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The Open Source Think Tank is structured as a “think tank,” not as a typical industry conference. This conference has been specifically designed to facilitate thought provoking discussions and contribution from all industry segments. This is accomplished with a mixed set of activities each day, consisting of Group Sessions, Brainstorming Teams, CIO Panels and Organized Networking and Social Activities.

The purpose of the Think Tank is for all segments of the open source commercial ecosystem to openly share their concerns, issues, experiences, and common problems, while collaboratively developing solutions.

Who is Invited?

This event is an invitation-only conference for CEOs, CIOs, CTOs, legal experts, investors and other senior executives. It will be a working conference and all participants are expected to actively contribute. It is our commitment to all attendees that every participant is knowledgeable about the commercial aspects of open source and is in a leadership position in their organizations with regard to open source strategy and use.

This conference has been specifically designed to facilitate thought provoking discussions and contribution from all industry segments. This is accomplished with a mixed set of activities each day, consisting of Group Sessions, Brainstorming Teams, CIO Panels and Organized Networking and Social Activities.

If you are interested and meet the conference qualifications, please request an invitation..

Group Sessions

All attendees meet together in the group sessions. At the beginning of each group session a topic is introduced for everyone to review and discuss before splitting up into smaller brainstorming teams. At the end of each brainstorm session, the full conference meets again to hear presentations from each brainstorming team, discuss findings and attempt to develop consensus (although success is not necessarily defined by achieving consensus). The larger group then attempts to consolidate industry observations and recommendations which will be documented in the final event whitepaper.

Brainstorming Sessions

Each brainstorm team will have participants representing every industry segment: open source vendors, large OEMs, large ISVs, mid-market ISVs, industry analysts, end user CIOs and investors. A member from each group, selected prior to the event and fully prepared, leads the individual group discussions. At the end of the brainstorming sessions, each team presents its findings to the full general group.

Two of the brainstorming sessions will be in the form of Business Cases. The purpose of the business cases is to challenge attendees to assess alternatives and share conclusions, the reasoning behind choices, a description of opportunity costs and a final recommendation. The business cases will introduced by a handout distributed two weeks ahead of the event with a 5 minute overview introduction at the start of the session. The introduction will be followed by 45 minutes of team analysis, followed by 15 minutes of group discussion.

Panel Discussions

The conference features several panel discussions. Leading CIOs will participate in a panel in order to provide the 'open source consumer' perspective. CEOs from three recently acquired open source companies will discuss lessons on exit strategies.

Group Networking and Social Activities

Group networking and social activities are a valuable part of the Open Source Think Tank. The 2010 Think Tank will feature a reception Thursday evening, gala dinner Friday, and a choice of golf or wine tasting on Friday afternoon and a post event casual wine reception.