Open Source Software: Management, Diffusion and Competition

The aim of this thesis is to contribute to the Open Source Software (OSS) research by a comprehending study of the factors that determine OSS diffusion, as well as the economic and social impact of this diffusion. The research focuses on the process of diffusion over time and assesses cause and effect relationships of the phenomenon. Firstly, it identifies and assesses the factors determining the diffusion and sustainability of OSS (cause). Secondly, it examines the effects of this diffusion at an economic and socio-political level (effect). At the economic level, the changes in markets structure and dynamics as a result of the OSS diffusion are analyzed. At the socio-political level, the study focuses on the effects in eGovernment and education. The study grounds its results on a number of conceptual models that are based on a theoretical background with elements from the theories of technology acceptance and diffusion of innovations (DOI), as well as from social and economic theories. The models’ evaluation is performed with the aid of rigorous methodological frameworks of mathematics and econometrics. Results can be a valuable input for both research and practice. For research, they provide with more accurate, a-priori estimations of the diffusion rate and the market competition. They also provide with the assessment of technological, social, economic and institutional factors that determine the OSS technology diffusion. As a result, they can become useful tools for strategic planning and policy making, in a continuously evolving and competitive environment such as the ICT market.