A Review of John Locke's "Open Source Solutions for Small Business Problems"

The growing popularity of open source software and systems has given rise to plenty of new websites, articles, and books on the subject; while at the same time websites and communities that review and analyze specific solutions such as CRM, ERP, or e-commerce software have also started to take a closer look at open source solutions in those areas.  But if you are a user of business software and are interested in finding out more about open source options for your business or office, you may be a little bit frustrated about the lack of introductory-level information on this topic.  Such info is scattered across various different websites and articles, and it takes some patience to search for and find enough of it to get a good initial view of the open-source business application landscape.

 The best single source of such information that I have found so far is John Locke’s “Open Source Solutions for Small Business Problems.”  The book not only details open-source solutions for small business, telling SME’s how to use open-source to solve IT problems found in most organizations, but it also provides an excellent introduction to the concepts, advantages, and disadvantages behind open-source.  The book does not read like an advertisement for open-source, as Locke is not afraid to point out weaknesses and sometimes recommends proprietary software in areas where he feels open-source falls short. 

At over 550 pages, Locke’s work covers many topics, starting with an open source definition and the elements that a small business may need to successfully operate an open source environment; moving on to specific business operations such as CRM, document management, financial management, and project management; then focusing on using open-source to extend the business through information sharing, marketing, and private communications; and finally finishing with some advice on open source methods to keeping a network secure.  In each section, the author mentions at least a couple of open-source solutions to the problem presented, along with an analysis of the pros and cons of those solutions, and comparisons to proprietary programs. 

Included with the book is a CD-ROM with several open-source programs that can be installed and used in a Windows environment.  Seeing how the book was released about two years ago, most of those programs already have newer and better versions available, but the CD is certainly a good start if you want to experience first-hand what open source is all about, without having to search for the software on the net.

“Open Source Solutions for Small Business Problems” is written as much for the business user as for the IT specialist.  While there is quite a bit of technical info in certain chapters and near the end of most sections, the book is less about how it works and more about why it does or does not work so well, why and when a small business might need it, and what is the best way to implement it.  People who may be interested in this book include anyone who is considering making the switch to open source at their work, whether they may be heads of the IT department, or owner/managers of small companies.