Defining Free Software Business - excurse to CSR

[Shane M. Coughlan]

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MJ Ray wrote:
> "Shane M. Coughlan" <shane at shaneland.co.uk>
>> [...]  In other words, CSR is a great selling
>> point to large enterprises but it might make up a much smaller part of
>> the decision-making process in a SME.
> 
> It might also backfire horribly.  I think casting GBN as a
> feel-good CSR initiative would contaminate it for a whole range
> of potential collaborators and supporters:

Yes, Franz did suggest that CSR dialogs are open to abuse.  That is not
to say that all CSR initiatives fail or are a waste of time.

As you pointed out contaminating the GBN would make no sense.  If CSR
was to be used as a selling point for larger companies it would have to
be in such as a way as to:
(a) Prevent abuse
(b) Encourage pro-active adoption of Free Software

That's no easy task.

Later in your post you mentioned cooperatives.  Cooperative groups
appear to be an ideal market for Free Software and concepts like the GBN
in general.  They already have a strong ethical manifesto.  A little
review of cooperative constitutions and papers might do no harm.  Things
like the cooperative supermarket in the UK appear to be massively
successful.

Shane

- --
Shane Martin Coughlan
e: shane at opendawn.com
m: +447773180107 (UK) +353862262570 (Ire)
w: www.opendawn.com
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