Introduction
5 great things about OSS
5 myths about OSS
5 ways OSS can help your organisation
5 considerations before migrating
5 steps to using OSS in your organisation
5 important OSS programs

5 considerations before migrating

1. What are our core business practices?

It is recommended that organisations do a quick survey of the most common tasks performed on their PCs. This helps identify areas where software alternatives will have to be found, and investigated to see if they perform to the levels required. While word processing, emailing and web browsing are standard operations, bookkeeping and human resource management tend to be more complex. Application replacement is covered in more detail later.

2. What are the expectations of management and staff?

Not all staff members are equally receptive to change, and resistance and dissent among staff members can be far more costly than the savings achieved by a move to OSS. The subject of migration should be openly discussed to expose potential resistance ahead of time, and everyone's expectations should to be addressed.

3. How will downtime affect our operations?

No matter how good the intentions and no matter how good the planning, every change in IT infrastructure encounters unforeseen setbacks. Downtime should be anticipated, and a gradual return to full productivity costed in.

4. Who will support our organisation using OSS?

While it is technically possible for relatively unskilled staff to install Linux, the ongoing support of your installation should be analysed and costed ahead of time. If your existing tech support contract doesn't cover Linux on the desktop, the support firm may consider upgrading their skills to retain your business. If not, find an OSS support firm through your local User Groups listed here.