Update Feb 2018:

The open source index has been created implementing the first iteration of the objectives outlined below.

https://sarob.github.io/opensourceindex/

We need volunteers to further develop the index  Join us on the project repository.

https://github.com/sarob/opensourceindex

Start date: July 20, 2015
Working Group Chairs: Sean Roberts
Working Group Sponsor: Deb Bryant
OSI General Manager: Patrick Masson
Working Documentation: Working Group Wiki
Participants:

• OpenStack Foundation
  • Sean Roberts, Former Director on the OpenStack Board and the Finance Committee Chairman
• Open Source Initiate
  • Deb Bryant, OSI Board of Directors

Description

OSI is often approached for assistance with questions and  expressed interests and need from the public sector  regarding free and open source software that is more specific to that sector, but has not been consistently resourced, nor have they been the ideal body, to respond.  Historically includes

• Questions regarding adoption of open source software licenses and methods which may be unique to their environment
• An expressed range of needs for and expressions of governance within the public agency context.  Examples of requests for help in this area have included:
  • Pointers to model policies for government agencies, operations, contracts and procurement policies 
  • Public policies for broad adoption of free and open source software
  • Executive orders and other high-level policy guidance
  • National referendums 
  • Economic Development initiatives which rely on free and open source software as a strategic element of the plan
  • General guidance on getting started with Open Source

Personal note from the sponsor: I've focused much of my volunteer effort with the OSI board helping make our way through governance reform and a move to a membership-driven organization, as well as helping drive organizational development to preserve and sustain OSI, because I knew it was important.  The one thing I've remained passionate about throughout the years has been helping the public sector grow into a major consumer of and contributor to open source software.  We've come a long way in the past decade in many countries.  I'd like to amplify that effort; public service is no walk in the park and open source adoption is hardly the garden path of least resistance.  I know because I've walked in those shoes.  If you're interested too, I hope you'll join me in spinning up a useful effort and make some new friends along the way.

Working Group Mission

In line with the OSI's mission, the Public Policy Working Group will help build bridges among open source communities by using OSI as a platform for convening interested stakeholders to collaborate, educate. This international collaborative effort will create a network of policy practitioners for the purpose of sharing best practices (what's worked), documentation, and general knowledge and support for individuals and organizations with an interest in or responsibility for implementing free and open source software initiatives in the public sector. In phase one of the project, we will identify a network of the willing and informed  with experience creating and implementing effective policies and create a sustainable inventory of existing policies (implemented). Phase two will be defined and recommended by the group based on what is learned along the way as opportunity and challenge for adoption and so forth.

• Approach: In the past decade, tremendous progress has been made in the public sector with regard to adoption of free and open source software.  The nature of open source brings inherent value and at the same time has created a need for shifting traditional approaches to IT/ITC and with it a under-served need by a range of government agencies - small to large - for assistance in getting started.  A somewhat fragmented community of practitioners and advisers exists who can help identify much of hard work that has been done, make that work accessible and discoverable as a starting point.  OSI can assist by helping identify and connect those practitioners, and by providing basic infrastructure and sustained stewardship of a collection/reference library of such policy.
• Commitment: We're seeking volunteers with experience in this domain to help create a collaborative virtual team.  In Phase one, commitment is one 60-90 minute meeting per month along with low level email correspondence between meetings; to help create a vision for the resource library (or help give it a better name) and assistance with identifying and providing access to polices, documents, and other artifacts that may assist a public entity seeking to develop its own policies and plans; and to make recommendations to the OSI board as to any next step for the working group based on what they discover along the way.  The working group may request OSI assistance for outreach to promote its work. Estimated length of time for phase one is 5-6 months.

Deliverables

• Established network of policy domain experts and enthusiasts.
  • Working group will be presented to Open Source for America to solicit that organization's participation on July 10th, 2015.
  • Additional outreach through existing networks to establish a core group in the later half of July
  • Working Group public kickoff at OSCON in Portland Oregon July 22, 2015
  • First virtual meeting in August 2015 to establish the working group's interested parties (volunteers) and how we'll tackle the work and publish the work.
  • Tentative plan to return to the OSI board in December of 2015 with results and recommendations for any follow-on work.
• Inventory of extant international policy artifacts and resources
• Target completion date: December 15, 2015

Formal Proposal Requirements:

• Conference bridge
• Wiki space for working documents.
• Potential simple database (to be determined)

Sustainability Plan

• OSI staff responsibilities? None
• OSI infrastructure needs? Use existing resources (wiki, conference bridge etc) 
• Ongoing Member community? Will be established as part of its charter.
• If ongoing costs involved, how they are met? - None foreseen today

End-of-Project Transition

• Process for communications with and hand off of project participants and stakeholders...
• Suitable disposition of Project files, records, websites, URLs, etc. - The group charter includes how to define and best repose information within OSI's infrastructure to sustain its work-product. Will work with our GM.