The State of OSPOs and Open Source Management 2024 report highlights the evolving role of OSPOs (Open Source Program Offices) and similar initiatives in driving the effective integration of open source management across diverse specializations and sectors, including security, AI infrastructure, and beyond. It also provides an in-depth analysis of the gap between expectations and realities in establishing an OSPO, offering insights for organizations at different stages of their OSPO journey.
Open Source Management and Effective Cross-Skilling
🔐 Security Management
91% of OSPOs are involved in managing security issues. This shows the role OSPOs play in bridging security and open source management. By fostering collaboration— such as through initiatives like the OpenSSF — OSPOs enhance the ability of organizations to address security challenges.
🤖 GenAI Infrastructure
84% of OSPOs are involved in managing GenAI infrastructure. OSPOs are becoming integral partners in digital transformation efforts, especially in the adoption and management of Generative AI (GenAI) technologies. Their involvement ensures that open source management practices align with emerging AI infrastructure needs, supported by efforts like the LF AI & Data Foundation.
🚀 Community Engagement
80% of organizations report that their OSPOs have a meaningful impact on their ability to collaborate with open source communities. This highlights the importance of OSPOs in fostering long-term, healthy relationships with the open source projects organizations depend on. Their focus on collaboration and transparency strengthens these critical connections
Adoption Challenges and Growth Opportunities
77% of large organizations have an OSPO, while only 19% of small organizations do. These figures reveal a gap not only in adoption rates but also in how the OSPO and dedicated satff involved in Open Source Management is used:
- Larger organizations focus on leveraging their use of open source to mitigate risk, stay current with industry trends and practices, and align with broader policy objectives
- Smaller organizations, on the other hand, prioritize developing an open source strategy, executing that strategy, and implementing processes and best practices to guide their efforts effectively
Addressing the Expectations-Reality Gap
The anticipated benefits of establishing an OSPO often set high expectations for companies, particularly regarding accelerating product development, fostering internal collaboration, and increasing influence in the open source community. However, the reality frequently falls short of these expectations.
The report delves into the gap between the expectations and realities of establishing an OSPO and investing in open source management. Identified challenges include:
- Return on Investment (ROI): Difficulty in demonstrating clear ROI often leaves stakeholders questioning the business value of an OSPO
- Misunderstanding the Value of Open Source: A lack of understanding about OSS benefits can lead to underutilization or resistance from leadership
- Competing Priorities: OSPOs may struggle to secure resources and attention amidst other organizational goals, slowing open source management impact and effectiveness in the organization’s units
About the Study
Download the full report and get access to the open data of the study.
This study was conducted by LF Research and LF TODO Group, with survey partners Cisco and NGINX, as well as distribution partners and advisors from the Open Source Initiative, InnerSource Commons, and CHAOSS. We thank all the participants of the survey for kindly sharing their insights and experience. Special thanks to peer reviewers and Linux Foundation colleagues for their involvement in the various stages of the research process, including TODO Steering Committee Members involved during the review process — Britanny Istenes, Annania Melaku, Georg Kunz, Leslie Hearthown,Stephen Augustus, Nik Peters, and Ashley Wolf — as well as Linux Foundation staff members Chris Aniszczyk, Elizabeth Bushard, Hilary Carter, Mia Chaszeyka, Anna Hermansen, Adrienn Lawson, and Christina Oliviero.