Business Models for Free and Open Source Software: Insights from a Delphi Study

Abstract

This article describes a Delphi study that consulted leading FOSS experts to identify the most important business models for FOSS. We employed the Delphi method to consult leading experts in FOSS, asking them to identify existing business models; describe potentially feasible models that are not currently implemented; identify specific categories of stakeholders involved; and identify the various goals and priorities of these stakeholders. The experts, who included software developers, corporate and individual users of software and members of leading software development industry organizations, highlighted 10 particularly important business models for FOSS which they analyzed and commentated in detail. Among other issues, the experts discussed the sustainability of various models and the extent to which they upheld users’ software freedoms.

Keywords: Business models, free software, open source software, Delphi method