Re: Somebody has posted an article about GNU Herds

[Antenore Gatta]

Great! It's just lovely!

:-) :-) :-)

On 9/27/07, GNU Herds work team <address@hidden> wrote:
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> GNU Herds: The Job Site with a Free Software focus
>
>   http://blue-gnu.biz/content/gnu_herds_job_site_free_software_focus
>
>
>
>
> - -- Copy & Paste:
>
> People interested in offering and seeking jobs specifically related to Free
> Software might find the GNU Herds project interesting...
>
> Suppose your business is focused on Free Software solutions. Or maybe you want
> a job developing Free Software. Sure, you could try one of the thousands of
> recruiting businesses. The problem is, you might wind up in a position that
> has little or nothing to do with Free Software. The people you want to hire
> may not share your commitment to Free Software. You might try networking
> within the GNU Herds Free Software Association, a project aimed at bringing
> together individuals and businesses for whom Free Software is more than just
> a development model.
>
> GNU Herds lists a handful of business models on their home page, one of which
> is one I have mentioned frequently in discussions about business models. The
> Flexible Business Network is closely in line with what I have suggested as a
> possible business model for a libre-oriented Microsoft (should work for any
> company). Rather than have a gargantuan monopolist enterprise, the libre
> business model quite literally drives business into a less structured, more
> flexible entity - a network.
>
> In a conversation with my sister-in-law (some time ago now), she asked how
> Microsoft would survive as a libre software company, if it chose that route.
> I quickly pointed out that it would not - and should not survive as it exists
> now. It must change. I pointed out that most businesses should focus on
> developing partnerships in order to be able to handle the 'big' orders. The
> smaller entities could survive much better independently, and simultaneously
> collaborate and compete with each other on business opportunities. I referred
> to "alliances", rather than "networks", but the latter is probably more
> suitable.
>
> Back many moons ago - o.k., would you believe centuries, Chief? - villages had
> people who used their talents to help each other out. Think of the village
> blacksmith, for example. The farmer and builder relied on the blacksmith for
> horseshoes and tools, while he relied on them for his house and food. Right.
> That's just good sound economics in play. But people began combining
> resources to accomplish bigger and better things. Now fast forward back to
> the present.
>
> Suppose you run a small development shop. Maybe it's just you, or you and one
> or two other people. A 500-employee company wants you to develop a project
> for them - and stipulates you must also provide support. But you don't have
> the manpower for that. So you call up someone in your network who can.
> They're familiar with your software anyway, as they've worked with you
> before. Now you're "big enough" to handle the larger company's needs. Still,
> once the project is over, each organization is still able to seek out new
> opportunities without the inevitable layoffs, etc.
>
> Of course, Microsoft not only works with development and support partners,
> they offer their own services as well. In my model, they would spin off this
> group into smaller entities, who could then continue to work as they always
> have, albeit with a bit of management overhead. That actually might reduce
> the management overhead, since their is no longer a need to run something
> through multiple levels of management for approval.
>
> Now, GNU Herds is an interesting concept, since the association could
> essentially act as a clearinghouse for projects to be organized and staffed -
> a sort of network incubator, if you will. Rather than simply expect people to
> submit resumes and apply for jobs, GNU Herds could help businesses and
> individuals connect to collaborate on available projects. All the usual
> jobhunting goes on as normal, but also the exchange of offers and bids.
>
> The aim of GNU Herds is "to assist and encourage people in their paid work as
> Free Software authors, getting the highest levels of competence and
> efficiency." The association is global in scope, seeks to make it easy for
> businesses and individuals interested in Free Software as a business model to
> communicate and seeks to support a variety of business models, as a matter of
> flexibility.
>
> And GNU Herds is, indeed, a rare bird. Namely, it is controlled, not by a
> particular entity, but by its members. To become a member, you must
> demonstrate some contribution to the Free Software community, though I did
> not see the specifics of that on the website. The bottom line is, it appears
> to be organized for, and aiming to offer, jobhunting, professional networking
> and business development - all in one fell swoop. If they offer tools akin to
> Hiitch, I suspect they will draw quite a crowd.
>
> The site appears to be in need of some additional English participants, namely
> to assist with the English language translation of the site. That said, the
> site is available in six languages. And the site could use a bit of marketing
> work as well - something to entice people into joining. The only job offers
> appear to be demonstrations, but I did not register - at least not yet. So I
> don't know what might be hidden to the un-registered. To be fair, the site
> displays a notice of being at the beta stage, so it is not very far along in
> its progress.
>
> All in all, it appears to be an interesting project, and one I want to keep an
> eye on. I think Free Software is vitally important to sustaining our
> progress. I also think we need a set of tools to help develop and sustain the
> development of a Free Software economy. The Free Software Foundation promotes
> Free Software. Now, here's a site that seeks to help people get paid to write
> Free Software. It's just one more tool in the Free Software community's box.
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