"Open Source"? Or Crowd Surfing?

During a recent blog post discussing what many are referring to as open source analysts, I made some comments about one specific company, Freeform Dynamics, that with hindsight could have been interpreted as calling into the question the integrity and objectivity of its research.

Following an exchange with the company, I would like to make it clear that while Freeform Dynamics takes advantage of vendor sponsorship to fund some of its research, the spirit and practice is that of a “patronage” model (similar to the way vendors often fund open source research). This means Freeform remains in control of the research design, execution and interpretation, in a manner that is well thought out and avoids the risk of vendor bias. Furthermore, for the avoidance of doubt, Freeform Dynamics uses its own methodology and tools for all research, sponsored or otherwise, and for studies published in the public domain, it controls all sampling and recruitment of respondents into the primary research process.

I would like to apologise if anyone misinterpreted my original comments, which were simply intended to point out that Freeform Dynamics does not operate in the same way as an open source software company. While I stand by this analysis, the intention was never to call into question the integrity of Freeform itself or the objectivity of its research, which I am in no way challenging.

Duncan Chapple

Duncan Chapple is the preeminent consultant on optimising international analyst relations and the value created by analyst firms. As SageCircle research director, Chapple directs programs that assess and increase the business value of relationships with industry analysts and sourcing advisors.