Welcome!

  It’s a corporate world, and one of the most visible venues for this truth is the modern use of computers for business. Everything from desktop units to calculators to art programs and Internet browsers cry out the names of big-brand mega companies with profits and personnel in the millions. This may not be a bad thing, in and of itself; after all, industry and the major corporations leading the pack are responsible for a number of exciting and powerful innovations in our time. Yet when it comes to operating businesses and organizations, the policies, prices, and private nature of major computer programs become more of a marvel for the pocketbook and patience than one’s imagination and awe. It’s important to stay efficient, competitive, and productive in the modern market, and often it may seem that the drawbacks of big-name programs are a necessary evil to stay ahead. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. The open source community is the popular answer to these problems in computing, and an increasing number of business owners and organization directors are finding that the use of open source is intelligent choice that truly pays off, both immediately and over the long term. But what is open source all about?
     The open source community revolves around two basic ideas: that programs should be transparent, meaning their programming structure and precise code should be made available for viewing and modifying by its users, and that these programs should be free. In an age when the majority of computer users are accustomed to private, proprietary programs with a bad attitude towards user input and a pretty hefty price tag, this may seem like a head-in-the-clouds utopia. But the community thrives and evolves nevertheless, producing scores of programs to perform everything from basic office tasks to elaborate art projects, and even includes entire operating systems. In addition to this rapid and prolific production, the open source community offers unbeatable support. Because developers and users are able to modify a given program’s code and continually create a better product with a wider array of uses, open source support tends to be genuinely helpful, addressing not only the problem at hand, but taking measures to ensure it never arises again — for anyone — at the same time.
     The initial transition period from classic proprietary programs to open source applications can sometimes be a little bumpy, but the adjustment is well worth it; open source applications tend to have more intuitive user interfaces, and are continually updated and improved, allowing for cutting-edge options without pricey upgrade requirements. For those anxious over departing with their favorite programs for PC, simple online searches will reveal that the vast majority of private programs have open source alternatives; some of the most prominent examples include GIMP (the open source answer to Adobe’s Photoshop), OpenOffice (a complete MS Office replacement suite), and Opera (an open source browser Internet Explorer veterans will find easy to use). Staying on the competitive edge is easy and cost-effective when you switch to open source.

Choosing to move into a new job or place of employment often involves varying degrees of fear, uncertainty and doubt. One of your first steps should be in depth research about a prospective employer, beginning even before the preinterview process.

Here are few red flags you should be on the look out for. If two or more of these cautionary signs are visible, you take extra cautionary steps about seeking employment that organization.

1. News the organization is in or soon will be beginning the process of mergers and acquisitions, or there is a major restructuring, staff cutbacks seem on the horizon or other major organizational reckoning is at hand. It pays to look into a companies press releases, or if possible speak with current employees about the current climate.

2. Your target organization may not be experiencing any current problems like those detailed above, but we can you learn a lot by checking the temperature of other companies in the same industry. This is often a good indication of the possibility misfortune could spread to your prospective organization sooner rather than later.

3. The reputation of your future boss or coworkers precedes them in a negative way. This is something you cant find out from people within your network or searching the Internet for stories of former employees.

4. Your prospective supervisor is new to the organization and his or her reputation is a “known not known.” This can be troubling but don’t let worries keep you from making a good impression. Often new managers are realize they have work to do in team building. You may be able to score some points by assisting in this process.

5. You respectfully request to meet with and greet some of your prospective coworkers and this request is denied. Is morale low enough they can’t risk you being informed? Why should they be fearful of what existing employees could say to a prospective new employee?

6. A non-profit organization with a track record of problems securing funding. In these cases, we are often encouraged by our desire to do good without thinking of out financial health. However think twice before taking up a position as layoffs are far more common for a shaky non-profit than in the commercial industry.

7. Watch for fabrications and hype about a companies success. Inquire about possibilities for advancement however if their explanation of your career prospects that sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

8. The organization is small, and it’s access to consistent funding is limited. This created a scenario for a small businesses to go bankrupt if they are subject to any degree of mismanagement.

9. Your new position has an exceptionally high turnover rate. Many have come before you, beware.

10. Your interviewers seem too focused on having you hit the ground running one day one. This could have implications that they don’t possess the means to provide proper level support or training for your new role. This could prove even more of an issue if you’re accustomed to working within the well oiled gears of a large organizations with lots of structured support.

11. The interview process seemed awfully rushed and quite disorganized. Leaving you in doubt they really had a chance to match your personality and qualifications for the position.

The presence of one of these red flags from the list above does not necessarily mean you should simply give up on that organization as a possible new employer. However does imply that you should get as much additional information as you can in order to make an informed decision.

Procuring inexpensive and efficient software at home can be a challenge, but there are many ways to put together a set of applications that suit individual needs. This process becomes a bit trickier when applied to businesses, especially those just starting out or with limited budgets. For many companies, outfitting offices with a host of brand-name, private software programs and licenses is simply unaffordable. And the use of pirated or questionably acquired copies puts businesses at risk - not a good move whether just starting out or well-established. Luckily for business owners, project managers, and anyone with a professional interest in connecting their employees with basic quality software applications, the open source community is committed to the development, support, and improvement of programs that are often just as good, if not better, than their big-name counterparts.
     Case in point: the Microsoft Office suite. A proprietary component of the company’s Windows operating system, MS Office provides businesses across the country, and indeed across the globe, with simple tools for everyday tasks in the workplace. Most computer users are familiar with Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and the various other applications that make up what was one heralded as the height of efficiency and convenience. These days, MS Office is simply at the height of profit, charging exorbitant amounts for purchase and commercial use. What’s more, many users find the applications lacking in terms of capability, user interface, and incorporation with other programs and tools. So why pay a high price for a poor product?
     Some business owners stick to the old standby because they’re not aware that there are other options. This sense of being “locked in” to the Microsoft machine is a testament to the quality of the corporation’s marketing efforts, but it is little more than smoke and mirrors. The open source community has many answers to the MS Office suite, which practice and encourage free use, directly viewable and customizable code, simple and intuitive user interfaces, and sound construction able to mesh seamlessly with standard formats and functions.
     One of the strongest and most well-supported offerings from the open source community is the aptly-named Open Office, available for a variety of platforms and able to support over 40 languages. This suite features an assortment of basic “productivity tools” that cover the vast majority of basic business operating and can completely replace MS Office programs. Open Office includes Writer, a word processing program; Calc, a fully-functional spreadsheet application similar to Excel; Impress, the open source answer to Powerpoint; Base, which is an Access-like database management program; Draw, an application for basic vector illustration and design; and Math, for use in the creation and modification of equations. With this powerful set of effective tools, businesses on a budget and those just getting started can frustration and expense of MS Office altogether and start out on the right foot with open source applications.