Open Sources

In their interview of Mitchell Baker, Lenny T. Mendonca and Robert Sutton sought to establish what makes an open source model of collaboration successful, and the pros and cons of the model that Mozilla uses on their Firefox web browser. Mozilla uses a network of volunteers for product development decisions, software coding, distribution, and promotion. Firefox is a free product which provides a safe and reliable means to access the Internet. Firefox gets 40% of its code from volunteers and the bulk of its promotion comes from word of mouth from users. The product is not shipped on new computers, and it is not advertised in traditional means. Users spread the message of Firefox to friends, and family. That gives Firefox an inherint credibility that other browsers cannot touch.
Firefox employs 120 people many of whom came from the volunteer base. That gives employees and volunteers a sense of ownership over the browser that traditional employees may not have. Firefox's success comes from an intense discipline when it comes to touching anything that has to do with the code, but also a looseness and flexibility when it comes to localizing a product or building an extension to the product. Firefox depends on its employees and volunteers to have a commitment to providing a free and safe open internet source. They rely on ideas and input form all levels of the company, and the strength of an idea is not based on status within the company, but rather the validity of the idea. It is a centralized command with decentralized input, and free flowing communication among all involved.
In my experience open sources are great. I use Firefox almost exclusively and I hav never had a major problem with it. I also use open source security programs and those have proven to be adequate so far. With software I think open sources can be successful because of the advertising possibilities they present to companies associated with technology and computers. The word of mouth advertising saves money for the open source companies and it provides product information from t a most trusted source.