Strategic Open Source Leverage

A quick reference guide for organisations at Level 5 maturity—using open source as a strategic lever to shape the technology landscape.

At this level, open source moves beyond operational efficiency to become a strategic tool. Mature organisations don't just consume the open source landscape—they shape it through strategic contribution, project creation, and foundation leadership.

See: Leveraging Open Source as a Strategy for the components of strategy (landscape, climate, doctrine, leadership, purpose), how OSPOs contribute to technology decisions, and strategy as an evolutionary process.

See: Why Create An Open Source Project for the strategic rationale behind hosting your own projects.

See: Open Source Strategy Presentation for Victor Lu and Rob Moffat's deep dive on connecting open source to corporate strategy, Porter's generic strategies applied to open source, and engaging upward with executives.

See: Frank Nagle on the $9T Value of Open Source for research showing that contribution—not just consumption—unlocks outsized strategic gains.