Workflow Software was created and designed to help people collaborate on a global scale by standardizing and sharing a universal language and protocol. It enabled anyone, anywhere, to exchange more information than just emails and word documents. Machines now can talk to each other with absolutely no human interaction, which makes things faster, more efficient, and less time consuming. An example of work flow software which saves a lot of time would be Google Search. It is free, flexible, easy to use and is available to everyone. Google search retrieves information and organizes all of the data in a way that saves humans countless hours and headaches. The end user does not need to be trained in using the software, nor understand the complexities in the programming, they simply use it. I think that Workflow Software saves time and improves efficiency. It also gets rid of unnecessary steps, with less human errors, which is very important to our economy, our business, and our lives.
Open Source Software is a platform where developers of software share their source code with other developers, which in turn help contribute to it’s success and make it available to everyone, generally for free. It is important, because it allows people to share their ideas with the world and be professionally critiqued on their work. Open Source allows for better functioning software, and a positive global perspective on the platform. Many of the source code developers like to be credited for their work when others use their software. Those credits seem to be a narcissistic characteristic shared by the general population of open source developers, as everyone wants to be recognized for their work. I have used Joomla to build my websites for many years, which is an open source platform. It has declined in the last couple of years, but I used to enjoy discovering new modules and extensions for Joomla, that enhanced my website. These modules were developed by people all over the world, and were available for free for many years, then people started charging for their ideas, and updates, and I stopped using the platform. I think in an open source market where everything is free, that the developers start out with the intention of creating something viable for everyone, but when they realize how much work they put into it, they want to charge people for their efforts (which is ok, they should be rewarded!). I see this happen every day with apps, and so called “Free” software. It is a thin line to walk when they provide a source code on which to build ideas, because the odds of getting paid for a brilliant idea are pretty rare. I guess many just do it for the passion of invention, and the hunger for the challenge. It is like creating a musical masterpiece, and giving it away for free!
Outsourcing is when a company contracts out a portion or all of their business and development to another company or third party. Outsourcing is a way that companies can save money, time, and resources, especially if the company that they outsource to specializes in a specific area that they do not. Companies use outsourcing more than ever before, and have moved many of their operations overseas, where land, taxes, and payroll is cheaper. Outsourcing let's a company pay for only the services that they need, when they need them, and reduces the need to hire people with special skills, which ultimately reduces operating expenses. A big reason for outsourcing in the digital age, is that you can use global resources, where there might be a lack of those locally.
I believe that Workflow software, Open source software, and outsourcing are all very important to society, and that way that we develop things globally. These components make things easier, in a very technologically advanced age with much competition. I feel that by utilizing these tools, that we can stay one step ahead of the competition, save money, time, and valuable resources.
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