Once again, this took way too long: 1.5 hours this time. This time, my problem was not that I couldn’t remember the topic, it was that I understand them all too well, and so having to cut down on details while retaining clarity is going to be a problem for me.

During the section on open source, I was very aware that I was over time already, and that affected my thinking. Really, now that I think about it, there are sections in there that I don’t need, and also I should present OSS as opportunities vs risks. I also didn’t really give an indication of what kind of company should use which technology (strategic grid). I used an implied SWOT (skills, weaknesses, opportunities and risks) in the open source section, but my answers need to be organized better.

Open source (beyond usual opportunities/risks of outsourcing):

• Oppportunities: low cost, org learning, better troubleshooting, high quality (many eyes)
• Risks: legal, no contractual agreement, community dynamics

Cloud computing:

• If infrastructure is not core to your business (you don’t need firm hardware control; you’re a services business; you like the utility model), then cloud is good for you.
• Security, privacy is a major concern in cloud computing: where is your data, who has access to it, how do you get access to it? Keep in mind that you’re going to have to go over the internet to get to your services and data.

Virtualization

• Good for people who must control their infrastructure; infrastructure providers (such as cloud computing vendors). People who don’t want to go over the internet to get to their services and data; they want it firmly behind their firewall in their private nets: banks.

What I also didn’t include, and which I have a really hard time remembering is “future research”. All I can say is what I think should be looked at:
How does virtualization affect IT rollout in an org? Do services get developed faster, systems faster? What is the impact of more systems (virtual and physical) on required staff, skillsets and other IT resources? What services virtualize well, and which don’t, and what characteristics do they have?
For cloud computing, what kind of business models do storage and service clouds allow for? Models for what kinds of services should go to clouds and what shouldn’t.

Open source is easy: impact on business models, how and why does it work, and what motivates people to participate.