Handbook of Research on Open Source Software: Technological, Economic, and Social Perspectives

The Handbook of Research on Open Source Software: Technological, Economic, and Social Perspectives is one of the few texts to combine OSS in public and private sector activities into a single reference source. This authoritative publication examines how the use of open source software (OSS) affects practices in society, business, government, education, and law. It provides a balance of theoretical perspectives, experiences, and cases in relation to these key areas. This thorough collection includes an overview of the culture from which OSS emerged and the development practices though which OSS is created and modified. The Handbook of Research on Open Source Software: Technological, Economic, and Social Perspectives is an international collaboration including authors from six continents and more than 12 countries. This multinational and multicultural perspective becomes crucial when making effective decisions about software in today's global policy and business environments. This text is an essential reference to business persons, policy makers, educators, and private citizens who are curious about how factors related to OSS may affect different aspects of their lives.

Kirk St.Amant is an Assistant Professor of Technical and Scientific Communication at James Madison University. He has taught both traditional and online courses on professional and technical communication for James Madison University, the University of Minnesota and Mercer University. He has also taught courses in international business, business leadership, business ethics, business communication, and distance education, for the USAID-sponsored Consortium for the Enhancement of Ukrainian Management Education and has taught courses in e-commerce and organizational communication for the Kyiv Mohyla Business School. He is a member of the Society for Technical Communication (STC) and serves on the IEEE Professional Communication Societys Administrative (Executive) Committee. In addition to his research in international and intercultural communication, online communication, and knowledge management, he has published articles and book chapters on localization and international website design, online education, and e-commerce practices. Brian Still, Ph.D., is an assistant professor teaching technical communication at Texas Tech University. He serves on the administrative committee for IEEEs Professional Communication Society. He also sits on the editorial review board for the Information Resources Management Journal. Brian has more than a decade of experience in information technology, including working with and writing on open source software (OSS).