Open source software (OSS) not only challenges the conventional ways of developing software, but it is also a basis for new businesses and business models. Companies that use OSS in their business need a comprehensive view on how to deal with the phenomena, not just one narrow view from a specific scientific discipline. To provide answers to the multifaceted phenomena 4 Finnish universities and 10 companies launched a multidisciplinary Tekes funded project titled OSSI – Managing Open Source Software as an Integrated Part of Business. The research project aims to build a management framework providing answers to companies’ practical challenges.

The report comprises of seven essays that approach the open source software phenomenon from business, legal, sociological and technological perspectives, offering together multidisciplinary insights on OSS. The essays are based on the empirical research carried out by the OSSI research group during the spring 2006.