the United States, 2006-2012 50
APPENDIX 51
Definitions 51
Methodology 51
Further reading 51
Ask the analyst 52
Datamonitor consulting 52
Disclaimer 52
List of Tables
Table 1: Open source market size in France, 2006-2012 39
Table 2: Open source market size in Germany, 2006-2012 40
Table 3: Open source market size in Italy, 2006-2012 41
Table 4: Open source market size in Nordics, 2006-2012 42
Table 5: Open source market size in Spain, 2006-2012 43
Table 6: Open source market size in the Netherlands, 2006-2012 44
Table 7: Open source market size in the UK, 2006-2012 45
Table 8: Open source market size in Australia, 2006-2012 47
Table 9: Open source market size in Canada, 2006-2012 48
Table 10: Open source market size in India, 2006-2012 49
Table 11: Open source market size in the United States, 2006-2012 50
List of Figures
Figure 1: With 56% of education institutions using an OSS, open source is clearly making headway into the education market 8
Figure 2: Open source LMS market size for software and services in Education, 2006-2012 10
Figure 3: Some countries have a clear propensity towards open source over others - though there are different drivers across the geographies 11
Figure 4: Enabling further control is a key motivator for institutions exploring OSS 13
Figure 5: Open source Education market size (LMS and OS) for France, 2006-2012 15
Figure 6: Institutions with small IT budgets feel intimidated by the prospect of adopting OSS 17
Figure 7: Global open source operating systems market in K12, 2006 - 2012 18
Figure 8: Evaluating the merits of different types of software 22
Figure 9: Open source is most dominant in student facing products 24
Figure 10: The LMS market for open source is showing strong growth 25
Figure 11: Opportunities exist for vendors to help education institutions implement open source solutions 27
Figure 12: It might be an uphill struggle for an institution with open source - but they are in control of where they are going 30
Figure 13: There are multiple factors to evaluate when implementing OSS 33
Figure 14: Survey Results August 2007 - Higher Education institutions open source strategy 35
Figure 15: Open source market size in France, 2006-2012 39
Figure 16: Open source market size in Germany, 2006-2012 40
Figure 17: Open source market size in Italy, 2006-2012 41
Figure 18: Open source market size in Nordics, 2006-2012 42
Figure 19: Open source market size in Spain, 2006-2012 43
Figure 20: Open source market size in The Netherlands, 2006-2012 44
Figure 21: Open source market size in the UK, 2006-2012 45
Figure 22: Open source market size in Australia, 2006-2012 47
Figure 23: Open source market size in Canada, 2006-2012 48
Figure 24: Open source market size in India, 2006-2012 49
Figure 25: Open source market size in the United States, 2006-2012 50